Mae West: Female Don Juan

The June 1935 issue of Photoplay featured a lengthy fantasy feature on MAE WEST with charming illustrations by Frank Godwin.  This is the third installment, Part 3.
• • "Mae West Can Play Anything" written by Leo McCarey • •
• • Leo McCarey wrote:  Mae West has always wanted to do a version of the Queen of Sheba. 
• • Queen of Sheba • •
• • Leo McCarey continued:  As this glamorous biblical character is almost wholly a legendary woman, the Mae West version, however humorous, is apt to be as truthful as any.
• • Catherine the Great • •
• • Observe the billing! I submit Mae West as Catherine the Great. Am I mad? Not at all. Read your history. What sort of woman was the amazing Empress of all the Russias? Not the glorified person we have seen in pictures. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, she was a female Don Juan or Casanova, as well as a remarkably strong, dominating and fascinating woman.
• • She freely acknowledged taking her fun where she found it.
• • She was really a woman of great executive ability, and every inch an empress despite the irregularity of her moral life. To the very end, she was a great gal, good-natured and bubbling over with robust humor.
• • So much for the character that everyone will agree Mae West can play. I'll now go to the other extreme.  Mae could play a Peg o' My Heart.
• • Mae as Peg o' My Heart • •

• • Yes, I know this sounds ridiculous. What, La Belle West in curls and baby-faced innocence? No, that's not the idea. I'm talking about the plot of the play, not the character as played by the unforgettable Laurette Taylor.  
• • If Mae were to play a Peg o' My Heart, she need only forego the curls. The Irish brogue and mannerisms suit her personality to a T.   An Irish-American shop-girl, say, who finds herself suddenly transplanted into stuffy English society because of an inheritance. Can't you picture Mae in these surroundings?   . . . 
• • The very charming artwork is by Frank Godwin, who illustrated Mae West in each role,  for Photoplay.
• • This has been Part 3. And Part 4 continues tomorrow.
• • Source: Article "Mae West Can Play Anything" for Photoplay; published in the June 1935 issue.
• • On Sunday, 30 June 1935 • •
• • Frank Wallace was quite a talker when a news man was present.  He told the New York American that Jim Timony began living with Mae West and one day he pulled over in a "fine, big automobile" with Mae inside, happily wrapped up in a fur coat.  "He said I ought to realize my marriage to Mae was a fizzle and that she could not afford to be married because there was a future waiting for her in show business."
• • The newspaper ran a long interview with the washed-up vaudevillian in their issue dated for Sunday, 30 June 1935.
• • On Wednesday, 30 June 1937 • •
• • The Straits Times in Singapore was up to date with Mae West, in their own fashion. On Wednesday, 30 June 1937, this was the headline on page 12: "Mae West Comes East to Singapore." 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• •  The narrative in her latest motion picture is a plot that Miss West has often favored, and it freely reprises a lot of lines from earlier pictures.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Back in 1926, I wrote and starred in the play 'Sex,' the first time the word was ever used on stage in that manner."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Singapore paper mentioned Mae West.
• • Reuters wrote:  Mae West wants a tall, dark, handsome man.
• • Mae West wants young men with British accent to come up and see her at noon today. The 84-year-old actress, planning a film of her play "Sextette," will hold a studio audition for a "tall, dark and handsome unknown" . . .
• • Source:  Feature in New Nation (page 6); published on Wednesday, 30 June 1976
• • 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eleven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3476th 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 • • in 1935 • •
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Mae West: Satirizes Sex

The June 1935 issue of Photoplay featured a lengthy fantasy feature on MAE WEST with charming illustrations by Frank Godwin.  This is the second installment, Part 2.
• • "Mae West Can Play Anything" written by Leo McCarey • •
• • Leo McCarey wrote:  It was "actress"! 
• • Leo McCarey continued:  There is none of the poseur in Mae West.  She is so genuine in her work that she breathes life into characters that would be flamboyantly artificial in the hands of lesser players.  For example, Jeanne Eagels was the only actress who succeeded in making Sadie Thompson a believable, sympathetic character.
• • In her characterizations that we know so well in pictures today, Mae West is the soul of rhythm. Neither her seductive walk, her knowing, alluring wink, nor her languorous drawl are studied poses. I have seen several clever girls attempt to imitate Mae, but they always fail to even touch the real thing. Their Westian poses are jerky and unconvincing. In other words, the lure is lost.
• • Like our other few real actresses, Mae believes in what she is doing. She understands the necessity of rhythm and relaxation in acting. She reminds me of a "sleeping" leopard, completely relaxed, yet with all her senses fully alert for the big moment. To watch Mae play even an unimportant scene say, strolling nonchalantly across a set, stopping to light a cigarette for a man, is to watch the epitome of grace. But, to watch her really turn on the heat and "GIVE" — — I'll leave the effect on your system to your own fertile imagination.
• • I wonder how many people realize that Mae West satirizes sex? She has made our old- fashioned vampires, those mysterious, pallid, emaciated, smoky-eyed females appear as futile as they usually are in real life.  Her robust, lusty humor would do much towards humanizing several traditional characters.
• • Leo McCarey added: Mae West has always wanted to do a version of the (biblical figure) Queen of Sheba.  . . .
• • This has been Part 2. And Part 3 continues tomorrow.
• • Source: Article "Mae West Can Play Anything" for Photoplay Magazine; published in the June 1935 issue.
• • On Friday, 29 June 1934 • •
• • Mae heard more than enough objections about "It's No Sin" from Joe Breen, Catholic priests, and the censors in New York State.  "If they think it's too warm, I'll cool it off," Mae told a Newsweek reporter.  On Friday, 29 June 1934 an article appeared in The Los Angeles Herald.  Mae assured reporters she aimed to satisfy the Hays Office. 
• • On Saturday, 29 June 1935 • •

• • Paramount liaison John Hammell wrote diplomatic letters to Will Hays but his skills were sorely tested by the "Klondike Annie" project.  One of Hammell's soothing missives (dated for 29 June 1935) explained:  "The ending of our story will be a romance between Mae West and one of the characters in our picture, and it will indicate for the future a normal life and nothing that will bring condemnation from the most scrupulous."
• • On Tuesday, 29 June 1937 • •
• • Mae West was doing her part in Singapore to keep an English-speaking audience entertained on Tuesday, 29 June 1937.
• • Singapore-based readers of The Straits Times on Tuesday, 29 June 1937, saw this announcement on page 5: "Don't Come Up and See Me Sometime! COME UP AND SEE ME TONIGHT!"
• • Mae West stars in "Go West Young Man" — — with Warren William and Lyle Talbot at the Pavilion Theatre — — 2 showtimes 6:15 pm and 9:15 pm.  Snappy and saucy and crammed with laughs. And a seductive headshot of Mae was sublime.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Belle of the Nineties" — Mae West, the lureful lady with the sense of humor, again puts on bustles and an amusing show — a sketch of the life of a burlesque queen in the New Orleans of the 1890s (Paramount).
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "You can never say I refused to meet somebody half way."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Earl Wilson mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Makes a Comeback" • •
• • New York columnist Earl Wilson wrote:   I was one of Mae West's escorts at the riotous window-busting "Myra Breckenridge" premiere when she made the greatest comeback in history and won't forget when about ten of us peered out of her limousine  . . .
• • Source: Item from Earl Wilson's syndicated column; published on Monday, 29 June 1970
• • 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eleven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3475th 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 • • in 1935 • •
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Mae West: Play Anything

The June 1935 issue of Photoplay featured a lengthy fantasy feature on MAE WEST with charming illustrations by Frank Godwin.  This is the first installment, Part 1.
• • "Mae West Can Play Anything" written by Leo McCarey • •
• • Here is proof that Mae is the "type" for any role.
• • What did the Queen of Sheba say to King Solomon when she took her first peek at his thousand wives? In the same spot, Mae West would have said in her husky, languorous drawl, "What you need is one good one."
• • Can you picture our devastating Mae West playing the Queen of Sheba? l can. Having directed her but once, in "Belle of the Nineties," it is my opinion that she can play anything.  I'm serious. As a matter of fact, don't be surprised if Mae actually does appear on the screen some day in her version of the biblical romance.
• • It has been said that the real artist, an actor or actress of fascinating, dominating personality, can play anything. That is true.  Those who limit Mae to sexy roles are wrong! She is one of our most versatile actresses!
• • Mae West. Yes, she has what it takes. Her interpretation of a character should be as scintillating and believable as that of any other outstanding actress. As, say, Helen Hayes, Pauline Lord, Greta Garbo or Ruth Chatterton.  
• • True, she would undoubtedly invest each characterization with her own peculiarly intriguing personality, but what player doesn't? True, she would undoubtedly play for comedy instead of tragedy. But we all know that comedy is the very essence of humanness.
• • Mae West is essentially a great comedienne. In the art of acting, comedy is regarded as one of the most important requisites.   
• • When I first walked on a  Paramount set to direct Mae West, I didn't know whether she was actually an actress or simply a woman with an amazing personality. She hadn't finished rehearsing the first scene until I knew the answer to that one.   
• • It was "actress"!  . . .    
• • This has been Part 1. And Part 2 continues tomorrow.
• • Source: Article "Mae West Can Play Anything" for Photoplay; published in the June 1935 issue.
• • On Thursday, 28 June 1934 • •
• • On Thursday, 28 June 1934 this article written by Associated Press appeared in many newspapers in the USA and abroad — —  "It Ain't No Sin," starring Mae West, Hit by Churchmen.
• • Paramount Productions Inc., producers of Miss West's pictures, announced it was being sent back to Hollywood for revision and would be reissued another time. ... The announcements came a few days after leaders of Catholic and Jewish faiths joined in a nationwide drive against indecent movies.  ...
• • On Friday, 28 June 1946 • •
• • Mae West was starring in "Come On Up" at Cass Theatre in Detroit on Friday, 28 June 1946. The Playgoer's cover featured a beautiful portrait of Mae West perched on a divan wearing a beautiful gown with a floral pattern.
• • On Thursday, 28 June 1956 in Los Angeles • •
• • Bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay filed assault charges against Charles Krauser, who punched him out in Mae West's dressing room.  Krauser pleaded self defense.  The trial was set for Thursday, 28 June 1956 in Los Angeles.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The Mae West style influence is spreading.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Westchester County paper mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae West, whose list of “tall, dark and handsomes” has been swelling from picture to picture, attains her all time record in her new Paramount film, “Goin’ to Town,” playing at RKO Proctor’s, Mount Vernon, five days, Saturday to Wednesday, June 29, 30, July 1, 2, 3.
• • Seven “leading men” are Miss West’s total in the new picture, and not one of them has ever acted with her before. Paul Cavanagh heads the list as the man Miss West really loves, with Ivan Lebedeff, Tito Coral, Fred Kohler, Sr., Monroe Owsley, Gilbert Emery and Grant Withers, running him close seconds.
• • Alexander Hall directed “Goin’ to Town,” in which Mae West starts out as a cowboy’s sweetheart and winds up by roping in society.
• • Source: Item in The Bronxville Press (Bronville, N. Y.; published on Friday, 28 June 1935
• • 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eleven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3474th 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 Leo McCarey in 1934 • •
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