The history of cinema is drenched in Champagne, for example silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe supposedly bathed in it. This is why many people regard it as the ultimate luxury drink. Shedding light on this popular perception, we explain how Champagne came to be associated with Hollywood.
Origin story
Recently, London newspaper The Evening Standard traced the beginnings of Champagne’s association with Hollywood to 1928. This is the year that Alfred Hitchcock’s jazz age comedy Champagne was released. The film opens with a close up shot of a glass of Moët & Chandon, introducing viewers to the “millionaire’s lifestyle through the lens of his drink” and sparking a silver screen revolution.
Explaining how ubiquitous Champagne has become across film, since the release of Hitchcock’s comedy, Moët & Chandon’s Head of Heritage, Veronique Foureur, said: “Think of a famous actor or actress… He or she has probably drunk Moët & Chandon in one or more scenes.” From Audrey Hepburn in Love in the Afternoon to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and Leonardo di Caprio in The Great Gatsby, the brand really has become a silver screen stalwart over the years.
Glam factor
Foureur then outlined the reasons why Hollywood fell in love with Champagne, the first of which is the drink’s “glam factor.” It has long been associated with the royalty of Europe, for example Cristal was developed on the orders of a Russian Tsar. Hollywood is America’s royalty, so it makes sense that we would associate the traditional drink of the elite with the most famous people on earth.
But, she argued, Champagne may have started off as the drink of kings, but Hollywood has turned it into the ultimate symbol of social mobility. In The Seven Year Itch, for instance, Marilyn Monroe quaffs Champagne while eating crisps (which is actually palatable). Scenes like this made Champagne into an attainable luxury, as they show that it’s something average viewers could enjoy in their everyday lives.
Industry lubricant
Foureur also argued that Champagne is also the lubricant that keeps Hollywood turning, strengthening the association between the two. Moët & Chandon, she added, has been quaffed by attendees of the prestigious Cannes film festival since the 1950s. It has since become popular at movie showcases held in cities like London and Venice as well, ensuring that its popularity endures into the 21st Century.
Today, The Evening Standard argued, you are just as likely to see Champagne on the silver screen, as you were during the golden age of Hollywood. The drink flows heavily through Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Meanwhile the iconic spy James Bond continues to be associated with Dom Perignon, a brand whose products are featured on Ideal Wine Company’s Champagnes List.
Success symbol
It’s clear, therefore, that Champagne came to be associated with Hollywood, because it’s the ultimate symbol of success. A-listers started consuming this signature French drink because of its historic links to European royalty and in turn, this popularised the concept of Champagne as a luxury item among the general public. The next time you host a celebration, consider ordering a bottle of Champagne, so you can raise a toast and turn the event into a true occasion, worthy of Hollywood itself!
