1934 was a big year in the filmography of Bette Davis--just not for this film.
The story begins with con man William Powell in dire straits; his phones and furniture are being repossessed. "We need a new racket," says sidekick Frank McHugh. With the help of designer Bette Davis and ostrich feather king Hugh Hubert, they succeed in Paris.
Fashions, later renamed Fashions of 1934, is memorable for a Busby Berkeley number in a musical revue. It's a typical over-the-top Berkeley number that no stage could hold with multiple overhead shots that the audience could never see. (Check out Footlight Parade for similarly out-of-place Berkeley numbers and James Cagney.)
I had wanted to re-watch this film for some time to check out the chemistry between Bette Davis and William Powell. I was surprised and disappointed to see there wasn't much chemistry. Their romance seemed perfunctory. I didn't get when/how they fell in love.
Still, it's an enjoyable hour of film.
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