Fashions of 1934 (1934)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Harry Collins (story) &
Warren Duff (story) ...

Release Date:

14 February 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

Plot:

Sherwood Nash is a swindler who bootlegs Paris fashions for sale at cut-rate prices. His assistant Lynn...

Plot Keywords:

Camera | Fraud | New York City | Musical Number | Fashion Show

Cast

William Powell	...	Sherwood Nash
Bette Davis	...	Lynn Mason
Frank McHugh	...	Snap
Hugh Herbert	...	Joe Ward
Verree Teasdale	...	Grand Duchess Alix
Reginald Owen	...	Oscar Baroque
Henry O'Neill	...	Duryea
Phillip Reed	...	Jimmy Blake
Gordon Westcott	...	Harry Brent
Dorothy Burgess	...	Glenda
Etienne Girardot	...	Glass
William Burress	...	Feldman
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Van Tyle
Spencer Charters	...	Man Removing Telephone
George Humbert	...	Caponelli

Also Known As:

Fashion Follies (USA) (working title)
Fashions (USA) (TV title)
The King of Fashion (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2692-R)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

'Eula Gay' is in studio records for the role "Cook" but does not appear in the movie.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Three Cheers for the Girls (1943)

Soundtrack:

Untitled

Above Average Programmer

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.