Figure 1.--Here we see Guido performing in his velvet concert outfit which upset him. His did not, however, seem to affect his performances. A reader writes, "No, he didn't let hos suit spoil his conducting. He gives very energetic performances.

"Prelude to Fame' opens with an English boy wearing contemporary clothing. The main character, Guido, is a poor Italian boy and wears rather ragged clothing. These are his play-clothes for the first half of the film. Later Signora Bondini takes Guildo and his English friend to Rome for a day’s excursion. Guildo wears his best clothes - White shirt, black trousers, white socks and shoes on this tour. Of course his clothes change when he is receiving musical schooling and are the clothes worn by wealthy children. Guido after he is in the care of Signora Bondini is dressed in new clothes. She buys formal, elegant outfits. A reader writes, "He is given a Little, Lord Fauntleroy suit but it is very moderate and not at all flamboyant. It is his concert suit and the clothes Signora Bondini wishes him to wear at these performances. Nevertheless, when he opens the package and sees the suit he is expected to wear, he throws it out of the room. I am sure he says, 'No! I'm not wearing that!' If its not said then its implied. He is badly treated and I wanted to help him get out of the bad situation." Towards the end of the film when the boy conducts his final concert He walks onto stage to conduct the orchestra. He is wearing a casual short pants suit typical of the 1950s. Signora Bondini was not supposed to be at that concert but she attends it. She is appalled that he his wearing a casual suit. Her husband tells her that Guido never did like the suit she had him wear when for his performances. We note actual examples of prodigies dressed in fancy outfits about the time the film was made such as Italian prodigy Roberto Benzi and anotgher Italian Ferruccio Burco.

At Home: Contemporary Casual Clothes

'Prelude to Fame' opens with an English boy wearing contemporary English clothing. His Italian friend, Guido, wears contemprary Italian clothes. His new English friend wears standard English outfits worn by a boy from a family in comfortable circumstances. The main character, Guido, is a poor Italian boy and wearing rather ragged clothing. These are his play-clothes for the first half of the film. His clothes are not ragged, but they are very worn. The early images from 'Prelude to Fame' show Guido wearing worn, but serviceable play clothes. He wears a collared shirt, short pants with a hole, white ankle socks and twin strap shoes. Poor boys commonly wore 'T'-shirts or singlerts rather than collared shirts for play. Many poor Italian boys went barefoot. A poor surely boy would not have worn strap shoes like this. They look more klike shoes worn by boys from affluent famiklies. Both English and Italian boys at the time commonly wore short pants. An interesting destinction between Italy and Britain are white socks. They were mostly a girl's style in England, but some younger boys did wear them.

At Home: Best Outfits

Later Signora Bondini takes Guildo and his English friend to Rome for a day’s excursion. Both Nick and Guido dress upn fgor the occassion. Nick wears a standard single-breasted, short pants suit with a tie and white shirt. It seems to be the same suit he wears as a school uniform. This would have been fairly standard for a British pe\rep school at the tgime. It is presumably grey. Guido diesn't have a suit. He wears his best clothes. a White blouse with a large Peter Pan collar, black trousers, white knee socks socks and black leather shoes on this tour. This doesn't strike us as an outfut a poor Italian boy would wear.

With Signora Bondini: Musical Schooling

Of course Guido's clothes change when he is receiving musical schooling and are the clothes worn by wealthy children. Guido after he is in the care of Signora Bondini is dressed in new clothes. She buys formal, elegant outfits.

Concert Suit

A reader writes, "He is given a Little, Lord Fauntleroy suit but it is very moderate and not at all flamboyant. It is his concert suit and the clothes Signora Bondini wishes him to wear at these performances. Nevertheless, when he opens the package and sees the suit he is expected to wear, he throws it out of the room. The velvet suit is fairly standard, but the blouse he wears with ithas all kinds of ruffles. I am sure he says, 'No! I'm not wearing that!' If its not said then its implied. He is badly treated and I wanted to help him get out of the bad situation."

Final Concert Outfit

Actual Prodigies

We note actual examples of prodigies dressed in fancy outfits about the time the film ws maade such as Italian podigy Roberto Benzi and anotgher Italian Ferruccio Burco.

Created: 3:59 PM 5/19/2013
Last updated: 5:58 PM 5/20/2013