Vogues of 1938

Decided to watch this film and see what was going on in 1937 and what the charming ladies looked like in order to attract the opposite sex. Well, hats were the in THING, along with FURS, and some pretty nice styles with wild woman's hairdo's. Joan Bennett, (Wendy Van Klettering),"Scarlet Street",'45, was very slim and trim and very attractive with a rather sexy voice. Wendy was not very happy about getting married and became " A Runaway Bride" in the 1930's. The husband she was to marry was, Alan Mowbray,(Henry Morgan),"I Wake Up Screaming",'41, who played a rather dumb role and gave a great supporting role. Warner Baxter, (George Curson), "Shadows in the Night",'41, ran a model agency and had all the best looking gals show off their fancy clothing. There was a great scene at the "COTTON CLUB", and fantastic dancing and way out musicians. If you want to take a look way back into the past and see how that generation enjoyed themselves, this is worth viewing.

Vivid Technicolor, startling camerawork, swellegant fashions, and that's about it. One great song ("That Old Feeling") and a couple of beguiling specialty acts, but they're nobodies and totally unrelated to the rest of the action, so how much can you care? The story is trite and feeble even by the meager standards of 1930s musicals, and star power is lacking.

This film is a fun diversion. It is a beautiful example of early Technicolor photography and it looks as if it has been restored. The sets and costumes will be of interest to any one who loves art decco. Unfortunately this is not a Busby Berkley film.It lacks big production numbers and is dull in parts.

Possibly made as a direct result of the sublime RKO fashion musical of 1934 ROBERTA and certainly a direct reason why there was a sensational Technicolor fashion sequence in THE WOMEN, 1939, this absolutely breathtaking Technicolor fashion comedy made in 1937 is an art deco dream come true. A film like this is quite beyond criticism... we should just be grateful it exists to showcase the height of sophisticated design fashion women and comedy in the snazzy 1930s. Joan Bennett is Lucille Ball style gorgeous and Warner Baxter is 42nd st handsome and tough... but the highlight of this superb production is the eye-popping art deco direction and design and the fashions themselves.... how cold anyone complain about this gift from the 30s? Very few modern color 30s films exist... maybe really only NOTHING SACRED or GOLDWYN FOLLIES compare... but this one! wow! truly a sublime confection of modern Manhattan life for the nightclub and fashion set in glorious perfected Technicolor... well no written compliment can do the visuals justice when you see them. There was a huge number of new cinemas built in the mid 30s and many many old theaters were snazzed up into deco design in '37'38'39 so color films like this were used to open them, allowing the cinema and the film to have a gala opening season showing the peak of cinema technical and artistic quality... hence films like this not only served to be a delight of their own time, but they made millions by easily being chosen as the opening film in thousands of cinemas and command a huge rental fee for the privilege... hence making massive return for the producer.... VOGUES OF 1938 is a crystal rainbow of art deco life, made wisely in color in the height of the 30s art deco design boom. See it love it and show it to everyone you know... and like me, say thankyou for those wise clever producers of the mid 30s who have created a breathtaking modern masterpiece as treasured as the many gorgeous cinemas that were subsequently demolished in the 60s and 70s. They do not exist but this lovely smart funny modern film does. A very witty script and a hilarious rollerskating interlude only add to the continual delight. Yippee!

Joan Bennett runs out on her wedding day and takes up with fashion designer Warner Baxter in "Vogues of 1938" which is a combination of musical numbers and fashion shows with a little plot in between. And it's in Technicolor! Bennett has reddish-blonde hair here and resembles Lucille Ball a little but her voice is similar to her sister Constance. I'm so used to her as a beautiful brunette that the change took some getting used to - it has to be shortly after that she did a screen test for "Gone With the Wind," and by then, she had dark hair. In this story, after she abandons her wedding, she falls for the married Baxter (who designed and made her gown) and becomes a model in his fashion house. Baxter's wife is an ambitious performer who persuades him to back a show she's in - and it nearly breaks him.

There are some great scenes - I have to admit, I thought the roller skaters were spectacular. There was a wonderful scene at the Cotton Club, another at El Morocco, and the entire finale is a fashion show done as a musical. The gowns and suits are gorgeous.

Precious little plot here but plenty of shots of the New York of the '30s, some good music, dancing, gowns - and oh, those roller skaters!