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 Burress	...	Feldman
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:

Two Big Stars in One!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

14 February 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

The King of Fashion

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only film where Bette Davis and William Powell appeared together. This was Powell's last film at Warner Bros. before he moved to MGM.

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Goofs

After the trio leaves the Bouquinistes (book sellers) along the Seine, the matte background previously showing Notre Dame Cathedral is no longer there.

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Quotes

Oscar Baroque: You're still carrying a torch for that Nash, aren't you? Listen, Lynn, I'm crazy about you! Why don't you forget that worthless...
Lynn Mason: No account!
Oscar Baroque: Double-crossing!
Lynn Mason: Lying!
Oscar Baroque: Two-timing!
Lynn Mason: Chiseling!
Oscar Baroque: Unscrupulous!
Lynn Mason: Unfaithful!
Oscar Baroque: Son of a...
Lynn Mason: So-and-so! It's no use, Jimmy! I can top every adjective you can give me.
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998)

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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

romp in the fashion industry

It's a caper in the fashion industry. The awesome, charming William Powell, as the forger and faker who moves from one scheme to another, and one country to another. Bette Davis is Lynn, his sidekick. Davis was just getting going in show biz, and would quickly move into some bigger roles. The hilarious Frank McHugh and Hugh Herbert are both along for comedic laughs. and of course... Busby Berkeley directing some huge, gigantic song and dance routine involving TONS of dancers ( as usual). there's a love (triangle) story in amonst the goings on in the fashion world. Which gir will end up with which guy? and which guy will end up with which business? shenanigans that wouldn't be allowed for much longer, under that dreaded stronger film code that would be installed pretty soon after this. it's pretty good. Director Dieterle has an interesting story on wikipedia.