Roberta (1935)

The plot is needlessly convoluted: an American jazz band is hired for a gig in Paris but, when they arrive they're immediately fired for not being Indians as the boss assumed they were. The band's manager happens to have an aunt in Paris and she runs a fashion house called "Roberta." Her assistant Stephanie (Irene Dunne) is literal royalty, for some reason undercover as an apprentice designer. The band's manager goes into partnership with Stephanie when his aunt dies and leaves the business to him. By the way, Stephanie also sings (but not professionally).

The B Plot is that one of Roberta's clients (Ginger Rogers) is a demanding countess who is a singer in a nightclub looking for a band. But she's not really a countess -- she's an American faking royalty as a hook to secure a booking. And guess what? The band's conductor (Fred Astaire) used to run in the same circles with her. He agrees not to expose her if she gets him a job. There's also a huge fashion show at the end.

It doesn't make any sense. Plus, any movie that makes Astaire & Rogers the secondary story simply doesn't know what it's doing.

C