Is The March of Time: Fashion Means Business Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1947)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

The March of Time: Fashion Means Business, a standout production of 1947, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Documentary landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into 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. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Documentary are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "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."

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Westbrook Van Voorhis does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by the visionary director is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 17 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is The March of Time: Fashion Means Business truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Documentary, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, The March of Time: Fashion Means Business explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 1947 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and the visionary director respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, The March of Time: Fashion Means Business is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Westbrook Van Voorhis or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, The March of Time: Fashion Means Business is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.