An enormous international cast was assembled to do justice to MAE WEST's ambitious screenplay "Now I'm a Lady" centered around the main character Cleo Borden, who wishes to be part of the tony horsey set. Script approval was granted, at last, by the Hays Commission on 1 April 1935. Produced by Emanuel Cohen Productions (as Major Pictures), the 74-minute comedy was released in the USA on 25 April 1935 under the new title "Goin' to Town."• • Once again, Mae's marvelous and memorable costumes were the work of talented Travis Banton. The key makeup artist was Dorothy Ponedel. Even Mae's horse-riding ensemble, hat, and "outdoor look" were eye-catching.
• • Certainly, Mae-mavens will recognize this perfectly enchanting daywear from one of the scenes she has with with British actor Paul Cavanagh (cast as Edward Carrington). Perhaps because Lady Lou is seen in bed reading the National Police Gazette to hilarious effect in "She Done Him Wrong," a quick thinking prop master in 1935 stuck a copy of Town and Country Magazine in Cleo Borden's hands in this scene.
• • On 3 December 1936 • •
• • At the end of the following year — — on 3 December 1936 — — Mae was seen in this ultra-feminine dress again in a Lux Toilet Soap advertisement. This charming portrait [16 inches X 10 inches] was printed in The Los Angeles Evening Herald & Express in black and white.
• • The exaggerated "rhumba" flounce on the sleeve is photographed horizontally in the movie scene to convey a robust attitude of nearly Napoleonic determination. Compare that with the playful mood in the Lux ad, where the flounce is almost in flight and giving Mae angel wings. This is a dress you can't forget, even though the tag line suggests her upcoming picture for 1936 "Go West Young Man" and not 1935's "Goin' to Town." Thank you, Travis Banton.
• • In December, Let's Remember Monte Collins [1898 — 1951] • •
• • Mae West doted on sailors — — and several actors portrayed men in military garb in her motion pictures.
• • Born in Mae's hometown, New York City in the month of December, Monte Collins, Jr. [3 December 1898 — 1 June 1951] was the son of Monte Collins, Sr. [1856 — 1929], a durable silent screen actor.
• • Throughout the 1930s he appeared in secondary roles (businessmen, butlers, soldiers, salesmen, etc.) in both feature films as well as short subjects. He is seen briefly as a sailor in one of the circus scenes in "I'm No Angel." He appeared in 167 films between 1920 — 1948. Also a screenwriter, he penned original scripts or contributed gags and other material to 32 motion pictures between 1930 — 1951.
• • According to Columbia film historian Ted Okuda, Monte Collins was the Dan Aykroyd of his day — — a reliable, skilled comedian who usually assisted other stars in getting laughs, rather than driving the action by himself.
• • At the age of 52, the five-foot-ten performer altered the spelling of his first name to "Monty" as he was about to launch his TV career when, unfortunately, he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1951 in North Hollywood, California on the first day in June.
• • In December 1933 • •
• • "Writer's Review" was a serious monthly publication for the wordsmith and a continuing first-person column was "How I Write" (usually 3000 — 4000 words). But Mae West would title her article "How I Write My Stuff." With a sketch of Mae on the cover, "Writer's Review" [Vol. 2, No. 3 for December 1933] probably became a collector's item. The cover caption read "She Found the Popular Pulse" — — yes, indeed.
• • On 3 December 1965 • •
• • "Day Tripper" is a song by The Beatles, released as a double A-side single with "We Can Work It Out" on 3 December 1965 in the U.K. Mae West covered this song on her 1966 album "Way Out West." Her album was re-released in 2008 on CD.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm single because I was born that way."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Michael Jackson mentioned Mae West.
• • Linda Deutsch writes: A leading expert on the licensing and branding of dead celebrities believes the trial engendered so much sympathy for Michael Jackson that in the long run it will eclipse negative fallout from his past.
• • Linda Deutsch adds: "I don't think any tawdry revelations that may have come out of the trial will have any impact on his lasting legacy," said Martin Cribbs, who is based in New York. "We as a society tend to give everyone a second chance. Michael's legacy will be like Elvis and the Beatles. It will be his music, his genius. and his charitable works " Cribbs has represented the estates of such deceased luminaries as Mae West, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Steve McQueen, and others. ...
• • Source: Article: "Jackson legacy expected to thrive after trial" written by Linda Deutsch for AP; posted 2 December 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2134th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1935 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.
No comments:
Post a Comment