Diverted from its usual function, the umbrella sees its use reinvented over the course of the films. In the end, its use is rarely rain-related! It protects, defends, makes the wearer fly, hides wacky objects, illuminates, distinguishes... The umbrella is the accessory of choice in comedies and science fiction films! Judge for yourself...
Mary Poppins' bird-headed umbrella is magical! It talks, hides a whole host of wacky objects and carries her from one place to another. In Pinocchio, the umbrella is also a means of transport, this time by sea. In Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, the umbrella is illuminated to light up the city, which is plunged into a permanent downpour. This neon umbrella made a lasting impression, as it continues to attract fans of the film to this day! The umbrella is used to hide Harry Potter's magic wand or Thor's divine hammer. A parachute in Peter Pan, The Aristochats and Tarzan, the umbrella is also used to glide through the air in Despicable Me 3 and Paddington. In Batman, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot alias the Penguin, played by Danny de Vito, Batman's acknowledged enemy, never leaves his hypnotic umbrella, which he uses as a weapon!
As much for its style as for its function as a defensive weapon, the umbrella is a favorite item of spies and secret services. Again alongside John Steed in Chapeau Melon et Bottes de Cuir The Avengers in VO, the umbrella officially becomes the essential accessory of the perfect gentleman! More recently, the umbrella is at the heart of a mythical battle scene in Kingsman. Bulletproof and equipped with a camera, the film's umbrella plays high-tech!
The umbrella became the star of the 50s, the heyday of musicals. The umbrella played a major role in one of cinema's most beautiful declarations of love, the masterpiece Chantons sous la pluie - Singin' in the Rain. The umbrella is an integral part of the choreography, fleshing out the dancer's gestures, accentuating the beauty of the movement, beating time and reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's walking stick. The umbrella can also be found in Jacques Demy's 1963 musical Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, a film that inspired the creator of Le Véritable Cherbourg...
The umbrella's role may be limited to figuration, but it's on full display on over a hundred cinema posters, from cartoons to auteur films, from comedy to science fiction. Its shape has inspired artists since the dawn of time!
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