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On Monday, 28 January 1935, MAE WEST fans in Sydney, Australia were able to read this film review. Here is Part 2, which concludes the excerpt. (To read Part 1, see yesterday's post.)
• • Film Review: "Belle of the Nineties" • •
• • . . . Then at the end of it all, the Belle is seen marrying her sweetheart (not the rich young man), a little ostentatiously before a Justice of the Peace.
• • "She depresses the quelt casualness of speech to ... a pianissimo" • •
• • Even though Miss West's reformation has taken away that piquant acidity which made her earlier work so vivid, she remains an extraordinarily picturesque figure. Her costumes and the dressing of her light hair make a gay extravaganza on the styles of 40 years ago — — flamboyant enough in themselves without the aid of exaggeration. The success of her style depends on under-statement in the inflections of the spoken word. Sometimes she depresses the quelt casualness of speech to such a pianissimo that it barely registers; but the Mae West followers are now so numerous and so undaunted that they will probably fill in with their own imaginations the points in the dialogue which pass over their collective heads. There Is more plot In "Belle of the Nineties" than In the earlier West creations. Towards the end, the superb sang-froid which the Belle brings to bear on a tangled situation, which Involves robbery, swindling of creditors, incendiarism, and murder, is deliciously grotesque. The copious period furnishings, complete to the last antimacassar, add to the genial spirit of the play. Released by Paramount, "Belle of the Nineties," is being screened at the Prince Edward Theatre.
• • This has been Part 2 (the conclusion). To read Part 1, see yesterday's post.
• • Note: The word "quelt" has a Scottish origin. Here's how to use it as a transitive verb: v. 1. tr. (1) Gen. of a woman: to tuck up (the skirts) so as to leave the legs free (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 88); to roll up (the sleeves) (Sh. 1960). Also with up. Gen.Sc. Ppl.adj. kilted, -et, tucked up, rolled up. [Yes, dear readers. you're welcome!]
• • Source: Film Review in The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW); published on Monday, 28 January 1935.
• • Happy Birthday on the 29th of January • •
• • Happy Birthday to actress Ann Jillian (born on Sunday, 29 January 1950), who portrayed Mae West in the 1982 TV bio-pic of the same name. Jillian was 32 when she starred in "Mae West" on the small screen.
• • Happy Birthday to actor Tom Selleck (born on Monday, 29 January 1945). It's been said by a few people that Mae West first noticed Tom Selleck in a Pepsi commercial. She was responsible for getting Selleck cast as The Stud in "Myra Breckenridge" [1970] when he was 25 years old.
• • On Monday, 29 January 1917 in Brooklyn • •
• • Mae West was a witness at her younger sister's wedding, which took place on a weekday, Monday, 29 January 1917 in Brooklyn City Hall, not far from the West family's Brooklyn residence.
• • On Sunday, 29 January 1978 in Sunday Express • •
• • Since "Sextette" had a British director, articles discussing what happened on the set in Hollywood popped up in the British tabloids. An article discussing a scene filmed in a mock elevator appeared in Sunday Express on 29 January 1978.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Sin and Sunday" • •
• • Someone asked the famous shouting evangelist, William Ashley "Billy" Sunday [19 November 1862 — 6 November 1935], who had just visited Mae West on the Paramount Pictures lot and had his picture taken with her, what he thought of the curvacious Mae.
• • "She convinces me that sin isn't as unattractive as I thought it was," Billy Sunday smiled, "that is, not her kind of sin."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If you need a face job, why not?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The e-book "Rites of Passage: Mae West Society" mentioned Mae West.
• • The provocative Mae West Society wants to induct Lila, age 18, into their secret organization. She must complete a personal challenge of merit or fail to be accepted. . . .
• • "To join our elite entourage you must prove yourselves worthy of membership," the ice queen continued. The room erupted in unison. "In the name of Mae West, we always do our best!" . . . The Mae West members wore a special garter with their initiation date on their left thigh at all times. Unlike other groups, they only took a select few each year. . . .
• • Source: Excerpt from a 36-page e-book written by Alyssa Lingers; self published on Friday, 20 March 2015
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •
• • Thank
you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these
past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a
milestone recently when we completed 3,300 blog posts. Wow!
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3366th 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 • • in 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
On Monday 28 January 1935, MAE WEST fans in Sydney, Australia were able to read this film review. Her latest motion picture had just landed Down Under.
• • Film Review: "Belle of the Nineties" • •
• • It is obvious that the American "purity campaign" or the local censor, or possibly both, have caused the latest Mae West film to be considerably cut down and reshaped. In her last vehicle, "I'm No Angel," it was precisely the audacities of Miss West — — the impertinent way In which she burlesqued the bygone "vampire" of the screen — — that made her amusing. When the moral crusade suddenly reared its head In America, she had already been even more daring in the present picture, as it then stood in the studios. The film went to New York for release. The State censor refused to admit it unless it was modified and retitled. Back it went to Hollywood. The directors of Paramount thought of calling it "Belle of New Orleans" — — an apparently Innocuous name. But the leading citizens of the southern city showed such horror at the thought of Mae West being identified with New Orleans that Hollywood had to think again. It finally emerged with "Belle of the Nineties."
• • The continuity jumps a good deal. Scenes sometimes begin, and do not come to what seems their predestined end. Occasionally dark shadows arise inexplicably from the floor. But what betokens the influence of decency most sensationally is the emphasis placed on the Belle's fundamentally moral outlook. Having dazzled a silly young man Into giving her diamonds worth a fortune. Miss West appears in a scene with her coloured maid, and remarks that she will give the jewels back. She had no right, she says, to take them m the first place. Impossible to imagine the luscious charmer of "I'm No Angel" giving back jewels in whatever circumstances they were obtained! Then at the end of it all, the Belle . . .
• • This has been Part 1. Part 2 continues tomorrow.
• • Source: Film Review in The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW); published on Monday, 28 January 1935.
• • On Saturday, 28 January 1978 in Los Angeles • •
• • Trying to catch up on paperwork on a Saturday, Mae was paying bills. A personal check was signed by Mae West on Saturday, 28 January 1978. It was payable to "Dept. of Water and Gas" for the sum of $18.47.
• • On Saturday, 28 January 2012 • •
• • It was a very warm Saturday, 28 January 2012, when acclaimed Australian actress Marie-Therese Byrne took on the challenge of portraying Mae West in "Courting Mae West," a serious-minded comedy written by LindaAnn Loschiavo. A one-time only presentation Down Under, the play had a rehearsed reading in the style of a 1930s radio play under the spirited direction of Cameron Menzies during the Midsumma Festival, which was then in its 24th year.
• • Australia's trendy L.O.T.L. Magazine said: "Those in the mood for some titillating theatre should consider 'Courting Mae West,' part of Midsumma's Playing in the Raw season."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West and the Paramount studio jointly accused each other of voiding her movie contract today.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "The curve is the loveliest distance between two points."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Australian paper in Perth mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Is Banned Over Radio" • •
• • ("The Sunday Times" Special Message.)
• • New York, Saturday — — The National Broadcasting Company from its headquarters here has issued definite instructions that the name of Mae West must not be mentioned over any station in the network which it controls.
• • It is believed that this is the result of violent objection that followed Miss West's recent appearance, after a four-year absence from the air, in a sketch entitled "Adam and Eve."
• • Source: Item in Sunday Times (Perth); published on Sunday, 30 January 1938
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •
• • Thank
you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these
past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a
milestone recently when we completed 3,300 blog posts. Wow!
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3365th 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 • • in 1938 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
