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IMDbPro

Fashions of 1934

  • 1934
  • Approved
  • 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Bette Davis, William Powell, Hugh Herbert, Frank McHugh, and Verree Teasdale in 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.
Play trailer2:43
1 Video
27 Photos
ComedyDramaMusical

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 cou... Read allWhen 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.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
    • Carl Erickson
    • Harry Collins
  • Stars
    • William Powell
    • Bette Davis
    • Frank McHugh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Dieterle
    • Writers
      • F. Hugh Herbert
      • Carl Erickson
      • Harry Collins
    • Stars
      • William Powell
      • Bette Davis
      • Frank McHugh
    • 46User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:43
    Trailer

    Photos27

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    Top cast81

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    William Powell
    William Powell
    • Sherwood Nash
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Lynn Mason
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • Snap
    Hugh Herbert
    Hugh Herbert
    • Joe Ward
    Verree Teasdale
    Verree Teasdale
    • Mabel McGuire aka The Duchess
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Oscar Baroque
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Duryea
    Phillip Reed
    Phillip Reed
    • Jimmy
    Gordon Westcott
    Gordon Westcott
    • Harry Brent
    Dorothy Burgess
    Dorothy Burgess
    • Glenda
    Etienne Girardot
    Etienne Girardot
    • Glass
    William Burress
    William Burress
    • Feldman
    Nella Walker
    Nella Walker
    • Mrs. Van Tyle
    Spencer Charters
    Spencer Charters
    • Man Removing Telephone
    George Humbert
    • Caponelli
    Frank Darien
    Frank Darien
    • Jules
    Harry Beresford
    Harry Beresford
    • Paris Bookseller
    Loretta Andrews
    Loretta Andrews
    • Chorus Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Dieterle
    • Writers
      • F. Hugh Herbert
      • Carl Erickson
      • Harry Collins
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews46

    6.62.1K
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    Featured reviews

    8timshome205

    Great piece of the 1930's

    A previous reviewer called this film "dated". I'm always rather amused by such a comment. Of course it's dated--the film was made in 1933! That's precisely what makes it so charming. It's a slice of Americana, circa 1933, that you are unlikely to find in any other way. The music, the fashions, the decor, even Busby Berkely's over-the-top, wonderful production number all add up to a fantastic glimpse of our past. The art deco sets alone are worth the price of admission (which on TCM is free!). Throw in some marvelously talented actors who may not have been doing their best work--but they were entertaining just the same--and you have a simply marvelous little piece of cinematic magic. And that tune--"Spin a Little Web of Dreams"--I can't get it out of my head!
    7blanche-2

    fluffy fun

    "Fashions of 1934" is an amusing light comedy starring William Powell and Bette Davis.

    Davis looks much more sophisticated than she did in "The Man Who Played God." She's very glamorous and also very good in a film that's mainly fueled by Powell's performance as a con man.

    The Powell character goes from con to con, sometimes a con within a con - he can't resist. One of his schemes is to copy fashion sketches from Paris and pass them off as originals.

    Another is to sell a surplus of ostrich plumes by featuring them in a musical revue. This gives rise to a great musical number, "Spin a Little Web of Dreams." It's a Busby Berkeley kaleidoscope production. The audience at the musical revue, however, didn't see it as moviegoers did - from above.

    This is a fun movie and notable for the actual fashions shown, a good performance by Powell, a spectacular number, and early Davis before she established her screen persona.
    7gbill-74877

    Ah, those ostrich feather bikinis

    The plot of this film wanders all over the place, from various schemes of a con man in the fashion world (William Powell) to a few melodramatic romantic interests. The highlight worth waiting for is the ostrich feather musical number choreographed by Busby Berkeley, as well as a smaller number showing fashion designs inspired from historical figures. Until then, Powell is reasonably engaging in pursuing a young woman he's hired to sketch fashions (Bette Davis) as well as an old lover masquerading as an aristocrat in Paris (Verree Teasdale). To the latter, he says he never forgets her "personality" after swatting her behind, which reminded me of the playful euphemism in the 1946 song of the same name by Johnny Mercer. Davis is pretty and very chic, though she's unfortunately underused. It's great to see the fashion elements which appear throughout the film, but the rest of the cast and their various subplots don't add much. Frank McHugh plays a guy who laughs in a silly way in response to anything, including seeing the "filthy" postcards a bookseller is trying to push, and Hugh Herbert is sedate as an ostrich feather supplier who drinks too much. Of course, right? The film was released early enough in 1934 to beat the enforcement of the Production Code, and as a result there are lots of revealing outfits on display, including ostrich feather bikinis which predate the modern bikini by over a decade. Worth watching for the stars, fashion designs, and the musical numbers, but don't expect much more.
    8cfl-1

    a love affair with 1930's fashion

    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.
    dougdoepke

    High Fashion Entertainment

    Old time Hollywood doesn't come much slicker than this- a fast talking Powell, a fast moving screenplay, lots of scantily clad girls, and plenty of snappy dialogue. All add up to a WB topper, and catch that Busby Berkeley choreographed show stopper. Have ostrich plumes ever been used to greater dance effect than with Berkeley's artistic eye. Then too, guys, the chorines are about as near-nude as even pre-Code would allow. And that's along with parades of statuesque ladies modeling the year's high fashions. It's also Bette Davis as a near ingenue in her pre-feisty phase. Still, I could have done without two gag men (McHugh & Herbert) furnishing what amounts to unnecessary comedy relief, the snappy dialogue already supplying as much as needed.

    Overall, Powell dominates the speedy proceedings showing his rare talent for charm and presence. Then too, the plot's an engaging one as Powell moves effortlessly from one slick fashion scam to the next. But you may need a scorecard to keep up. Also, check out IMDB's trivia for interesting production facts, like what Davis objected to in her part.

    All in all, it's pre-Code Hollywood at its most liberated and engaging, so don't pass it up. Plus, the colorful results are a can't-miss for fans of Powell like me.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Two things are notable: the only time the studio glamorized Bette Davis (she hated it) and a stupendous Busby Berkeley number where women's belly-buttons are prominently featured (under the code they would disappear for almost 25 years).
    • Goofs
      After the trio leaves the Bouquinistes (book sellers) along the Seine, the matte background previously showing Notre Dame Cathedral is no longer there.
    • Quotes

      Glenda: Something tells me the Golden Investment Corporation is about ready to Rest In Peace. I'm not much fun at a funeral. So, toot-toot!

      [exits]

      Snap: Lovely girl - when you're in the money.

    • Connections
      Edited into Busby Berkeley and the Gold Diggers (1969)
    • 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

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Fashion Follies
    • Filming locations
      • Paris, France(establishing shots - archive footage)
    • Production company
      • First National Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $317,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 18m(78 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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