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.
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.