House Of Gucci: The True Story Behind Fashion’s Biggest Film Of The Year

Murder, orchids and statement sweaters – what's the true story behind this Hollywood whodunit?

house of gucci film lady gaga adam driver

by Karen Dacre |
Updated on

We dreamed of a scintillating distraction and the internet delivered. The House Of Gucci is finally here. When the trailer for this long-awaited fashion biopic landed, it piqued more than a bit of interest in the movie which follows the ascent and assassination of Maurizio Gucci, former boss of the Italian fashion house. And with the premiere over, we finally get to see the full film for ourselves. But how much of House Of Gucci is actually based on a true story?

The most enthralling of these behind-the-scenes teasers we've been treated to this year showed Adam Driver, wrapped in a cable-knit jumper and thick-rimmed spectacles, standing before the perfect Alpine scene.

Beside him is the villain of the piece, the ‘Black widow’ as Maurizio’s murderous wife Patrizia Reggiani was renamed by the Milanese media. In case you hadn’t heard (is your phone broken?), she is played by Lady Gaga.

There is no need to wait until you make it to the cinema to conclude that director Ridley Scott is a casting genius. From these first glimpses, it also seems fair to speculate that we have some pretty thrilling on-screen fashion headed our way. Undoubtedly, Gaga’s Patrizia Reggiani has plenty of style inspiration to offer with her swathes of gold chains, mink Cossack hats and attention to full throttle glamour at whatever the cost. For the jumper-obsessed British public, Driver’s cable knit is also proverbial catnip.

But it is the plot line of the high fashion whodunnit (you literally couldn’t make it up) that is the real reason to watch.

lady gaga in house of gucci
Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani

In the briefest of terms - Sara G. Forden wrote a whole book on the matter - House of Gucci follows the real life events of an Italian socialite who organised the killing of her ex-husband and the father to her two young daughters in 1995.

Maurizio Gucci, grandson of Gucci founder and heir to their fashion house was one of Italy's wealthiest men before he was gunned down on the steps of his building by a hitman.

During the heyday of their relationship the couple, who married in 1972, were famed for their lavish lifestyle. Reggiani, who was rarely without a pair of dark glasses, was dubbed the “Milanese Elizabeth Taylor” while Gucci was considered an entitled rich kid and a fairly useless businessman who nearly put the family fashion empire into the ground.

Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in house of gucci
Lady Gaga

While we’ll have to wait to see which elements of the story Scott chooses to focus his camera on, it’s Reggiani’s part in this tale that will make for the most thrilling cinema. As quotable as Karl Lagerfeld, she famously said: 'I would rather weep in a Rolls-Royce than be happy on a bicycle' and made a career out of racking up bills. A cultural antihero, she sailed the Caribbean on a 200-foot yacht and had an orchid habit which is said to have set the Gucci dynasty back £9,000 per month.

The couple, who were the 1980s answer to Kim and Kanye where media interest is concerned, parted ways in 1985 when Gucci left his family to move in with his mistress. Ten years later, Reggiani ordered his killing.

Lady Gaga and Al Pacino on set of house of gucci
Lady Gaga and Al Pacino on set

When she was charged for the involvement in her husband’s murder, Reggiani starred in a courtroom drama that gripped Italy — think OJ Simpson levels of interest with Tom Ford designing the suits. Among the most fascinating details to emerge was that Reggiani had hired four accomplices to carry out Gucci's murder, one of whom was a psychic.

When she was asked by a reporter why she hadn’t shot her husband herself, Reggiani responded: 'I didn’t want to miss.'

Speaking to Grazia at the House Of Gucci premiere, Gaga explained how Reggiani's motivation remains an endless source of fascination. 'A lot of people don’t know this but when she married Mauritzio Gucci, his entire family had turned their back on him so she didn’t marry for money [as many believe]’

Gaga also points out that while many believe Reggiani had ordered a hit on Gucci for his money, she was no longer married to him at the time. ‘When he was murdered, they were divorced so there was nothing financially at stake for her. Which I found fascinating as a woman because [if it’s not for money] then it’s because she was hurt. Then it’s because it was love.’

Gallery

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READ MORE:****The House Of Gucci Just Released Its Official Trailer, And It's Everything You've Been Waiting For

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