Mae West: A Great Kick

The June 1935 issue of Photoplay featured a lengthy fantasy feature on MAE WEST with charming illustrations by Frank Godwin.  Here's the sixth installment, Part 6, the conclusion.
• • "Mae West Can Play Anything" written by Leo McCarey • •
• • Leo McCarey wrote:  Mae never says "Come up and see me some time" to the wrong guy.  
• • Leo McCarey continued:   The audiences get a great kick out of Mae. Because they get as many laughs as they do thrills.  
• • Salvation Nell and more • •

• • I have mentioned a few of the girls Mae West could play if she chose to — Sheba, Catherine, Stella, Peg, Nell, and Cherry. It would not be at all difficult to picture her as Madame X, Salvation Nell, DuBarry, Salomy Jane, Anna Christie, or even the gal I've re- served for the last.
• • How about Mae playing opposite, say, John Barrymore, in "The Taming of the Shrew"? Shades of Shakespeare! This is no jest.
• • After all, you know, the Bard of Avon's women were down-to-earth gals. In my opinion, Mae could play the shrewish Katharina to John's domineering Petrucchio as well as most of our modern actresses.
• • Why not have a go at some of these girls,  Mae? Why not, indeed?
• • Here are the reasons:
• • 1 . . . "She Done Him Wrong" made picture history.
• • 2 . . . "I'm No Angel" made more money.
• • 3 . . . "Belle of the Nineties" (despite censorship) is making new records.
• • Leo McCarey added: Sure, Mae West can change her character, but who wants her to? I don't.
• • This has been Part 6, the conclusion of this fascinating feature.
• • Source: Article "Mae West Can Play Anything" for Photoplay; published in the June 1935 issue.
• • On Tuesday, 5 July 1932 in Variety • •
• • Casting problems caused delays for Paramount in the summer of 1932. As Mae waited to film her scenes with George Raft, as his former flame Maudie, offers came in for her to create material for others.  In their issue dated for Tuesday, 5 July 1932, Variety printed this headline: "Mae Mulls Sock Yarns for Marlene and Jean."
• • Mae demurred.  Years later, explaining the situation to a British reporter, she admitted to being reluctant.  "If I thought of something funny," said Mae, "I wasn't about to give it to them."
• • On Monday, 5 July 1943 • •
• • "Mae West Stages Screen Comeback" • •
• • Hollywood, July 5, Associated Press — Mae West, who added a dash of hip-swinging when she revived the Lillian Russell era, is coming back to the screen after a two-year respite.
• • Associated Press wrote:  And if you should go up to see her sometime, you'd learn our "Diamond Lil" is going tropical.
• • Associated Press wrote: The blond Miss West (buxom only by costume) stated in an interview yesterday that she is already at work on a film with a hot country setting for Columbia Pictures.  Mexico will provide part of the background.
• • Source:  Spokane Daily Chronicle (page 11) printed this on 5 July 1943.
• • On Sunday, 5 July 1970 • •
• • While the motion picture "Myra Breckinridge" was not a hit, the media exposure engendered a "Mae West revival," explained The New York Post.
• • On Sunday, 5 July 1970 The New York Times ran an interview with Mae West. It was a good chance to tell her fans what she thought of Gore Vidal's novel and the screenplay.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Paramount had a long, hot summer wrestling with the Hays Office over the script for "Klondike Annie." 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "He who hesitates is a damned fool."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Argus focused on Mae West.
 • • Mae West's Latest Burlesque of Herself • •
• • The Argus wrote: Regarded merely as a gorgeous burlesque of herself, Mae West's performance in Paramount's "Go West Young Man" is precisely what would be expected of her, a caricature of a voluptuous Hollywood star with a reputation and a "public" to be considered.  . . .
• • Source: Article: "Mae West's Latest Burlesque of Herself" in The Argus (on page 7); published on Monday, 5 July 1937
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past twelve 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 twelve years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3479th 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Frank Godwin's artwork, 1935 • •
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Mae West: Nurtured in the Raw

The June 1935 issue of Photoplay featured a lengthy fantasy feature on MAE WEST with charming illustrations by Frank Godwin.  This is the fifth installment, Part 5.
• • "Mae West Can Play Anything" written by Leo McCarey • •
• • Leo McCarey wrote:  I should like to see Mae West play the [Stella Dallas] role, if only to demonstrate her latent versatility as an actress. 
• • Go West • •
• • Leo McCarey continued:   Suppose Mae were to go West? No pun intended, as "West" is a geographical location in this instance. One of the finest roles in all fiction awaits her. A great woman, nurtured in the raw of the man-made Western pioneer world. A stern-fibered give-and-take girl who was much finer than most of her sheltered sisters.
• • I give you Mae West as Cherry Malotte in  "The Spoilers."
• • In the Rex Beach epic of the Alaskan gold rush days, Mae could go dramatic to the hilt. A touch of rollicking Westian humor here and there, but essentially tragic and bitter.
• • Can you picture, as I can, Mae as the faro dealer taking the boys? Or, playing a losing game for the hero's love with that gay "you can be had" attitude?
• • What else could she play? Well, how about that swell little person whose kindly, lovable nature captivated Charles the First quite as much as her lure as an actress and her sex appeal?
• • Nell Gwyn • •

• • I'd give a lot of salary for the opportunity to direct Mae in this gay and romantic (but tragic)  bit of history. Mae could contribute a characterization as rich and racy, laughable and human as was Charles Laughton's Henry the Eighth.
• • Unlike many of our outstanding screen personalities, Mae West will never be limited.
• • Mae West can play anything, and many surprising things well. She has terrific personal appeal on the screen. Women like her as well as men. Mae understands the psychology of her own sex. She never takes a good woman's man away from her.  Never says "Come up and see me some time" to the wrong guy.    . . .
• • This has been Part 5. And Part 6 will continue on Tuesday.
• • Source: Article "Mae West Can Play Anything" for Photoplay Magazine; published in the June 1935 issue.
• • On Saturday, 4 July 1970 • •
• • While the motion picture "Myra Breckinridge" was not a hit, the media exposure engendered a "Mae West revival," explained The New York Post on Saturday, 4 July 1970.  Guess they must have attended the premiere and watched as 10,000 fans swarmed the streets outside the theatre, screaming for Mae West (and ignoring Raquel what's-her-name).
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Affable New York night club insider Earl Wilson attended the red carpet debut of "Myra Breckinridge" and was happy to see the throng of Mae mavens.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Boris Petroff, former stage producer, is my dramatic adviser, while Murray Fiel and Murray Ellman — — with Mr. Jim Timony — — comprise what amounts to a business board of directors."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • New York Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • James Abbe: Movie stars of the 1920s including portraits of Lillian Gish, Pavlova, Valentino, Mae West, others, thru June 6. Washburn Gallery, 820 Madison Avenue.
• • Source: Item in New York Magazine; issue dated for Monday, 9 June 1975
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past twelve 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 twelve years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3478th 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Leo McCarey, 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West: Stella Dallas

The June 1935 issue of Photoplay featured a lengthy fantasy feature on MAE WEST with charming illustrations by Frank Godwin.  This is the fourth installment, Part 4.
• • "Mae West Can Play Anything" written by Leo McCarey • •
• • Leo McCarey wrote:  Can't you picture Mae in these surroundings?  This plot is the same amusing idea, in reverse, as "Ruggles of Red Gap," which I have just directed. Here we have Charles Laughton and Roland Young, typical Britishers, suddenly transplanted into American Western society as typified by Mary Boland and Charlie Ruggles. It hits the funny-bone.
• • In "Peg o' My Heart," everyone frowns upon her American manners. The only one who sees her true value is the English barrister who is administering the estate.
• • At the climax of the story, there is consternation in the stuffy household when it leaks out that someone has been attending clambakes with the "heavy."
• • Mae West in the role, realizing that the daughter is the guilty one, would rush to the defense with a crack running something like this:   "Wait a minute. If there is any fun like that going on around here, who do you think would be having it?"
• • Tragic Stella Dallas • •

• • Do you recall the grand performance the late Belle Bennett contributed to silent pictures as Stella Dallas?
• • If Samuel Goldwyn ever makes the picture again, and he probably will, "Stella Dallas" would be a sensational success with Mae in the role.
• • Here is a woman with no culture, no background.  A silly butterfly-minded woman who valiantly strives to have her fling out of life, no matter what the cost. Yet she tears your heart out in her vain attempts to be a good mother to the child.
• • Here is an everyday character much older than Peg, much less colorful than Catherine and the Queen of Sheba.  I should like to see Mae West play the role, if only to demonstrate her latent versatility as an actress.   . . .
• • This has been Part 4. And Part 5 will continue on Monday.
• • Source: Article "Mae West Can Play Anything" for Photoplay; published in the June 1935 issue.
• • On Saturday, 1 July 1933 • •
• • A Mickey Mouse cartoon, "Mickey's Gala Premiere," was released on Saturday, 1 July 1933. Mae West is one of the celebrities who makes a grand appearance.
• • On Sunday, 1 July 1934 • •
• • Supposedly, on Sunday, 1 July 1934, the censorship of the Production Code began to be seriously and meticulously enforced.  Mae West suddenly found her screenplays heavily edited.
• • On Tuesday, 1 July 2003 • •
• • It was on 1 July 2003 that Camille Paglia's fascinating article was published in Interview Magazine. Her title was "Where's Mae West When We Need Her?" and Paglia discussed why movies must restore the "H" factor — — the humor and the humanness.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The Hays Office wrote: "We judge from your letter that during part of this picture, Miss West will be masquerading as an exponent of religion or a religious worker."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Bodyguards look after me."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Photoplay mentioned Mae West.
• • GOIN' TO TOWN — Paramount — Mae West, pursuing the man instead of being pursued, in a fast- moving, wise-cracking film, that will keep you laughing.
• • Source: Item  in Photoplay Magazine; issue dated for July 1935
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past twelve 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 twelve years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3477th 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Frank Godwin's artwork, 1935 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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