Diverted from its usual function, the umbrella's use is reinvented throughout the films. Ultimately, its use is rarely linked to rain! It protects, defends, makes the wearer fly, hides wacky objects, illuminates, distinguishes... The umbrella is the favored accessory of comedies and science fiction films! Judge for yourself...
With its bird-like head, Mary Poppins' umbrella is magical! It talks, hides a whole bunch of wacky objects, and transports her from one place to another. In Pinocchio, the umbrella is a means of transportation, but this time by sea. In Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, the umbrella glows to illuminate the city plunged into constant, pouring rain. This neon umbrella has made a lasting impression, as it continues to attract fans of the film to this day! The umbrella is used to hide the magic wand of the famous Harry Potter and Thor's divine hammer. Parachute in Peter Pan, The Aristocats, Tarzan, the umbrella is also used to glide through the air in Despicable Me 3 and Paddington. In Batman, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, aka the Penguin, played by Danny de Vito, Batman's renowned enemy, never leaves his hypnotic umbrella, used as a weapon!
As much for its style as for its function as a defensive weapon, the umbrella is a favorite object of spies and secret services. Always by John Steed's side in The Avengers ( originally released as The Avengers), the umbrella officially became the essential accessory of the perfect gentleman! More recently, the umbrella is at the heart of a legendary fight scene in Kingsman. Bulletproof and equipped with a camera, le pébroque is a high-tech marvel!
The umbrella became the star of the 1950s, the golden age of musicals. It thus landed a prominent role in one of the most beautiful declarations of love ever made to cinema, the masterpiece * Singin' in the Rain*. The umbrella is an integral part of the choreography, enriching the dancer's gestures, accentuating the beauty of the movement, keeping time, and inevitably recalling Charlie Chaplin's cane. The umbrella also reappears in Jacques Demy's musical film *The Umbrellas of Cherbourg*, released in 1963, a film that inspired the creator of *The Real Cherbourg*…
Although its role is sometimes limited to mere extras, the umbrella is displayed in large numbers on more than a hundred movie posters, from cartoons to art-house films, including comedies and science fiction. Its shape has inspired artists since the dawn of time!
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