Fashions of 1934 (1934)

Load of rubbish!!

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The Plot. Sherwood Nash is a swindler who bootlegs Paris fashions for sale at cut-rate prices. His assistant Lynn poses as An American interested in a dress and Snap conceals a camera in his cane. When they try to steal the latest Baroque designs hidden cameras capture them. Threat and counter threat lead to the suggestion of putting on a legitimate show.I am completely confounded by the 7 plus rating. There is the thinnest of plots. The only thing worth waiting for (or fast forwarding to) is the Busby Berkeley number about half way thru. It features a ton of half naked babes that are hot even by today's standards. Any red blooded 12 year old male will be wanking to these babes left and right. Other than that, it's a ho hum movie. And think think Bette Davis is gonna save the movie. She's barely in it and rather out of place.

William Powell heads a house of fashion known for its knock-offs of Parisian gowns, and utilizes the assistance of a former lover turned phony duchess (Veree Teasdale), whom he immediately recognizes upon their meeting. This upsets his "Girl Friday" and current love interest (Bette Davis), but they reach their goal of putting on a fantastic fashion show where threats of a lawsuit ensue for fraud.This intended follow-up to the success of "Gold Diggers of 1933" is basically a second string romantic comedy with one huge Busby Berkley musical number, "Spin a Little Web of Dreams", an outlandish combination of feathers, human harps and a set that goes on forever. (In other words, clothes that every woman would probably drool over but never find an opportunity to wear). It is worth seeing entirely for that and its fantastic cast-in addition to Powell, Davis and Teasdale (an almost forgotten clothes horse who was quite an adept scene-stealer), there's also Hugh Herbert, Frank McHugh and Reginald Owen (truly droll as Teasdale's stuffy husband), lots of witty pre-code wisecracks and innuendos, and a romantic view of the world that probably never existed yet is still fun to dream about. McHugh is very funny as he keeps trying to find places to have "private" time with different chorus girls and keeps getting caught as sets fall over, move or are lifted. While mothers of young girls complained about not wanting their daughter to grow up to be a "human harp", you can't help but wonder if it is because they secretly desired to be the ones covered in the feathers themselves.

Bette Davis looks so beautiful in this confection of a film that celebrates the glorious fashions of the early 1930's. This film will start a love affair for life with the clothes here. If only we could look as lovely every day. William Powell and Bette Davis are mere side lines in this film that was made in the height of the Great Depression. The story of a conman in the fashion world of the 1930's is an usual storyline but it gives opportunity for an insiders look at this world that we really know and understand very little especially at this time. There are some unusual scenes that include a walking stick that is a camera. The main musical scene has girls as harps. It is absolutely enchanting.

Despite its garish title, "Fashions of 1934" is actually a pretty decent movie, certainly better than the bad reputation it's stuck with. Armed with a snappy script and fast paced direction, the actors in "Fashions" shine, showing off their abilities, whether they be comedic, dramatic or both. William Powell makes a good old rascal, the decent "un decent" man that was a virtual staple at Warner Bros. (the studio who produced this film) at the time. Bette Davis, all glammed up in red lipstick and classy dresses, shows off a rare ability for humor, fitting right in to the film's light hearted tone. As Powell's sidekick, Frank McHugh almost steals the show, mastering and even rising above the script's punchlines by exaggerated facial expressions and crude but effective slapstick. "Fashions of 1934" isn't a comedy classic nor does it aim to be one. It simply wants to entertain the audience with good humor, effective acting and direction that moves things along at a quick pace. By all accounts, it has succeeded.