The Late Audrey Hepburn Pimpin' The Gap

[Gemini Cricket]

Ugh (http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=18569&mlink=5058,622653,1&clink=622653)

Sad.

I know her estate needs to authorize this, so maybe I should be mad at them. But I just can't stomach The Gap using her footage to get people to buy jeans.

Bleh.

[Mousey Girl]

I have seen those commercials. I don't like them either. It just seems so wrong with what I know of her life.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

We happened to watch that very scene while channel flipping a few weeks ago. I forget what the movie was called. Fred Astaire was in it. I was glad we'd seen it before seeing the commercial. The whole scene is so silly, it was almost hard to watch. Real beatniks must have winced at such portrayals.

As for the commercial - while all the dancing was going on I was like, huh? What could this be for? When they revealed it was for the skinny black pant at the end, I had to laugh out loud - what else could it be for?

I thought it was a good commercial. When seemingly irretrievable fashion makes a comeback, using something irretrievably dated works. I know GC disagrees with me on this, but I've never had a problem when they put movie stars in ads. They're just recognizable people.

All I could think after the commercial was the What Not to Wear advice - tapered pants look good on very few people. I know I'm not one of them. :)

[Kevy Baby]

We happened to watch that very scene while channel flipping a few weeks ago. I forget what the movie was called. Fred Astaire was in it.It would have to be Funny Face (http://imdb.com/title/tt0050419/). According to IMDb, it was the only movie these two appeared in together.

[Babette]

I totally adore AH and love to see her, but come on! She is the only person in the world who could make those pants look good. No regular person will ever look like that in those pants. (Even twig girl CP) ;) The GAP had to use computers to revive a gorgeous icon to find someone to fit their pants. So sad for them. I do enjoy the commercials just to see her.

[Stan4dSteph]

It's a very weird commercial, I admit. There's no way I'm buying those pants though. Tapered ankle? I would definitely get the ice cream cone look.

[Gemini Cricket]

If I become a famous actor, after I die, make sure they don't stick me in a commercial pimpin' Dunkin' Donuts or anything like that, okay?

The woman's dead, if she had been some sort of Gap spokeperson while she was alive, I'd have no problem with it. But seeing her dance to AC/DC or watching Fred Astaire dance with a cordless vacuum or Gene Kelly dancing with Paula Abdul just makes me wanna throw up.

;)

[Jughead P. Jones]

I've always hated Gap ads. They just seem to me like 30 seconds of unintelligible fluff.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm with G.C. on this. It makes me cringe.

It's grave-robbing, cyber-style ... and disrespectful in the most heinous manner modernity might manage.

[katiesue]

I don't have a problem with having an Audrey Hebpurn collection, based on her style. Photos of her in similar styles, fine. Models dressed to look like her, fine. I don't like to see a dead person re-animated to pimp pants though.

[Alex]

I don't have a problem with it, though it generally works better when played comedically (haven't seen this ad so maybe it is).

Audrey Hepburn probably shilled for crap when she was alive, so I've not much problem with her shilling for crap when she's dead. And it is more dignified than having her photo schilled out as a piece of kitsch on ugly handbags and whatnot.

[Not Afraid]

I totally adore AH and love to see her, but come on! She is the only person in the world who could make those pants look good. No regular person will ever look like that in those pants. (Even twig girl CP) ;) The GAP had to use computers to revive a gorgeous icon to find someone to fit their pants. So sad for them. I do enjoy the commercials just to see her.


I saw the pants in the store window last night. My comments wenet like this: I LOVE that look. Too bad I've never looked good wearing it. Not many people do, but now they WILL wear it and think they look like Audry. Poor Audry. I hate Paul Pressler.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Brought back from the dead? It's a video clip.

We saw these in the Gap store window today, and it turns out it's a bit more flared at the ankle than Audrey's was. Still, almost no one looks good in those pants, no way.It would have to be Funny Face. According to IMDb, it was the only movie these two appeared in together.That's the one. Ironic that most of the movie is her in Givenchy fashions.

[Snowflake]

Well, yeah, that's pretty sad.

I wonder who was pimping who for this one, 20th Centruy Fox fo the Funny Face clips or the Hepburn estate, or both? Would she have sanctioned this, probably as much as Astaire would have for pimping a dirt devil (and this is real sore point with me). To speak of Astaire for a moment, his widow has made things very miseable for documentarians and for anyone doing a tribute, she (and not Astaire's daughter Ava) controls his image rights. So the dirt devil was okay, but clips to be shown at the AFI (I think) tribute for Ginger Rogers were not.

I agree with everyone, Only someone of Audrey's build can make those clothes look good.

It was the style, in the old days, as much as it is today, to promote or pimp a product. Hell, everyone did ads for Chesterfield cigarettes whether they even smoked or not. But it seems more garish and unpleasant to me when a star is dead.

[Gemini Cricket]

"Hi, this is Clark Gable here. And I'm here to tell you folks that I go coo coo for Cocoa Puffs!"

[BarTopDancer]

I'm more upset that skinny pants are back in fashion then I am that Audrey Hepburn is being used to sell them.

I'm glad that the boot cut and flared pants of the recent past are still around.

[innerSpaceman]

Do you think anyone in the brilliant-minded American audience actually thinks Audrey is endorsing The Gap? Is everyone aware she's dead?

How long ago does someone have to have shed their mortal coil, and how famous must they have been, for it to be clear to nearly everyone in the audience that their endorsement of products is manufactured by others?

[BarTopDancer]

Quite honestly I didn't even realize it was Audrey Hepburn in those commercials until this thread. I thought it was some celeberity but I couldn't place a finger on it.

Does she care? No, she's dead. Does her estate care? Most likely not, they let the commercial be made.

Should we care? Why? Sarah Jessica Parker was pimping the Gap, as were Madonna and Missy Elliott. Did you care then? Why do you care now?

When I say I'm more upset about skinny pants being back in fashion then I am about who is advertising them I mean that I am annoyed that skinny pants are back. I don't care that Audrey Hepburn is being used to sell them. I don't buy stuff based upon the famous people who endorse it.

[jdramj]

And you wonder why the Gap's sales figures are so bad? Just the pants alone should give you a clue:rolleyes:

I didn't mind the ad so much, but the ending just cuts off before you see the words, it was not a seemless work of advertising, just a little akwardness.

[Kevy Baby]

Do you think anyone in the brilliant-minded American audience actually thinks Audrey is endorsing The Gap? Is everyone aware she's dead?I have a suspicion that a mojority of the teeny boppers that are the Gap's target audience don't even know who Audrey Hepburn IS.

[wendybeth]

I'm thinking those out-of-work Spanish waifs could get a job at the Gap.....at least until it folds.:rolleyes:

[BarTopDancer]

Skinny pants are back everywhere. During my pants hunt I accidently tried on a pair of jeans with zippered tapered ankles.

All that is missing is slouch socks and black Vans.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Black Vans? Are those coming back? Will Chucks be back too?

[BarTopDancer]

Black Vans? Are those coming back? Will Chucks be back too?

They've been back. Well the black Vans never left, and neither did Chucks, but they are becomming more mainstream again.

[Gemini Cricket]

BTD - Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna and Missy Elliott all sold out to the Gap while they were alive. Ms. Hepburn had a decision made for her after death. I don't remember her pimpin' anything but her charity work before she died...

[innerSpaceman]

And it's gone from he point where those of us who couldn't have cared less about a Sarah Jessica Parker shilling, should get upset by this lack of accord and respect to the dead - in general, as a mark of respect for humanity, in consideration for the feelings of those left behind ... loved ones - or, in the case of Ms. Hepburn, in particular - fans.



It's ghoulishness for commerce sake, and it should - i think - be unsettling to civilized peoples.



imo

[wendybeth]

I think if Audrey gives them permission to use her image to endorse their product, then fine. If she is unable to grant that permission, then they should not be allowed to do so. I imagine they got the authorization from her estate, but if that is true than perhaps her estate managers should be a bit more selective about their choices. Audrey had way more class than the Gap does, and pasting her image on their product does not change the fact that their stuff is crap. What's next- Grace Kelly in a Wal-Mart ad?

[Gemini Cricket]

What's next- Grace Kelly in a Wal-Mart ad?
*Shudder.*
I just pictured them replacing their smilie face logo with the the late Princess of Monaco's head.

[Gemini Cricket]

Dear Brad,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our Keep It Simple advertising
campaign. We always want to know how our advertising is being received,
and your comments are appreciated.

We have several different campaigns a year, and each one is designed to
target various segments of our consumer base. We regularly evaluate our
ads for effectiveness and reach because we want to make sure our
advertising is appropriate for our customers and our brands. Feedback
like yours is an important part of this process, and we have forwarded
your concerns to the marketing managers who are responsible for these
decisions. We are sure they will be interested to hear your thoughts on
this matter as well.

Again, thanks for bringing your concerns to our attention. We hope you
will continue to let us know how we are doing.

Sincerely,

Walter
Customer Service Consultant
custserv@gap.com

-----------------------

Translation for those of you who don't speak Corporate-ese:

Dear Brad,

Fu ck off. Cary Grant is next, you bastard.

Sincerely,

Walter
Customer Service Consultant
custserv@gap.com

:D

[€uroMeinke]

Heh - reminds me of letters from Disney - Paul Pressler lives!

[Gemini Cricket]

Heh - reminds me of letters from Disney - Paul Pressler lives!
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your letter regarding your disatisfaction in us cancelling Snow White An Enchanting Musical. As Walt Disney said, 'Disneyland will never be complete as long as there's imagination left in the world'. And this is no truer then as it is today. As we bulldoze Fantasyland Theatre to install Build-A-Princess-Whore for our young female guests to dress up as their favorite Disney idol with their unattainable figures, we look back to the days when Walt Disney himself said, 'To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.' You are welcome at Disneyland at all times.
When seeing us on your next visit, please stop by our newly upgraded attraction: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Where's Johnny?' Be sure to visit our many gift stores and remember that Main Street USA is always open one hour after park closing hours.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Nagel
Disneyland Corporate Shill

[AllyOops!]

Lindsey Nagel!! Brilliant, GC. :) :snap: :snap:

[Alex]

Finally saw the commercial last night and not even Audrey Hepburn looks good in them.

That said, I still am not bothered by her image being used in the ad.

[Hades]

Well, as I can recall, the dead have been selling products for a while now. The first time I remember this happening was when they had John Wayne in a beer commercial.

The commercial opens up with a drill Sargent grilling a line up of his soldiers over the generals missing six pack of brew (which I forget the brand, but that's besides the point). Eventually, the sarge gets the brew back, but as he is holding the pilfered suds, General John Wayne (ya-Haw) finds the sarge holding the goods and gives him a stern "Sargent! What are YOU doing with my *insert beer brand here*!!"

The first time I saw this commercial, I thought, "Whoa! How'd dey doo dat!" :eek: After a few more viewings, I just thought, "Now how hard up is the family of the late John Wayne family to allow this to happen?":p

While it is very creative to be able to use computer tech to bring back the great actors and historical figures and place them into modern situations, I really think that folks should remember them for what they did in their lifetime and not what people have made them do after they have gone. Things could get very ugly if the greats are given to those with less than flattering ideas.:(

[Cadaverous Pallor]

And it's gone from he point where those of us who couldn't have cared less about a Sarah Jessica Parker shilling, should get upset by this lack of accord and respect to the dead - in general, as a mark of respect for humanity, in consideration for the feelings of those left behind ... loved ones - or, in the case of Ms. Hepburn, in particular - fans.



It's ghoulishness for commerce sake, and it should - i think - be unsettling to civilized peoples. Ghoulish? Is it ghoulishness to purchase an Audrey Hepburn film on DVD? Or perhaps AH memoribilia? Or maybe buy some of the original Givenchy fashions she WHORED OUT in Funny Face, the very movie this comes from?

[DreadPirateRoberts]

The commercial opens up with a drill Sargent grilling a line up of his soldiers over the generals missing six pack of brew (which I forget the brand, but that's besides the point).

It was Coors. And yeah, the commercial does give me the willies.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Maybe it's just me, but when I'm watching video of someone, I know it's a video and not a reanimated dead person. Call me crazy.

[Alex]

So long as they are using existing footage in new ways (as with the John Wayne commercial, in this Gap ad, in the Fred Astaire broom vacuum commercial) it is just "eh" to me. Even if, as in all these cases, that footage is completely decontextualized.

Now, if they started using computers to animate completely new "acting" then I would begin to find it more bothersome.

[CoasterMatt]

Like when they changed Han from shooting first - THAT was ghoulish and disrespectful!

[Not Afraid]

80% of my own fashion inspitation comes from vintage styles. I obviously think nothing of stealing a look and making it my own in a modern way. But, there's something so unimatinative about blatently stealing from Givenchy, having Audry pimp it and slapping a Gap label on it.

[mousepod]

While the Audrey dancing to AC/DC bugs me, the heavy-handed remix of her voice into the audio track is even worse. Thumbs down from the mousepod family.

[belleh5]

Thank you GC!! I thought I was the only one who hated this commerical! It's just wrong.

[Tramspotter]

This kind of CG pays my bills :p

Have some one in the works right now as a matter of fact that Alex might find "Bothersome" and of course we're using computers.

Heh even comping old footage or basic editing uses computers as the tool... several peeps used that term in this thread sheesh my parents would even say what program did you use to do that effect... you guys slide dangerously close to grandma status giving attrib -magic to the hardware.

Bad CGI is what offends me. Casting from the grave is inevitable as long as todays actors suck on and off sceen ;)

[lizziebith]

I finally saw this commercial tonight. I'm ashamed to say that, if I could only wear them as well as I used to, I'm totally into the commercial AND the look. Please don't negmojo me!

[Not Afraid]

Liz, you were/are one of those people who could get away with wearing them. And, they'd look great on you. Bitch. ;)