Mae West: Dares the Camera

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 12.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Dares the camera to lust after her • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: While this remark has passed into legend, I’d say it is wholly inaccurate since the cameras are the first and most important thing that West claims as her own.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: She doesn’t so much make love to the camera as dare it to lust after her from afar. It’s a gambit that pays off in spades.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: From the first moment Mae West emerges from a throng of clamouring men, the lens practically fogs up.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: A star was born and condensation would soon line the sleeves of every cameraman who worked with her.
• • Mae West: Censors objected • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Thursday, 27 September 1934 • •
• • A review of "Belle of the Nineties" appeared in the Boston Herald on this date.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The much heralded "Belle of the Nineties," starring the screen's most famous siren, Mae West, is dated as per its title and the piece is appropriately attired and staged, representative of the gallant southland of the gay and naughty nineties. Duke Ellington's orchestra also appears in the picture.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I am opposed to nudity, crudity and vulgarity in all forms. I provide healthy entertainment to the movies because I have never taken sex seriously. I 'kidded' it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on football mentioned Mae West.
• • "SEC football success punted Mae West Week festivities 09/27/98" • •
• • The Times-Union wrote: Who in Fairfield Stadium that long-ago October afternoon could have imagined the social, economic, cultural and, yea, spiritual, force that the SEC would become? Remember, this was a town whose next big deal was Mae West Week. ...
• • Source: The Times-Union; published on Sunday, 27 September 1998
• • 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 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,090th 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 • • onscreen in 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Maudie Was Key

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 11.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Her presence is the key to the film’s longevity • •

• • Andy Goulding wrote: The ending isn’t so much a happily-ever-after as a brace-yourself-for-further-disaster, as evidenced in Mae West’s smirking final remark.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: “Night After Night” is better than its patchy reputation suggests.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: But while there is more to the 1932 motion picture than just Mae West, it is true to say that her presence is the key to the film’s longevity.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Remove the minor character of Joe Anton's diamond draped ex-girlfriend Maudie Triplett, as it would be so easy to do from a narrative standpoint alone, and you would significantly decrease the film’s appeal.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: In fact, the whole thing could come toppling down.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: Tough-guy actor George Raft later remarked that Mae West (making her screen debut here in 1932) “stole everything but the cameras.”
• • Mae West: Dares the camera to lust after her • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Saturday, 26 September 1931 in Billboard • •
• • About "The Constant Sinner," Jack Mehler wrote that "it has the makings of a good money show, both for Miss West and the Shubert Brothers, who are reported in on it." Mehler's entire review was published in Billboard's issue dated for Saturday, 26 September 1931.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "In and Out of Hollywood: A Biographer’s Memoir" written by Charles Higham mentions a few highlights from his friendship with Mae West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I wouldn't be thrown out at a stag party. But I'd rather make talking pictures than make whoopee.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Sounds Like a Riot" • •
• • Motion Picture Daily wrote: New Orleans, Sept. 21, 1934 — The Tribune, a morning publication, prints this anent the Mae West midnight preview at the Saenger: "In all my days I never saw such a stampede to get into a movie theatre as the one put on at the Saenger to see Mae West's latest picture.”
• • Motion Picture Daily wrote: “They broke doors, pushed out glasses, tore down railings, stampeded over fainting women and cursed and yelled during the rampage. Some persons stood in line for at least two hours  — — and some even went so far as to threaten physical injury if they were not permitted to crowd inside."
• • Motion Picture Daily wrote: "Mae West, herself, would have enjoyed the scene." ...
• • Source: Motion Picture Daily; published on Friday, 21 September 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 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,089th 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 • • with George Raft in 1978 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Not Clear Cut

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 10.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: “Night After Night” is not clear cut in its morals • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: “Night After Night” does have its shortcomings.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Though the brief runtime makes for a refreshingly breezy picture, it doesn’t allow much time to properly develop the relationship between George Raft and Constance Cummings.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The basis of their attraction is well set up but the climax of their romance has to be forced through with an abrupt scene in which Joe’s insistent advances cross the line of what we’d now deem sexual assault.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: Still, “Night After Night” is not as clear cut in its morals as many would think and Joe is often portrayed as an unpleasant character.
• • Mae West: Her presence is the key to the film’s longevity • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Tuesday, 23 September 1941 • •
• • "Ex-Husband Loses Mae West Suit — Monthly Maintenance Has Been Denied to Frank Wallace" • •
• • San Bernadino, Calif., Sept. 23  [U.P.] — — Frank Wallace lost his $1,000 a month temporary separate maintenance suit against Mae West today in a ruling that questioned his good faith in bringing the action against his actress-wife.
• • There is nothing in this case that would convince the court that the plaintiff is not motivated by sheer profit in filing this action, said Superior Judge Charles L. Allison. …  
• • Source: United Press; published on Tuesday, 23 September 1941
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • James Wingate of the Hays Office in Los Angeles sent a Western Union telegram to a colleague on the East Coast.
• • "Just saw the 'Angel' picture," James Wingate wrote. "We think it is satisfactory with exception very few lines still under discussion." He added, "Much better than we expected."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I thought myself to think only of Mae West and then I got so busy I couldn't think of anything else.  You don't leave things to chance in this business."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in The Guardian mentioned a visit to Mae West in Hollywood.
• • “Mae West” • •
• • "There's nothing better in life than diamonds . . ."
• • Charlotte Chandler recalled an interview with Mae West in Ravenswood Apartments, Los Angeles, California, for London's newspaper The Guardian.
• • Charlotte Chandler told it like this: Mae West held out her hand to me. As I took it, I scratched my palm on one of her diamond rings. All of her fingers were covered with diamonds. These, she explained, were just her "daytime diamonds." Holding out her hands, she said, "They're all real. They were given to me by admirers." Her gaze settled on my unadorned hands. "Oh, you poor kid! You don't have any!" For a moment she regarded me with pity. Then she brightened. "But you have some at home?" I shook my head. She studied me, then said encouragingly, "You could, honey. But you've gotta try, and you've gotta know how to try. Knowing what you want is the first step toward getting it. There's nothing better in life than diamonds." ...
• • Source: The Guardian [U.K.]; posted on Friday, 21 September 2007
• • 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 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,088th 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 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: True Desires

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 9.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Only Maudie Triplett is comfortable in her own skin • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Of all the characters, it is only Mae West’s Maudie who is comfortable in her own skin, helping to shepherd the others towards their true desires.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: “Night After Night” is very much a Pre-Code film, not just evidenced by West’s suggestive dialogue and manner but also by an ambiguous amorality that would soon be squeezed out of subsequent pictures.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Hollywood would soon have its hand forced away from making such overt suggestions that you’re better off as a small-time crook than a phony socialite, even if there’s a warmer core message of being true to yourself that makes such specifics the fodder of the over-literal.
• • Mae West: “Night After Night” is not clear cut in its morals • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Friday, 22 September 1911 • •
• • On Friday, 22 September 1911, 18-year-old Mae West from Brooklyn was in the spotlight. On that date, "A La Broadway" had opened at the Folies-Bergere Theatre, New York, NY. This short-lived revue closed on 30 September 1911.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Brave women have carved this trail of emancipation from ageism for my generation — — for instance, Mae West did her best in the USA nearly a century ago.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'll never play sad parts, dumb parts or 'wronged' heroines. I feel sorry for weak women, but I cannot like them."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A news item by Kevin Thomas revealed the private life of Mae West.
• • "Up for Bid: All That Glittered on Mae West" • •
• • Mae West was the genuine article — — even if not all her diamonds were real. Such were my thoughts as Joe Gold and I, both longtime friends of Mae's, went over the jewelry and memorabilia that her longtime companion Charles Krauser had stored after her death in 1980 at 87.  ...
• • Source: The Los Angeles Times; posted on Friday, 22 September 2000
• • 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 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,087th 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 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest