Mae West: Lower Energy

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 34.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: “My Old Flame” and its pleasing simplicity • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: And the film trusts in the strength of the soon-to-be-standard “My Old Flame” to present it with a pleasing simplicity.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: “Belle of the Nineties” may be a comparative disappointment in the Mae West filmography but it still entertains sufficiently for its fleeting runtime and Mae West running on reduced energy levels is still more fun to watch than the average lead actor of the age firing on all cylinders.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Still, the PCA weren’t going anywhere for a few decades and West’s career from hereon in would be coloured by uncharacteristic compromise.
• • Mae West: Her films followed a certain formula • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On 2 November 1969 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • A lengthy article appeared in the Sunday magazine section of The N.Y. Times on 2 November 1969: "76 — — and Still Diamond Lil" written by Steven V. Roberts and punctuated with several photos of the Brooklyn Bombshell at various career points. The first portrait showed Mae costumed by Edith Head for her role as Leticia Van Allen.
• • From Hollywood, Steven V. Roberts wrote: "I hold records all over the world. That's my ego, breaking records. So don't say they put me in someone else's room."
• • Steven V. Roberts explained: Mae West was not happy. Her soft voice took on a tense shrillness as she continued. "I'd like to see someone break records like that and I'll respect them as a star. 'Til someone can do that, I feel I'm in a class by myself. The only other person I know who could write his own movies and star in them was Chaplin.”
• • Steven V. Roberts added: The tirade had been triggered by a casual remark that Miss West was getting Barbra Streisand's old dressing room at 20th Century-Fox during the production of "Myra Breckinridge," Gore Vidal's garden of sexual hybrids.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •

• • Mae West's bawdy take-it-or-leave-it embrace of the double entendre sent the censors into a tizzy — — and it also has made Mae West a very rich woman in the process.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "My mother, I believe, realized that perhaps her new baby was really different from what could ordinarily be expected of a daughter. She was right; I was different. And to her I owe the opportunities that allowed me to start acting when most kids my age were still taking their meals out of a high-chair and the present crop of Hollywood darlings were being coddled."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A California paper mentioned Mae West.
• • But if your fat is your fortune, as in the case of Mae West, that’s a different story! ...
• • Source: Sausalito News; published on Friday, 2 November 1934
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,112th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Rapturous Rituals

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 33.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Duke Ellington’s Orchestra altered musical numbers • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Accompanied by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, West’s usual snatches of scattered tunes are replaced by some big production numbers.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: The opening “My American Beauty” involves several impressive costume and scenery changes, and a bizarre and somewhat un-PC sequence involving a campily overwrought African-American spiritual service is impressively handled by Leo McCarey as he inter-cuts its rapturous rituals with a lonely solo performance by Mae West.
• • Mae West: “My Old Flame” — pleasing simplicity • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Wednesday, 1 November 1933 • •
• • On Wednesday, 1 November 1933, Mae West rehearsed "Frankie and Johnny" for the broadcast on "The Rudy Vallée Hour." The music for the orchestra was arranged by Elliott Jacobi.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • There are tantalizing flashes of insight about how Marilyn Monroe developed her screen persona: Natasha Lytess encouraged her to imitate Mae West’s walk. And Johnny Hyde told her to study Charlie Chaplin’s movies.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I take an enema every single day of my life — — after I leave the bathroom, you can go in and fry an egg.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Palm Springs newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • Louis Sobol wrote: Johnnie Ray travels backstage of the Latin Quarter to pose for a few camera shots with Mae West.  ...
• • Source: Gossip column item in Desert Sun; published on Monday, 1 November 1954
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,111th 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: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Pre-marital Sex

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 32.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: The re-shot ending • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The re-shot ending, originally intended to feature a pre-marital sexual encounter, was replaced by a wedding scene.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: It seems naive at best to imagine such a scene could convince audiences that Mae West’s character was a virgin up until then, but the interference of the PCA was clearly driven less by plot credibility than by a desire to banish West from screens altogether.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Amidst the resulting rubble of the storyline, it is the musical numbers that really stand out in “Belle of the Nineties.”
• • Mae West: How Duke Ellington’s Orchestra altered the musical numbers • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Tuesday, 31 October 1933 • •
• • Headlines on this date emphasized the big box office Mae's movie was doing. For instance, "West Bubbles Hub [Boston] for $47,000" was circulated by wire on Tuesday, 31 October 1933.
• • On Tuesday, 31 October 1933 in New York World-Telegram • •
• • Mae West told Douglas Gilbert, a vaudeville reporter, "Women much prefer to be feminine, believe me."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Did Mae West enjoy kissing onscreen?

• • "You've gotta have romance, and what's romance without some kissing?" Mae West remarked. "And unless kissing is real, it doesn't look real. When I kiss 'em, I give 'em something to talk about."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If I am told to take out a line, then I take it out without argument."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Hollywood columnist mentioned Mae West and her play “Klondike Lou.”
• • Mike Connolly wrote: Mae West and Steve Cochran are paging Peter Ustinov to do a rewrite job on their new play, "Klondike Lou," and act in it, too. …
• • Source: The Desert Sun; published on Friday, 31 October 1958
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,110th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 and in 1947 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Scrappy Charm

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 31.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Leo McCarey eroded the scrappy energy • •

• • Andy Goulding wrote: And Leo McCarey (a wonderful director who was about to embark on one of the greatest runs of films of the classic Hollywood era) brings an element of class to the direction.
• • McCarey’s more polished approach diminished the scrappy charm • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: But McCarey’s more polished approach ends up eroding the scrappy charm of the earlier West films and this is exacerbated by a slight but noticeable drop in energy from Mae West.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Perhaps her enthusiasm for the material was worn away as she was forced to cut and re-shoot chunks of the film.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: It must be said though that "Belle of the Nineties" (1934) does have a comparatively dull plot, a fairly conventional traipse through a love triangle that descends into a violent but rather hurried climax.
• • Mae West: The re-shot ending • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Saturday, 27 October 1934 • •

• • Picture-goer, Britain's publication for film fans, discussed the costumes designed for Mae West for her latest movie "Belle of the Nineties" in their issue dated for Saturday, 27 October 1934.
• • On Sunday, 27 October 1935 • •
• • Which actresses would be most popular in 1936? The L.A. Times weighed in on the merits of Mae West, Katharine Hepburn, and Jean Harlow in an article printed on Sunday, 27 October 1935.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Variety couldn't stop printing articles about "I'm No Angel" starring Mae West. "Mae West Opera Wows Newark — Cops House Record, $28,000, and Held Over" ran in Variety during October 1933.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "When you tell people a play is naughty, then they rush to see it. I can't help that, can I?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A book chapter on another actress mentioned Mae West.
• • Brian Kellow wrote: Tired of having her achievements overlooked, Ethel got a little testy with the Hollywood press when it was suggested that her performing style owed something to Mae West's. Although they occupied different floors of the Ravenswood, West had not been particularly friendly, and Ethel got even by telling reporters that it was she who had started the Mae West vogue, not the other way around.
• • Brian Kellow wrote: "I was singing 'Eadie Was a Lady' all dressed up with the wiggly hips an' everything before Mae West's first picture, Night After Night, came out," Ethel said, ". . . so I shall always claim Mae sailed to glory on my vogue."
• • Brian Kellow wrote: In fact, Mae West's style was fully evolved by the time of her big stage successes of the 1920s, long before she hit Hollywood. But Ethel's rewriting of history was a good indication of her defensiveness over her treatment in Hollywood. ...
• • Source: "Ethel Merman: A Life" (Chapter 5) by Brian Kellow [Penguin Books; Reprint edition; 28 October 2008; 352 pgs]
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,109th 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: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest