Sunday, July 15, 2012

Mae West: Darryl F. Zanuck

Darryl F. Zanuck tried to give the female lead in "My Gal Sal" to MAE WEST. He also approached Alice Faye, Irene Dunne, and Betty Grable. Studio mogul Darryl F. Zanuck did eventually work with Mae when he produced "Myra Breckinridge" in 1970. 
• • When Raquel Welch heard that Anne Bancroft had turned down the role of Myra, then she tried to snag it. She told producer Richard Zanuck, “I don’t know exactly what kind of actress you’re looking for in this role, but I was thinking if a guy was going to change his sex and wanted to be like a movie star-type of girl, don’t you think he might want to look like me?"  She did get the role but without seeing the script first.  Hmmm, how interesting.
• • Born in Nebraska on 5 September 1902, Darryl Francis Zanuck started out as an actor. He transitioned into a producer, director, writer, and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system. During his tenure, Zanuck earned three Academy Awards. In his later years, he suffered with jaw cancer and died in Palm Springs, California on 22 December 1979.  He was 77.
• • Mona Rico [15 July 1907 — 15 July 1994] • •
• • In the motion picture "Goin' to Town" starring Mae West [1935], Mona Rico was cast in a bit part as Dolores Lopez. The comely five-foot-two brunette was born and died during the month of July.
• • Starting out in life in Mexico City as Enriqueta Valenzuela on 15 July 1907, she arrived in Hollywood during 1928 as an eager, ambitious 19-year-old and quickly secured a five-year acting contract. By the next year she was co-starring opposite the great John Barrymore in "Eternal Love" [United Artists, 1929].
• • Though she did score some big screen success, Mona Rico remained poised and preoccupied on the edge of marquee recognition like a lovely, dainty moth — — attracted to the bright lights but not securely netted by Lady Luck.
• • Mona Rico died in Los Angeles on 15 July 1994.  She was 87.
• • In the 15 July 1974 issue of The New Yorker • • 
• • Edward Field's poem “Mae West” was published on page 30 in The New Yorker's issue dated for the week of 15 July 1974.
• • Mae West Flotation Device • •
• • In the month of July 1927, Peter Markus, an inventor, applied for a patent for an inflatable life vest, which in press accounts was also called the "Mae West Vest" [back on 15 July 1927], and Markus was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent Office on 11 December 1928.
• • Mae West on the Bookshelf • •
• • "Worms in the Winecup" [Scarecrow Press, 2002] is the autobiography of John Bright, a screenplay writer who gained a major reputation with his first Hollywood script, "Public Enemy," the classic gangster drama starring James Cagney.  According to his publisher, Bright's memoir provides a vivid, often savage, commentary on Hollywood and the motion picture industry, with uncompromising portraits of Darryl F. Zanuck, Mae West, Errol Flynn, John Barrymore, B. P. Schulberg, Walter Wanger, John Howard Lawson, Elia Kazan, and countless others, including his writing partners, Kubec Glasmon and Robert Tasker. Bright writes of the Communist Party in Hollywood, the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, and the House Committee on Un-American activities.
• • Among the major Hollywood films with which John Bright was involved are "Taxi" (1932), "The Crowd Roars" (1932), "If I Had A Million" (1932), "She Done Him Wrong" starring Mae West (1933), "Our Daily Bread" (1934), "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" (1942), "The Brave Bulls" (1951), and "Johnny Got His Gun" (1971).
• • Save the Date: Thursday, August 16th • •
• • Thursday, 16 August 2012 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the evening affair will start at 6:30 pm at 155 Mulberry Street.  This year Mae-mavens will enjoy an indoor event (ahhh, air conditioning), music written by Mae West's Italian husband will be played, and attendees will be seated.
• • At the Reception, Italian wine and light refreshments will be served. The ever-popular Mae West Raffle will offer rare prizes once again to a number of lucky attendees. The public is invited.
• • Mae West was born in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, 17 August 1893.
• • Closest MTA subway stations: Grand St. or Canal St.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'd rather be looked over than overlooked."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about Santa Monica mentioned Mae West.
• • Jodi Summers wrote:  The road under the bluffs has always been one of the most desirable streets in town. Hollywood legend Harold Lloyd was at 443 Beach Road, Mae West at 514, Darryl Zanuck at 546, Samuel Goldwyn at 602, Harry Warner at 605/607, Louis B. Mayer and Peter Lawford at 625, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford at 705 and Norma Shearer at 707. ...
• • Source: Article: "Santa Monica Is a Favorite Spot for Hollywood's Elite" written by Jodi Summers for Santa Monica Landmarks; published on date unknown
By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2363rd 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/
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• • Photo:
• • Mae West • with Mr. Zanuck in 1970
• •
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