Manny Cohen had MAE WEST under contract. This article takes us backstage to witness the unraveling of their relationship with Paramount Pictures during the mid-1930s.
• • In 1926, Paramount Pictures hired Emanuel Cohen away from Pathe, putting him in charge of its own shorts division.
• • By 1932, just six years later, Manny Cohen was placed in charge of production for all of Paramount's films. While this sounds fancy, it was not much of a promotion since Paramount was then deeply in debt and hemorrhaging cash from a long line of money-losing pictures.
• • However, Emanuel Cohen would soon turn the film company around. By 1935, Paramount was more profitable.
• • But ego reared its ugly head in the form of head-butting between Adolph Zukor and Emanuel Cohen.
• • Major Pictures turned out Mae West films • •
• • Paramount and Cohen Part • •
• • Cohen held personal contracts for Mae West, Bing Crosby, and Gary Cooper • •
• • In 1938, Film Bulletin wrote: The long-standing feud between Adolph Zukor and Emanuel Cohen has finally ended as was expected. Cohen's contract, which had a year and one-half to run, was terminated by mutual agreement this week and the producer leaves the lot immediately.
• • Film Bulletin wrote: Cohen announced that he will institute legal proceedings against the company and charged that Adolph Zukor deliberately obstructed him since he assumed control of production at the studio.
• • In 1938, Film Bulletin wrote: Manny Cohen was particularly valuable to Paramount when the deal was made because he held personal contracts for the services of Mae West, Bing Crosby, and Gary Cooper.
• • Film Bulletin wrote: Bing Crosby and Mae West now belong to Par [sic], and Cooper is contracted to Samuel Goldwyn.
• • Note: The N.Y. Times ran an article on Friday, 6 March 1936: “Mae West Quits Paramount Studio.”
• • Note: Adolph Zukor [7 January 1873 ― 10 June 1976]
• • Note: Emanuel Cohen [5 August 1892 ― 9 September 1977]
• • Source: Film Bulletin; published on Saturday, 15 January 1938.
• • On Saturday, 8 April 1933 • •
• • Mae West says she swaggers because she just had to attract attention to herself some way. That was all part of a fascinating interview that appeared in The Scranton Republican on Saturday, 8 April 1933.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • When the hue and cry over censorship arose, Mae West seemed to be the personal worry of most fans and Hollywood as well. Their fears were needless.
• • Mae wasn't and isn't worried.
• • Mae doesn't care if she quits to-day. Every dime (and there are millions of 'em) she has made on the stage and in pictures is carefully invested in government bonds and diamonds.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "A man's kiss is his signature."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A New Zealand paper reviewed a Mae West motion picture.
• • At the Majestic: “Now I’m a Lady” starring Mae West.
• • In spite of the conversation that has lately centered about Mae West, there has been no suggestion that she was intending to become a lady.
• • But her statement: "Now I'm a lady," is only meant to bear out a typical West gesture, as will be realised by those who see the film version of that statement, which began a season at the Majestic Theatre yesterday.
• • First of all, she wins a wealthy husband in a dice game, but succeeds to his property merely through the marriage agreement.
• • Her attention is then engaged by an English engineer, a man of social standing, who does not hesitate to tell her where her faults are.
• • Miss West decides she must have the man; she feels also that she ought to become a lady.
• • Under erratic tuition, of which she takes no notice, she begins to make of herself a fit wife for the Englishman. …
• • Source: The Press (New Zealand); published on Saturday, 31 August 1935
• • 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 17th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,900 blog posts. Wow!
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,968th 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 Manny Cohen in 1934 • •
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