Friday, May 23, 2014

Mae West: Banned in Brisbane

MAE WEST made front page news on May 24th when her latest motion picture was outlawed "in any Australian state." It seems the objection centered not on the dialogue but instead on the actions of her character, Rose, the Frisco Doll. Rose has committed a murder but later in the script she assumes the guise of a soul-saving evangelist.  Let's investigate.
• • "Mae West Film Banned" • • 
• • "From Murderess to Army Lassie" • • 
• • SYDNEY, Saturday — — Mae West's new picture, "Klondyke Annie," has been banned by the Federal film censorship.
• • It cannot be exhibited in any Australian State. In New Zealand, however, the film was permitted to be released.
• • It is competent for the film exchange concerned to appeal to the Appeals Board against the decision of the censorship.
• • In "Klondyke Annie'' Mae West plays the role of a woman who has committed a murder, and is escaping to Alaska on board a ship. The only other passenger, a Salvation Army lassie, dies just before the vessel reaches Nome.
• • Mae lands in the goldfields town wearing a Salvation Army uniform, and immediately begins an uplift campaign.
• • Source: Article: "Mae West Film Banned" in Sunday Mail (Brisbane); published on Sunday, 24 May 1936.
• • On Wednesday, 23 May 1928 • •
• • An article in Variety discussed the costumes designed by Dolly Tree for Mae West.
• • Variety wrote about Mae's lingerie for her boudoir scenes, those daring nighties of "heavy cream lace and yellow chiffon flounces"  . . .
• • Source: Article: "Diamond Lil'' written by the Drama Desk of Variety; published on Wednesday, 23 May 1928.
• • On Monday, 23 May 1949 in Life • •
• • Actress Sarah Churchill had the cover of Life Magazine's issue dated for 23 May 1949 but inside there was a grand pictorial devoted to Mae West — — all this for 20 cents.
• • The article "America's favorite hussy comes back again as Diamond Lil" began on page 104. Life featured rarely seen half-tones from the 1920s: Mae onstage in "Sex"; Mae with the cast in court; Mae shaking hands with the prison warden of Welfare Island; Mae pointing to "the pie wagon" she rode in after her arrest as she explains prison life to a group of society women; etc.  Life included photos of Mae as a Hollywood star, too.
• • Life wrote: "At 55 Mae is handsomer than ever," emphasizing this point with a colorful full-page portrait of the Broadway icon costumed for her show in a black, gray, and white gown rimmed with gray fur and crowned with a saucy hat, so heavy that she must steady it with a gray-gloved hand.  A portrait fit for a Bowery queen.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Record N. Y. Paramount Run" • •
• • By holding over for a fifth week, Mae West's "Goin' to Town" sets the big-run record at the New York Paramount, it was pointed out yesterday by Boris Morros, managing director. Previous record of four weeks also was held by a Mae West film, "I'm No Angel."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I've always believed a homosexual is a male body trapped with a female soul. They must experience both male and female emotions before they can become free."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A political gadfly mentioned Mae West.
• • "GDS and security, Mae West and Estonia" • •
• • D. Moss,Esq. wrote: Servicemen during the Second World War kept their morale up in many ways. Among others by having pin-ups, dear old Mae West among them.  ...
• • Source: D. Moss, Esq., columnist; posted on Friday, 16 May 2014
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2920th 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 front page in 1936

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