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A film crew sets up a take of a costume drama set in London, England

A costume drama is a period piece in which elaborate costumes, sets and properties are featured in order to capture the ambiance of a particular era.

The term is usually used in the context of film and television. It is an informal, crossover term that can apply to several genres but is most often heard in the context of historical dramas and romances, adventure films and swashbucklers. The implication is that the audience is attracted as much by the lavish costumes as by the content.

The most common type of costume drama is the historical costume drama, both on stage and in movies. This category includes Barry Lyndon, Braveheart, From Hell, and Robin Hood. Films that are set in the 1930s and 1940s, such as Last Man Standing, may also be placed in this category. Other examples include Marie Antoinette, Middlemarch, and Pride and Prejudice.

[edit] See also

• List of costume drama films

[edit] External links

• Period Dramas.com – a costume-drama movie database based around a historical timeline.
• Costume Chronicles Costume Drama Webzine
• carriages & corsets german language board on period drama
• Enchanted Serenity of Period Films fansite for costume dramas