More Tonner GWTW

Today, the Tonner Doll Company released some preview images of their upcoming 2015 Mainline Collection. The ones I was most interested in were the two "Gone with the Wind" dolls. And then I saw the photos. The doll titled "I'll Never Be Hungry Again" is a rehash of the Franklin Mint Muslin Battlefield doll, which now fetches very good prices on ebay.



On the Tonner version, the pattern of the dress is out of scale as well as the size of the dress itself. Just too much darn fabric. This seems to be a consistent issue with most of the Scarlett releases I have seen from Tonner.



The doll used in the preview photos looks as if it is wearing a wig, despite the fact that the description says it has rooted hair. Wig or rooted, it is ghastly.



Here's what the dress looks like in the movie:



…and how the Franklin Mint interpreted it.



A+ for Franklin Mint for scale as well as matching the pattern. D+ for Tonner. No thanks; I'll save my $200 for this limited edition of 500.

Next up is "Shanty Town," also a limited edition of 500, but this one goes for $215.



The doll and hair look MUCH better; the dress isn't bad, either.



Until you look at the detailed shots, showing the faux buttons that serve no purpose:



Compare with FM's version, with buttons that actually fasten the top together.





This time, the Tonner Doll wins, but once again, FM walks away with the best outfit.

See more "Gone with the Wind" Doll photos on my regular website.

Smart Set

Here's yet another outfit that I can't believe it has taken me so long to photograph! Doug James' Smart Set is a circa 1948 sheath and jacket released in 1998. The shoes and earrings shown here are not original to this outfit. The mini painting by Mel Odom DID come with the set; what a cool accessory!



Gene holds it up so that you can get a better look at it:



In this photo, Gene is holding an Eight Ball; what do you think it tells her about her future?



Reminiscing about her childhood, Gene pulls out her Shirley Temple doll, Viewmaster set, and a Barbie board game. Those were the days!





The hat that comes with Smart Set is a cute black felt number with a white felt feather. Unfortunately, it's a bit big for Gene's scale. I shrunk it with Photoshop to make it look more appropriate.



From the story card:

In the darkly atmospheric suspense thriller Montage, Gene Marshall led spellbound audiences into the labyrinthine coils of the European art world--a coterie of sinister forgers, cunning thieves, and murderers, where nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted.

Filmed on location in Rome, Gene plays the lovely, innocent daughter of a renowned painter, enjoying the sophisticated roundelay of society balls, galleries, and art salons of Europe's cultured intelligentsia. Her carefree life takes a sudden and frightening turn when her father mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Gene is convinced the key to his disappearance lies in the haunting, surreal portrait he painted days before--a portrait that someone is willing to murder for.

Audiences will never forget the terrifying moments when Gene, clutching her father's enigmatic painting, fearfully hurries down the shadowy, twisting streets of old Rome, stalked by a menacing figure in a black trench coat. The vivid red of her fitted sheath suit and pleated bolero jacket seems to flash a warning as the camera captures every hair-raising moment of suspense during this unnerving, deadly game of cat-and-mouse among the dark colonnaded piazzas of Rome.

By the end of the film, the killer is revealed, the father is safe, and Gene's suit was copied for the fashion runways of Paris as "Smart Set".



See more Gene Marshall Doll photos on my regular website.

Lucy Meets Tom of Finland!

In 2003, the Rebel 001 action figure was released by the Tom of Finland Foundation, a huge name in erotic art. 12 years later, the Rebel met Lucy Ricardo and as you can see, it looks like it might have been a very hot encounter. I wonder how long Lucy was able to hold onto that cup of coffee?!?

The 13" Rebel figure was designed by Norman Franklin Lloyd, a professional and experienced toy sculptor and CEO of Adult Action Figures.



Although the sculpt is supposedly based on James Dean, the finished product looks more like Steve Reeves.



Not only is this figure articulated, but it is anatomically correct and comes with a choice of 3 male genitalia, depending upon your preference.

See more Gene Marshall Doll photos on my regular website.