Movie spotlight
The March of Time: Fashion Means Business
Fashion Means Business (MARCH OF TIME) compactly investigates that heavy, nervous industry which whets woman's desire to improve, with various fabrics and gewgaws, upon the pelt God gave her. The film ranges, within 18 minutes, from the elegant fountainheads of Parisian and U.S. design, to those frenetic dress foundries along Manhattan's Seventh Avenue in which as many as 100 identical garments are cut in a few swerves of power-driven super-scissors. There are also instructive glimpses of the machinery which stamps a season's fashions upon a whole continent at once: the fashion magazines, the provincial fashion editors, the out-of-town buyers. Respects are also paid to I.L.G.W.U., a strong, shrewd union which realizes that management's Golden Goose needs feeding as well as bleeding.
Insights
Plot Summary
This installment of 'The March of Time' newsreel series delves into the burgeoning and complex world of the fashion industry. It showcases how clothing design, manufacturing, and marketing have become a significant economic force, influencing trends and employing thousands. The film explores the behind-the-scenes processes, from initial design concepts to the final presentation on the runway and in department stores.
Critical Reception
As a documentary short within a respected newsreel series, 'Fashion Means Business' was produced to inform and engage audiences about a specific industry. Its reception would have been part of the broader positive reception of 'The March of Time' for its informative and often insightful portrayals of contemporary American life and industry. Contemporary reviews likely focused on its thoroughness and its ability to make a complex industry accessible.
What Reviewers Say
Provides an informative look at the inner workings of the fashion industry.
Highlights the economic impact and global reach of clothing design and manufacturing.
Effectively demystifies the process from creation to consumer.
Google audience: Audience reception data for this specific short documentary from 1947 is not readily available through typical public review platforms.
Fun Fact
The 'March of Time' series, known for its dramatic reenactments and engaging narration, often tackled a wide range of social, economic, and political topics, making it a significant source for understanding mid-20th century American concerns.
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