Vogues of 1938 (1937)

The blueblooded Van Kletterings are broke; debutante Wendy, slated to remedy this by marrying rich bore Henry Morgan, instead leaves him at the altar and goes to work as a model for ... See full summary »

Director:

Irving Cummings

Writers:

Bella Spewack (original screenplay), Sam Spewack (original screenplay)

Stars:

Warner Baxter, Joan Bennett, Helen Vinson

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Warner Baxter	...	George Curson
Joan Bennett	...	Wendy Van Klettering
Helen Vinson	...	Mary Curson
Mischa Auer	...	Prince Muratov
Alan Mowbray	...	Henry Morgan
Jerome Cowan	...	W. Brockton
Alma Kruger	...	Sophie Miller
Marjorie Gateson	...	Mrs. George Curtis-Lemke
Penny Singleton	...	Miss Violet Sims (as Dorothy McNulty)
Polly Rowles	...	Betty Mason
George Tapps	...	Tap Dancer (as Georgie Tapp)
Virginia Verrill	...	Singer
Fred Lawrence	...	Singer
Gloria Gilbert	...	Ballet Dancer
The Olympic Trio	...	Roller Skating Act (as Olympic Trio)

Storyline

The blueblooded Van Kletterings are broke; debutante Wendy, slated to remedy this by marrying rich bore Henry Morgan, instead leaves him at the altar and goes to work as a model for high-fashion clothing designer George Curson, whom she soon falls for. But he's happily married (at least on his side) and going into debt financing a show to please wife Mary's desire for stardom. Vindictive Morgan, jealous of George, hopes to hasten his ruin. Can the House of Curson be saved?

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Plot Keywords:

model | debutante | business competition | fashion show | singer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vogues

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1937, Max Factor Company debuted a new type of makeup that was specially designed for use in color film. This was the first film to make use of this particular brand of makeup.

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Crazy Credits

The credits appear on pieces of fabric that unroll, and after each credit appears, the fabric displaying it is cut by a fashion model with a giant pair of scissors.

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Soundtracks

"Turn On That Red Hot Heat (Burn Your Blues Away)"
(1937) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Louis Alter
Copyright 1937 by Leo Feist, Inc.
Performed by the Cotton Club Singers
Played on piano and sung by Maurice Rocco
Danced by Four Hot Shots (as The Four Hot Shots)

User Reviews

Over the rainbow

Possibly made as a direct result of the sublime RKO fashion musical of 1934 ROBERTA and certainly a direct reason why there was a sensational Technicolor fashion sequence in THE WOMEN, 1939, this absolutely breathtaking Technicolor fashion comedy made in 1937 is an art deco dream come true. A film like this is quite beyond criticism... we should just be grateful it exists to showcase the height of sophisticated design fashion women and comedy in the snazzy 1930s. Joan Bennett is Lucille Ball style gorgeous and Warner Baxter is 42nd st handsome and tough... but the highlight of this superb production is the eye-popping art deco direction and design and the fashions themselves.... how cold anyone complain about this gift from the 30s? Very few modern color 30s films exist... maybe really only NOTHING SACRED or GOLDWYN FOLLIES compare... but this one! wow! truly a sublime confection of modern Manhattan life for the nightclub and fashion set in glorious perfected Technicolor... well no written compliment can do the visuals justice when you see them. There was a huge number of new cinemas built in the mid 30s and many many old theaters were snazzed up into deco design in '37'38'39 so color films like this were used to open them, allowing the cinema and the film to have a gala opening season showing the peak of cinema technical and artistic quality... hence films like this not only served to be a delight of their own time, but they made millions by easily being chosen as the opening film in thousands of cinemas and command a huge rental fee for the privilege... hence making massive return for the producer.... VOGUES OF 1938 is a crystal rainbow of art deco life, made wisely in color in the height of the 30s art deco design boom. See it love it and show it to everyone you know... and like me, say thankyou for those wise clever producers of the mid 30s who have created a breathtaking modern masterpiece as treasured as the many gorgeous cinemas that were subsequently demolished in the 60s and 70s. They do not exist but this lovely smart funny modern film does. A very witty script and a hilarious rollerskating interlude only add to the continual delight. Yippee!