The Plot. 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 counter threat lead to the suggestion of putting on a legitimate show.I am completely confounded by the 7 plus rating. There is the thinnest of plots. The only thing worth waiting for (or fast forwarding to) is the Busby Berkeley number about half way thru. It features a ton of half naked babes that are hot even by today's standards. Any red blooded 12 year old male will be wanking to these babes left and right. Other than that, it's a ho hum movie. And think think Bette Davis is gonna save the movie. She's barely in it and rather out of place.

This is not the best movie I've ever seen, but it's also not the worst (far from it).I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Bette Davis before she "Bette Davis". One reviewer mentioned that she was 'unrecognizable' and I don't understand that at all. The first time she's on screen is in profile and I recognized her immediately. Yes, she's blonde in this movie but her eyes and voice are unmistakable.The whole plot of this movie was (for me) just a sideshow to the wonderful 1930's fashion (both hair and dresses). I loved the Busby Berkeley ostrich feather extravaganza. That number cannot be explained. It must be seen to be appreciated.While I'm happy this movie wasn't longer than it was, I'm also not sorry that I spent 70+ minutes of my life watching. It was an enjoyable piece of fluff.

The next to last film in William Powell's hiatus at Warner Brothers between his long stints at Paramount and MGM was Fashions of 1934. He got to work with two Warner Brothers institutions for the one and only time, Bette Davis and Busby Berkeley.Powell probably knew he would be leaving shortly and plays his part in his usual charming manner. Davis had the trapped look of a wild animal who wanted desperately not to be where she was. Things would drop into place for her later in the year with Of Human Bondage.Powell had to do a lot to make his character likable, quite frankly he's an out and out crook. He moves from one racket to another in the fashion business, from stealing designs to then working for the folks he's stealing from. He cons and blackmails people into partnership, all and all, a despicable figure. But it's William Powell so you almost forget to hate him.One who doesn't is Davis who would dearly like to see him give up his evil ways, but you certainly would think the odds were against that even at the end of the film.Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal wrote the theme for Fashions of 1934 which was Spin a Little Web of Dreams. It was used as the background for one of Busby Berkeley's more opulent numbers from the cinema. It was Berkeley's contribution to the film.The fashion industry would have seemed a natural for a Berkeley type extravaganza. I'm surprised that so mediocre a film resulted from the idea. But a pair of bored and mismatched stars didn't help the proceedings.Best in the film is Frank McHugh as Powell's assistant in scheme and Hugh Herbert the ostrich feather magnate.

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.