Fashions of 1934 (1934)

When the Manhattan investment firm of Sherwood Nash goes broke, he joins forces with his partner Snap and fashion designer Lynn Mason to provide discount shops with cheap copies of Paris couture dresses.

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

F. Hugh Herbert (screen play), Carl Erickson (screen play)

Stars:

William Powell, Bette Davis, Frank McHugh

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Powell	...	Sherwood Nash
Bette Davis	...	Lynn Mason
Frank McHugh	...	Snap
Hugh Herbert	...	Joe Ward
Verree Teasdale	...	Mabel McGuire aka The Duchess
Reginald Owen	...	Oscar Baroque
Henry O'Neill	...	Duryea
Phillip Reed	...	Jimmy
Gordon Westcott	...	Harry Brent
Dorothy Burgess	...	Glenda
Etienne Girardot	...	Glass
William Burgess	...	Feldman (as William Burress)
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Van Tyle
Spencer Charters	...	Man Removing Telephone
George Humbert	...	Caponelli

Storyline

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 counterthreat lead to the suggestion of putting on a legitimate show.

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Plot Keywords:

camera | arc de triomphe paris | passenger ship | newspaper headline | musical number | 

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Taglines:

Next Year's Fashions in Gowns-Next year's Fashions in Love-Next year's Fashions in Entertainment! (Print Ad-Telegraph-Herald, ((Dubuque, Iowa)) 10 July 1934)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Re-titled "Fashions" in order to disguise its age when licensed for television broadcast by Associated Artists (AAP) in 1956, Turner Classic Movies broadcast copy still bears this revised identity.

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Goofs

William Powell stages an elaborate revue featuring girls in ostrich-feather costumes in order to create a vogue for the feathers. Yet, in the fashion house he then opens, none of the clothes uses ostrich feathers.

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Quotes

Sherwood Nash: Oh! Baby, baby! Just in time to congratulate you.
Mabel McGuire aka The Duchess: No kidding, Sherry, how was I? Do they like me?
Sherwood Nash: Like you? Listen to them! Say, if you're half as good in the second act as you were in the first, well, Duchess, they'll make you a Queen!

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Connections

Edited into Busby Berkeley and the Gold Diggers (1969)

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Soundtracks

Spin a Little Web of Dreams
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Irving Kahal
("Broken Melody" is part of this song)
Played during the opening credits, at the end and often in the score
Sung by Verree Teasdale and chorus in the Paris revue
Sung and danced by chorus girls during the large production number

User Reviews

Art Deco, fashion, funny and risqué

Don't let the title fool you. Fashions or Fashions of 1934 is just inocently fun to watch. Considering that it was made in the middle of the depression, it gave American's what they were looking for--humor, a love story and a considerable amount of extremely sexy costumes (pre-censor). As always, William Powell is at his best and Bette Davis, is well, Bette Davis--younger and more innocent but absolutely stunningly beautiful. Powell's performance is always enhanced by supporting actors--in this case Frank McHugh who has played his comedic side kick in several other movies. The direction is excellent--good continuity tells an simple but excellent story. Fun to watch--in 1934 or today.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

14 February 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

The King of Fashion

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$317,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1