Mae West: Power to Shock

Articles on MAE WEST and 1930s reviews of her motion pictures that reveal how she was viewed by her peers are the most interesting. This review appeared in Time Magazine in 1934. This is Part 6 of 6 parts.
• • "Belle of the Nineties" (Paramount) • •
• • Mae West told Miss DeMille to gain weight • •
• • Katherine DeMille studied cutting and carried script for Cecil B. DeMille, her father.
• • Lately, Katherine DeMille has been taking thyroid treatments and has lost 25 lb.
• • Paramount Pictures had been quite pleased but Mae West told her to gain weight for Belle of the Nineties.
• • Katherine DeMille likes to play heavies. She says that anyone can be an ingenue but to be a menace takes action. She does a lot of swimming at the Beach Club in Santa Monica and plays a little tennis. She gives the kind of parties at which people go upstairs and dress in funny clothes, then come down and do acts. She knows a lot about music and likes musicians at her parties. She joined the company of Viva Villa as an extra, got a small featured role without bothering to reveal her identity.
• • Paramount scouts liked her work, singled her out for a long term contract before they knew her name. She refused to play in her father's Cleopatra (TIME, Aug. 27). Her next picture will be The Gilded Lily.
• • This six-part article has now been concluded. A fascinating look at Mae's Hollywood in 1934.
• • Source: Time Magazine; published on Monday, 24 September 1934.
• • On Sunday, 22 April 1928 in New York • •

• • "Diamond Lil" • •
• • On Sunday, 22 April 1928, The New York Times was purring about Mae West. On the theatre page was an announcement that "Diamond Lil" was the most prosperous of all the recent stage productions. Broadway backers paid attention, noticing that Mae had given the Royale Theatre its first hit — — a non-musical, no less.
• • It would be the hip-swinging role that Mae West famously brought to the silver screen as well.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In a career that lasted over eighty years, the performances of Mae West were famous, or infamous, for their power to shock, their transgression of boundaries of class, gender, sexuality and propriety, and for the frequent opprobrium that West seemed to attract.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have had to do my share of outsmarting men through necessity."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in a Florida newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • "In Days Before Dolly, There Was Mae West" • •
• • Allen Rose of The Sentinel Staff wrote: Dick Gordon of Indialantic still gets a laugh recalling the day he met Mae West, late star of stage, screen and radio, as they used to say, and self-proclaimed ''last of the red-hot mamas.'' ... Let's just say that Mae resembled Dolly Parton physically. Blonde wigs, fancy gowns, and all that went with them.  ...
• • Source: Orlando Sentinel; published on Wednesday, 20 April 1988
• • 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 16th 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 4,700 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,718th 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 • • onscreen in 1932 • •
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Mae West: DeMille's Daughter

Articles on MAE WEST and 1930s reviews of her motion pictures that reveal how she was viewed by her peers are the most interesting. This review appeared in Time Magazine in 1934. This is Part 5 of 6 parts.
• • Belle of the Nineties (Paramount) • •
• • Mae West: Molly Brant was played by Katherine DeMille • •
• • Katherine DeMille's father was a Canadian named Edward Lester, killed in one of the Vimy Ridge engagements. Her mother died in a Los Angeles charity hospital.
• • Katherine DeMille [29 June 1911 ― 27 April 1995] • •

• • As Cecil B. DeMille's daughter she grew up in his big house on DeMille Road, a real estate development owned by him on a hill overlooking Hollywood. Katherine took the usual scholastic courses that interest girls with money in expensive private schools such as dancing, amateur dramatics, etc.
• • Katherine was the brightest girl in every school she went to, including a Los Angeles business college in which she studied stenography and shorthand so she might have a foundation for other professions in case she was an abject failure in the Hollywood film business.
• • Mae West told Miss DeMille to gain weight • • ...  
• • To be continued tomorrow with part 6, the finale.
• • Source: Time Magazine; published on Monday, 24 September 1934.
• • On Saturday, 21 April 1934 • •  
• • Mae West on the front page of Picture Show Magazine thrilled her British fans.
• • What a beautiful cover of Picture Show Magazine with that celluloid couple, Mae and Cary Grant. This very collectible United Kingdom publication was dated for Saturday, 21 April 1934. Mae was happy to promote her film "I'm No Angel" to the English movie-goers.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Louella Parsons wrote: Mae West got herself a movie job. Yes, indeed! She signed a contract with William Shapiro who brought Bobby Breen to the coast. Shapiro, at one time associated with Sol Lesser, has obtained capital to finance the Mae West movie. Now here's the part that to me should even make the sphinx smile. Shapiro has an option on John Barrymore's services and is trying to get him to play opposite La West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  “I don't know a lot about politics, but I can recognize a good party man when I see one.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper in Canberra mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Again at the Capitol" • •
• • Mae West, Broadway star who made such a sensational debut in films in "She Done Him Wrong," last year, will be seen at the Capitol Theatre to-night, Friday and Saturday in her second starring vehicle "I'm No Angel." This remarkable film won the distinction last year in America of being the most popular production of the year, and wherever else it has been screened it has generally proved an outstanding success.  ...
• • Source: The Canberra Times; published on Thursday, 19 April 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 16th 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 4,700 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,717th 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 • • on the set of "Belle of the Nineties" in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Vaudeville Gags

Articles on MAE WEST and 1930s reviews of her motion pictures that reveal how she was viewed by her peers are the most interesting. This review appeared in Time Magazine in 1934. This is Part 4 of 6 parts.
• • Belle of the Nineties (Paramount) • •
• • Mae West: Sole authorship of the two-line vaudeville gags • •
• • No one seeing the picture will question for a moment Miss West's claim to sole authorship of the two-line vaudeville gags which serve for dialog.
• • Typical wisecracks: "A man in the house is worth two on the street." "That guy's no good. His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." "What is your favorite sport? Don't embarrass me. boys."
• • Typical wisecracks: (In front of a picture): "It's an old master, you know. . . . . It looks like an old mistress to me. . . ." "Are you here for good? Well, I'm here, but not for good."

• • Katherine DeMille as Molly Brant • •
• • Katherine DeMille was in a Los Angeles orphanage • •
• • Cecil DeMille took Katherine DeMille, who plays Molly Brant in the West picture, out of a Los Angeles orphanage when she was 9.
• • Mae West: DeMille's role • • ...  
• • To be continued.
• • Source: Time Magazine; published on Monday, 24 September 1934.
• • On Wednesday morning, 20 April 1927 • •
• • Headlines announced: "Mae West Starts on Jail Term" and the sub-head was "Found Prison Inmates 'Very Interesting' on First Night."
• • The Scranton Times wrote: Mae West, star and coauthor of "Sex," with two negresses and three white women as fellow passengers, left Jefferson Market women's prison today in a prison van for the workhouse on Welfare Island, where she will serve nine days of the ten-day sentence imposed yesterday for giving an obscene play.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • 'Tis said here and there that "Diamond Lil" herself may come to the screen if Mae West and Columbia come to terms.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Public toilets were so filthy I couldn't face them."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A New Zealand broadcast mentioned Mae West.
• • The Myra Breckinridge Affair – 20 April 2013 • •
• • Last week on "The Affair," Hikaru Freeman dared Johnny Lemon to watch the infamous "Myra Breckinridge," one of the first mainstream American films to deal with LGBTIQ lives.  As you can note from the trailer, it had quite the cast . . . .  Let’s just say that Hikaru and Johnny agreed on it much like David and Margaret. . . .
• • Source: Item in Joy 94.9 radio New Zealand; published on Saturday, 20 April 2013
• • 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 16th 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 4,700 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,716th 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 • • "Belle of the Nineties" in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Belle du 73 Minutes

It was 19 March 1934 and MAE WEST had sin on her mind. Her new screen gem for Paramount Pictures began production on that date with a spunky working title: "It Ain't No Sin."
• • Yes, yes, talk about waving a wide red handkerchief in front of Joe Breen's blue nose.
• • In his fascinating All Movie Guide, cinema critic Hal Erickson had this to say: Originally titled "It Ain't No Sin" until the censors prevailed, then "Saint Louis Woman" and "Belle of New Orleans" — — until complaints were registered from those two communities — — "Belle of the Nineties" [runtime: 73 minutes] was Mae West's first post-Production Code film.
• • Mae West is cast as cabaret entertainer Ruby Carter, plying her trade along the Mississippi. Having no trouble surviving on her own terms in a man's world, Ruby fends off the unwarranted attentions of a steady stream of libidinous males, reserving her affections for a muscular boxer called The Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor).
• • In keeping with the star's casual liberality, a number of black entertainers and athletes are given ample opportunities in this film, notably Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. The surest sign that the Code had "tamed" West a bit is the fact that she actually marries the hero at film's end. The musical highlights include West's unforgettable rendition of "My Old Flame."
• • Source: Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1934 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: September 1934

In September 1934, MAE WEST was involved in promoting her fourth feature for Paramount Pictures: "Belle of the Nineties." Here is the movie review that was published in The New York Times on 22 September 1934.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Mae West and Her Gaudy Retinue in "Belle of the Nineties"
• • By ANDRE SENNWALD

• • Although Mae West has graciously permitted the New York censors to make an honest woman of her in her new picture, she has not adopted the emblematic blue-nose. Back in the days when "Belle of the Nineties" — alias "Belle of New Orleans" and "It Ain't No Sin" — was locked in a death grip with the local censorship board, one of the major points of dissension was the shocking fade-out in which Miss West won her man without the assistance of a justice of the peace. In the new and approved version there is a wedding ceremony and Miss West is now safe for her large following to visit.
• • It is pretty futile to strive for an air of detachment toward Miss West and her new work. A continuously hilarious burlesque of the mustache cup, celluloid collar, and family entrance era of the naughty Nineties, it immediately takes its place among the best screen comedies of the year. Its incomparable star has been bolstered by a smart and funny script, an excellent physical production, and a generally buoyant comic spirit. There are gags for every taste and most of them are outrageously funny according to almost any standard of humor.
• • Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow have provided four crimson chansons — "My Old Flame," "Troubled Waters," "My American Beauty," and "When a St. Louis Woman Comes Down to New Orleans" — which are quite perfect, and Miss West delivers them in her inimitable adenoidal contralto.
• • Amid the lithographic Police Gazette settings of the Sensation House in New Orleans, Ruby Carter (in Miss West's classic person) rules the sporting world with queenly insolence. As she herself sagely observes, "It is better to be looked over than to be overlooked" — — and her serpentine gowns, hayloft coiffure, and hour-glass figure insure her against neglect. Ruby's expressed preference is for two kinds of men — domestic and foreign — and the gentlemen moths, in their tight pants, bowler hats, and Ascot cravats, flock to the flame. Even the bartenders with their walrus mustaches and spit-curls silently yearn for her.
• • Of course, Miss West is her own plot, but there are a fixed prize-fight, some stolen jools, an envious siren, a fire, and a pair of rival claimants for her affections to add the necessary business. While Ruby's personal philosophy is, in her own words, to keep cool and collect, she has a healthy admiration for a good man, and the Tiger Kid fills the bill. Sinister interests conspire to separate them, and Ruby Carter is forced to fight for what she politely refers to as her honor against the evil and wax-mustached Ace Lamont, proprietor of the Sensation House. This last is of a vintage so objectionable as to cause the amiable Ruby to remark, "His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
• • Roger Pryor as the Tiger Kid, John Miljan as the contemptible Ace, and Katherine DeMille as the jealous mistress of Ace Lamont all contribute excellently to the comedy, while Duke Ellington's boys provide the sulphurous musical background for Miss West's songs. If the great lady's public expects a cool and reasoned appraisal of "Belle of the Nineties" this morning, it will have to be disappointed. Not being immune to the common human failing of magnifying the virtues of the past, this reporter will always consider "She Done Him Wrong" her greatest show. At any rate, her present masterpiece is superior on every count to "I'm No Angel." As for its morality, you have Miss West's own testimony, when she tells an overwrought admirer, "Remember, I'm a lady, you worm."
• • You will have to take her word for it.
• • BELLE OF THE NINETIES, adapted from a story by Mae West; music and lyrics by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow; directed by Leo McCarey; a Paramount production. At the Paramount.
• • Source: The New York Times
• • Critic: Andre Sennwald
• • Originally published on: 22 September 1934
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1934 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: "Ain't No Sin"

Around 21 September 1934, MAE WEST was busy promoting her latest release: "Belle of the Nineties."
• • At first, Paramount Pictures was advertising this new production as "It Ain't No Sin" before re-titling the picture in which Mae West plays a St. Louis entertainer named Ruby Carter.
• • Mae West was fond of saying: "It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws now and then — — as long as you don't break any."
• • Here are some memorable lines from "Belle of the Nineties":
• • Ruby Carter: "Don't let a man put anything over on ya 'cept an umbrella."
• • • Situation: Miss Ruby Carter walks off a boat.
• • Man: "Are you in town for good?"
• • Ruby: "I expect to be here — — but not for good."
• • • Romantic encounter:
• • Man: "You're the kind of woman I've dreamed about — — always desired. I'm wild about you."
• • Ruby: "Some of the wildest men make the best pets."
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • In a still from the film, Katherine DeMille [who played Molly Brant] inspects a poster.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1934 • •
NYC
Mae West.