Mae West: David Niven

“Men are my hobby,” quipped MAE WEST. But finding the right leading man for the silver screen was a business. Debonair actor David Niven’s recollection of meeting the Brooklyn Bombshell appeared in his memoir. Pour yourself a sniffer of brandy and let’s take a look.
• • “The Hollywood dream that became a nightmare: From playing a debauched drunk to being interviewed by Mae West, David Niven's introduction to Tinseltown was a blast... but as our third extract from his memoir reveals, tragedy was just around the corner” • •
• • By David Niven for The Daily Mail – rpt on 18 May 2020

• • David Niven wrote: But Harry [Bouquet] had been right when he said everyone got to see these things because, a few days later, I got a call from Paramount. Mae West wanted to interview me as her possible leading man.
• • David Niven wrote: I was ushered into a huge office and seated behind a Mussolini-type desk was a small, round, platinum-blonde woman flanked by assistants on both sides. She never spoke. The men asked various questions, and then asked me to take off my jacket. And my shirt.
• • David Niven wrote: After I had turned around a few times, I was told to go and report to the casting office, then wait for a call. The next day I had a visitor I was not expecting. A pale-faced man in a dark suit was waiting for me in the hotel lobby.
• • David Niven wrote: ‘I’m from the U.S. Immigration Service, Mr. Niven. Now let me see . . .’ He had some documents, ‘you arrived in San Pedro four weeks ago. You asked for and were granted a ten-day visitor’s visa. You are, therefore, now in this country illegally. You have 24 hours to be off United States territory.’ …
• • Editor: David Niven [1 March 1910 —29 July 1983] eventually returned to Hollywood. Paul Cavanaugh had been hired to star opposite Mae West during his absence.
• • Source: The Daily Mail; Extracted from “The Moon’s a Balloon” by David Niven, published by Penguin, £9.99. © David Niven 1971; reposted on Monday, 18 May 2020.
• • On Tuesday, 4 June 1935 • •
• • Mae West was the cover girl for the French publication Midinette Journal Illustrate. Issue # 425 was dated for Tuesday, 4 June 1935. Oooh-la-la.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West seemed to be impressed by his muscular build. David Niven was definitely no Tarzan but athletics, sports, and Army life had given his tall lean frame impressive muscles. The studio bosses said they wanted to see him again.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “When I sin, I'm in like Flynn.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A book on David Niven mentioned Mae West.
• • Karin J. Fowler wrote: Director Edmund Goulding introduced David Niven to Mae West, who was known to like handsome young Englishmen.
• • Karin J. Fowler wrote: Things seemed to be looking up for Niven, at least temporarily. …
• • Source: "David Niven: A Bio-bibliography" by Karin J. Fowler (Greenwood Publishing Group): published on Thursday, 23 March 1995
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • •
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — —
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 15th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,489th 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 1936 • •
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