Let's Ask the Ladies

A Co-op window dresser dreams of his mannequins coming to life in this musical fashion fantasy.

Fans of 1980s rom-com Mannequin are in for a treat with this 1930s precursor, a nifty musical fantasy showing off fashion at the Co-operative Wholesale Society. The Co-op sponsored many films advertising its wares, but clothing often played second fiddle to food and other domestic goods. Running at a relatively lavish 23 minutes, this film was an attempt to re-position their dress departments as a destination for discerning women. While aping the Hollywood musical, it also riffs off the high-end fashion house showcases seen in other adverts and newsreels of the period.