John Mollo
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| File:John Mollo Oscars.jpg | |
| Mollo with his Academy Award for Star Wars. | |
| Birth name | John Mollo |
|---|---|
| Born | March 18, 1931 |
| Died | October 25, 2017 |
| Occupation | Costume Designer, Author |
| Nationality | British |
| Notable work | Star Wars, Alien, Gandhi, Chaplin |
| Notable artifacts | Nostromo Crew Jumpsuit, Nostromo Spacesuits |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Costume Design (2) |
| External Links | |
| Wikipedia | Link |
| IMDb | Link |
John Mollo (1931–2017) was a British costume designer and author, renowned for his expertise in military history, which he applied to create some of the most iconic and realistic costumes in science fiction history, including those for Alien.
Biography & Career edit edit source
Mollo was a respected author on European and American military uniforms before he began his film career. His deep knowledge of historical attire caught the attention of George Lucas, who hired him for Star Wars (1977), for which Mollo won his first Academy Award.[1] He was subsequently hired by Ridley Scott for Alien, where he was tasked with creating the costumes for the crew of the Nostromo.[2] He later won a second Oscar for his work on Gandhi (1982).
Signature Style edit edit source
Mollo's design philosophy was rooted in functionality and realism. Even in science fiction, he believed costumes should look practical and lived-in. For Alien, he created a "used future" look where the crew's clothing was not sleek or futuristic, but rather functional, layered, and reflective of their blue-collar status as space truckers, a concept championed by writer Dan O'Bannon.
Notable Artifact Contributions edit edit source
The following is a list of notable artifacts designed or constructed by John Mollo.
| Artifact | Media | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Nostromo Crew Jumpsuit | Alien | Designed the standard crew uniforms, including jumpsuits, jackets with custom patches (like the Nostromo wing insignia), and casual wear, to look like practical work clothes. |
| Nostromo Spacesuits | Alien | Designed the large, bulky, and cumbersome spacesuits worn by Kane, Dallas, and Lambert on LV-426. The suits were intentionally designed to look heavy and restrictive to enhance the sense of vulnerability.[3] |
Filmography edit edit source
- Star Wars (1977) - Costume Designer
- Alien (1979) - Costume Designer
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - Costume Designer
- Gandhi (1982) - Costume Designer
- Chaplin (1992) - Costume Designer
Trivia edit edit source
- To create the Nostromo spacesuits, Mollo and his team repurposed old bomb disposal suits and motorcycle helmets, adding details and padding to create their unique shape.[3]
See Also edit edit source
References edit edit source
- ↑ "John Mollo, Who Dressed the Stars in 'Star Wars,' Is Dead at 86," The New York Times, November 3, 2017.
- ↑ "John Mollo, 'Star Wars' Costume Designer, Dies at 86," The Hollywood Reporter, October 28, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "John Mollo: Designing the 'Alien' Costumes," Starlog Magazine, Issue #25, August 1979.