What Makes the Design of 'The Great Gatsby' Exceptional?

When discussing "The Great Gatsby," many delve into the vices between new and old wealth and the emptiness of high society or critique its lackluster fidelity to the novel. However, one aspect everyone tends to agree upon is its aesthetic achievement in the history of Hollywood movie art.

Since winning Best Production Design at the 86th Oscars in 2014, "The Great Gatsby" has become a classic case study in major film and theater school art classes worldwide. After its release, it even sparked a revival of Art Deco in the interior design industry, with Hollywood Regency and Art Deco furniture from the early 20th century flying off the shelves.

In post-World War I America, a new class of nouveau riche emerged, fostering various classic design movements in this extravagant and decadent nation. In the pursuit of outdoing each other, the elite oscillated between retro and modern, laying the groundwork for the film's remarkable aesthetic accomplishment.

Of course, the film's outstanding visual presentation is owed to Hollywood's top art director, Catherine Martin, and her husband, Baz Luhrmann. As an Australian director enamored with dance and jazz, Luhrmann brought the extravagant glamour of "Moulin Rouge!" to the Gold Coast of Long Island. Let's delve into how the environment, especially the residences of critical characters, shaped the personalities and themes of the film.

Examining the characters, they can broadly be categorized into three tiers:

• Gatsby and his ilk, representing the nouveau riche, indulge in jazz and contemporary design. They conspicuously consume, lacking social finesse and bordering on vulgarity.
• Tom and Daisy, representatives of old wealth, adhere to tradition. They exude elegance and conservatism, content with existing wealth and exhibiting selfish capriciousness.
• Nick, representing the middle class, supports the Arts and Crafts movement, advocating artful decoration and a minimalist lifestyle.

In broad strokes, the elite of high society reside in opulent mansions with high ceilings and marble floors. At the same time, characters of lower status inhabit comfortable, cozy cottages and apartments. Gatsby, who has yearned for wealth and maturity from a young age, especially after encountering his lover Daisy Buchanan, desires opulence without bounds. When he eventually becomes affluent, his home is a testament to ostentatious extravagance.

Situated in Newport, Rhode Island, The Breakers is one of the Vanderbilt family's mansions and a filming location for "The Great Gatsby." However, Gatsby's residence was predominantly shot at the former St. Patrick's Seminary in Sydney. The Gothic Revival architecture of this building, with artificial vines covering the lower two floors and a temporary Versailles-style fountain in the courtyard, offered a distinct visual ambiance. Additionally, tall spires were digitally added in post-production, contributing to the majestic night scenes reminiscent of a Disney castle.

Contrary to the Gothic exterior, the interior is a recreation of the Art Deco style. The entrance hall is adorned with elaborate chandeliers, a golden coffered ceiling, massive towering columns between large windows, a winding staircase (inspired by the stairs at the Italian villa La Selva), and the most extravagant inlaid floor with a large letter combination (Gatsby's emblem), exemplifies the opulence.

The art department extensively delved into archives chronicling the opulent estates of the early 20th century along Long Island's northern shore, referencing iconic manors like Oheka Castle, La Selva, and Beacon Towers.

This luxury, though, underwent a subtle transformation as it traversed into the bedrooms. While maintaining traditional arched windows, the decor transitioned into a glossy hardwood adorned with a Harlequin motif—colors akin to a circus clown's costume—intersecting silk wall coverings with crisscrossing wood strips. Art Deco details in shades of gray and gold permeated the space, some subtly modern, drawing inspiration from the lobby of the Delano Hotel in Miami.

As the plot unfolded, the bedroom's spatial arrangement changed. Initially bathed in sunlight, the space exuded comfort with silk-laden bedding, exquisite furniture, and ethereal drapes in golden and silver hues. Towards the story's climax, the bedroom witnessed a plundering—fabrics stripped, carpets rolled, shutters closed. All orchestrated by Gatsby, based on hazy spatial recollections inspired by Daisy.

In the era depicted, specific furnishings eloquently conveyed a refined decadence. The amalgamation of rare woods, symmetrical curved furniture lines, and bold geometric prints with modern bases bestowed a sense of luxury to each space.

Gatsby's more pragmatic and masculine study bore darker tones with thick curtains adorning the windows. His maritime exploits were subtly implied in the paneling and decor, incorporating nautical elements. This was where Gatsby conducted his clandestine alcohol ventures and bond trading. Given the covert nature of these mysterious dealings, the layout exuded a casual yet orderly ambiance—no loose papers or evidence overlooked, his primary tool, the telephone, resting on the desk in front of a worn leather chair. This setting appears twice in the film, initially when we first meet Gatsby (shrouded in a mysterious ambiance) and later in daylight (as Gatsby begins to reveal secrets).

The floral design in Gatsby's residence showcased influences from British floral artist Constance Spry, renowned in 1930s London and a favorite of the Duchess of Windsor. The wild and surreal design incorporated unconventional elements like cabbage leaves and unexpected rural flowers. Gatsby's abode boasted expensive orchids requiring greenhouse cultivation, seamlessly integrating Spry's style with a modern aesthetic.

In contrast, the old aristocracy, the Buchanan residence, is a Georgian-style red-brick manor partially inspired by the gardens of old Westbury on Long Island. Unlike Gatsby, Tom's wealth perspective is more primal and composed, exuding lavishness with taste. Throughout history, prominent old families endeavored to link themselves to 18th-century nobility.

The Buchanan living room, more elegant than Gatsby's, was curated by Daisy into a beautiful, practical, and warm space. In a classic cinematic scene, Jordan and Daisy reclined in a sultry cream-colored lounge—popular at the time, especially with wooden armrests on sofas and chairs.

The oval carpets in the Buchanan dining room and salon drew inspiration from Chinese phoenix patterns and pearl jewelry. Precious antiques adorned various spaces, reflecting a Hollywood Regency style, seamlessly merging dramatic elements of Hollywood set design with a neoclassical, inclusive style, including furniture, contemporary art, and a delicately subtle vertical window overlooking the garden.

As a first-person narrator, in contrast to Gatsby, Nick Carraway's rented cozy cottage epitomized his quiet, trustworthy, and tolerant character. An arch adorned with white blossoms, circular tree benches, and a well-maintained lawn and garden fostered a sense of intimacy and trust.

Nick's living room, enclosed by low ceilings and quarter-sawed oak beams, brimmed with Stickley-style furniture—Gustav Stickley, a representative of the American Arts and Crafts movement, advocating simplicity and populism in all art and craftsmanship. The room's moss-green tiles surrounding the fireplace created a natural and pure ambiance.

Similarly, Myrtle Wilson's Harlem apartment exuded a warm atmosphere despite her neglected husband. Like Nick's living room, warm reds, pinks, and scattered flowers offered a welcoming feel. The walls, shelves, and tables adorned with an eclectic mix of frames, vases, and knickknacks portrayed Myrtle's carefree personality. The number of frames and photos hinted at Myrtle Wilson's robust family background is noteworthy.

To accentuate the scenes of indulgence and sensuality, the deep red and velvet decor in a particular scene conveyed a more dangerous type of seduction. The confined, disorderly space, featuring an Art Deco-style pendant lamp, starkly contrasted with the luxury showcased earlier—a dangerous allure.

Furniture design details were crucial in another scene involving a love triangle. Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy arrive at the Summer Plaza Hotel, initiating their ultimate showdown. While the entire scene was shot in the real Plaza Hotel, the darker wood paneling was exaggerated to evoke a moody and tense atmosphere. Daisy, seated on an ill-fitting and awkward oversized chair, appeared diminutive and inconspicuous, overshadowed by male aggressiveness.

"The Great Gatsby" is replete with such masterstrokes in design, such as the zebra rubber doll in the pool—out of sync with the era, but intensifying the vivacity and surreal atmosphere of the spectacle.