West scripted parts for drag queens, championed black actors and musicians, and donated her used Cadillacs, still in pristine condition, to convents because "I just can't stand seeing a nun waiting for a bus."--from Tricia Springstubb's review of the new West biography She Always Knew How by Charlotte Chandler.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
We need a little more Mae West these days
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13 comments:
Mae West is one of my hereos. She was a strong personality when women were treated as second class citizens. She didn't need womens lib or emancipation. Mae was strong, sexy, and funny a true American great!
A beautiful yacht that Mae West used to own is moored here in Marina del Rey. You can charter it for parties and such.
As I was trying to think up something to comment on this post, I looked out my window, and lo and behold....there's her yacht cruising up the canal! (My apartment overlooks the canal so we have a great view of all the boats coming and going from the Marina.)
It was truly a "plate o' shrimp" moment. Even more so because I've never actually seen that yacht go out before. I've only ever seen it at the docks.
Anywayyyy. Mae was quite the character. I may have to get a copy of that book. It sounds like it would be a great read.
I think there's a little bit of Mae West in Erin O'Brien.
always loved her.
always will.
You know, I've never seen a Mae West movie. Is there one that you'd recommend?
Hi everyone.
I don't know much at all about West, so no Fool, I'm no help. Anybody else? I'd love to know as well.
I have to say that I'm really intrigued by her after reading Trishia's review of Chandler's bio. She really must have been a character.
Honestly, the last time I saw a Mae West movie, I was very young.
Here is a 1933 Mae West & Cary Grant movie, from www.archive.org. I think I will watch it later tonight.
http://www.archive.org/details/She_Done_Him_Wrong
Sorry, but I've never found Mae West particularly funny nor particularly sexy, so in my opinion, she's NOT like Erin, but that's just my opinion, and you, whoever you may be, are entitled to yours (I've learned there are people who get 1000 more defensive about differences of opinion concerning movies and physical attraction than they do about either politics or religion. Speaking of religion, it's all very nice and all that West gave her cars to nuns, but what about all the Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and athiests? Why should THEY wait at the bus stop? Elvis Presley was never so disciminatory!)
Having said all that, I have seen two Mae West movies, enough for me to form a definite opinion. The first is the movie listed above, She Done Him Wrong. I don't recommend it. Cary Grant was a great romantic comedy star, perhaps the GREATEST romantic comedy star, but in 1933 he hadn't quite found his mojo yet. He's merely West's bland straight man (well, maybe not so bland, that no-longer-quite-english accent sets him apart) As for West, and her "naughtiness", I guess if you still had memories of the Victorian Era (as quite a few people did in 1933) you might have found that titillating, but for anyone born after World War II, it's about as much of a turn-on as the ignition in Fred Flinstone's car.
The other movie is MY LITTLE CHICKADEE which I highly recommend, but not because of West. Watch it for her co-star, one of the funniest men to ever stagger across the face of the Earth, W. C. Fields.
Sorry about all the canceled comments. My mouse wasn't clicking...or so I thought.
"Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can't figure out what from."
Mae West
"Drown in a vat of whiskey...death, where is thy sting?"
W.C. Fields
YACHT??? Mae West never owned a yacht. If the boat operator is saying such an absurd thing, then it's just a ploy to get silly people to buy tickets. Come up and see Mae - - MaeWest.blogspot.com
Actually Mae owned several Motor Yachts and a sailing Yacht...not at the same time naturally. The Yacht in question I believe is the Former Ringling Yacht ZUMBROTA. She was seeing Dempsey the Prize Fighter and it allowed her opportunity for ultimate privacy with him. Paramount Owned it and she purchased it from them. She sold it to Mayor Smith of Compton, Then Fairbanks owned it for a very short period before he built His larger yacht , which is now in NYC.
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