Though the lies of actors or actresses have far less serious consequences than a statesman's deceitfulness, what DID Mae West lie about? Lots of things.
• • Here's an example.
When she got to Hollywood in 1932, 39-year-old Mae was often kidded by columnists, who constantly drew attention to her weight. Ruse: Mae started telling people that her dimensions were the same as the Venus de Milo, which meant that her measurements were "perfect." And George Raft - - not Mae - - was the star of the film Night After Night. Thanks to her former lover Raft, Mae was cast as his old girlfriend Maudie Triplett, a featured part -- her first screen role.
————————————————————————
• • Originally published: 20 June 1932 IDN
• • Newspaper: Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News
• • IDN-Columnist: Eleanor Barnes
Mae West - - big and buxom - - no indeed, svelte and blonde, blew in on the Chief from New York, tired, not cranky, but peeved at the Great American desert for providing her with weather that was too torrid for even Mae to work in. "Diamond Lil" has yet to see a movie studio first-hand. She has never even seen a talkie made - - even in Gotham. But this oversight will be a thing of the past today when Mae gets over to Paramount studios where she is to play the leading role in Night After Night.
• • RARE TRIO • •
Mae West, Helen Morgan, and Texas Guinan - - three night club queens only come West occasionally, and Mae said she put over the fastest deal she ever closed with Paramount. She signed up Wednesday, left the same night and - - as she had negotiations to put on "Constant Sinner" in Chicago, and had to stop off in the Windy City - - had to turn down staging this play in order to make a screen debut.
• • "Boy, have you reduced!" the reporters commented.
• • "Reduced - - whatcha mean, reduced?
— Don’t get me wrong - - I’m not that large and never was - - when I played ‘Diamond Lil,’ the role called for over-stuffing and I was fixed up like one of those comfy chairs you have in your swell movie drawing rooms. "I’m weighing 120 pounds and even your slim movie stars don’t strip down that small - me if I’m wrong."
Here’s what "Diamond Lil" has on her mind: First of all, she closed "Constant Sinner" when it was going swell, so that she could come to Hollywood. [Truth: the show was not selling tickets - - it bombed - - so it closed.]
• • WORK TO DO • •
She’s got to finish two novels which she contracted to deliver to the publisher in August and September.
— They are "Love For Sale" and "Diamond Lil."
She’s got to acclimate herself to her grand apartment, the Ravenswood.
She may produce "Frisco Kate" on Los Angeles’ rialto in the fall, for she thinks this is a great theatrical town.
— Her last appearance was at the Biltmore, where "The Green Pastures" is now playing to capacity houses.
"What’s wrong with the road?" she was asked about traveling theatrical troupes.
"Bum shows," said Mae, "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," and "The Green Pastures," are not worrying, are they?
— Well, if you’ve got the goods, and you know how to deliver them, you don’t have to cry about the show business."
• • SOME COSTUME • •
Sartorially Mae was rigged up to meet Adrian or Banton or Howard Greer.
— She wore a black chiffon traveling dress -- well, it was hot and Mae felt the heat - - and she wore a black turban, trimmed with black and white.
— Being a blonde, this was effective. However, Mae’s most spectacular garment was a white brocaded jacket that depended upon novel sleeves to keep it from being a vest. These sleeves were trimmed with black fox bands.
— Mae also wore black satin slippers and sheer hose.
— She said she guessed she brought the heat with her, as it has been this way since she left the Big Town. . . .
Primary Source: IDN — Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News
• • Reprinted - http://gdhamann.blogspot.com/
• • Author G.D. Hamann has published more than 170 books on movies and movie actors and actresses from the 1930's and 1940's.
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West as "Maudie Triplett" 1932
Mae West.
No comments:
Post a Comment