12 Comments

  1. OMG – what a great lady, You know, no matter the era, any woman that is truly herself is always a shock to the social system. She was great – and you picked a great topic because Mae sure made – and still makes – us laugh.

  2. I ahven’t aseen this particular Mae West movie, but the bit of dialogue in the review already made me laugh. Indeed, Mae never changes in her movies, we accept her as she is – and that’s so powerful.

  3. garytzarlow

    Jean Harlow’s star shines, Mae West’s star seems to fade out. I don’t always like or care for Mae, perhaps her movies in small amounts! She was too old, over weight, and out dated. That’s why her career faltered. Harlow was a major sex symbol during the ’30’s, West was thought of as a “in your face drag queen.” There are a few Mae West movies I like & without her it wouldn’t work, like I’m No Angel. True Mae is a national treasure, and she is a true Icon!

    • Thank you for writing! I love them both. I think there are many reasons Mae’s career faded, but I’ve always thought it had less to do with her looks than it did with the finances she demanded (though I think Mae looked fabulous her whole life). I read an interesting journal article about the studio heads’ (or maybe it was the theaters’?) collective efforts to undermine her a while back–I wish I could remember the name. I’ve always been far less interested in Mae’s status as a sex symbol than in her hilarious writing and gifts as a businesswoman. We might see Jean on more glamour-gal images today, but we’re still quoting Mae–and hopefully, always will. (I adore I’m No Angel too.)

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