Inspiration: The Purple Staircase in "How to Steal a Million"

Annie's post yesterday on purple reminded us of the fabulous purple staircase in the film How to Steal a Million, with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. The bold purple staircase runner and bannister rail covering is a focal point in the gilded Parisian mansion. How do you feel about the purple staircase?

Some crucial scenes in the film occur on and around the staircase. The film was made in 1966 so much of the setting is dated - in a good way, we think.

Related Posts on Purple:
• Purple Rooms That I Don't Hate
• Purple Things That I Don't Hate
• Roundup: Purple Reign

(Images: frame shots of the film "How to Steal a Million")

Comments (14)

I love this movie and I don't remember the purple carpet, here I like purple.

posted by LoriSF on September 17th 2009 at 5:49pm
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i m in love with that look , very very sophisticated , and tends to set your imagination free..

posted by Moorish Girl on September 17th 2009 at 6:33pm
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gorgeous...very regal!

posted by mkw on September 17th 2009 at 6:42pm
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I'd spend days just running up and down the stairs...love a regal runway!

posted by athenazebra on September 17th 2009 at 6:57pm
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I just watched this movie last week and the mansion in it was GORGEOUS!

posted by Courtachino on September 17th 2009 at 7:20pm
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I just watched this 2 days ago! They certainly made a feature of the staircase, which is super-funky.
I loved the scene in which Audrey is shown in a gorgeous citrus yellow Givenchy frock in front of the purple staircase.

posted by soooz on September 17th 2009 at 8:25pm
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I love the OTT decor in that movie! If that's 'dated', I'll take it!!

posted by heatherdazy on September 17th 2009 at 8:49pm
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love it!!

posted by dandy on September 17th 2009 at 8:51pm
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and the cars are fab!

posted by LoriSF on September 17th 2009 at 9:26pm
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Wow. I'm impressed that a couple of folks have seen this movie recently.
And I love love love that purple staircase.
I'm not sure how I feel about the banister cover. Is that odd, or is it just me?

posted by kushkush on September 17th 2009 at 9:35pm
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everything about that movie is perfection... the givenchy, the art, the cars, EVERYTHING

posted by zachary on September 17th 2009 at 10:07pm
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@kushkush - I really stared at the purple banister cover while watching the movie because it looked so strange! At first I thought it was just a trick of the light, and that the balustrade was really made from a wood that had a purple sheen.

posted by soooz on September 17th 2009 at 10:24pm
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J'adore the purple staircase, but the purple bannister cover is just a bit too precious and clever. I think it distracts.

posted by Aulaire on September 18th 2009 at 7:23am
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That is such a fun movie! The visual candy is amazing, Audrey's hats are rocking and there is nothing like vintage Peter O'Toole!

posted by sugarm0mma on September 18th 2009 at 10:34am
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