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Post by Hedvig on Nov 17, 2008 16:42:59 GMT -6
If you are interested in precode films that really live up to their precode label, try some of Mae West's movies.
They are entertaining and witty and have some good song numbers. The thing that makes them stand out though, at least the ones made before the code, is their raciness. Although you know Mae West's stock character is a decent person at heart, you also know that she has no regrets and that there are only two things on her mind most of the time: diamonds, and that other thing. She knows how to enjoy herself. She has her own code of ethics which she doesn't break, otherwise she wouldn't be a worthwhile heroine. But the movies are still pretty much free from the kind of moralizing which would appear in "daring" precodes like Baby Face.
There are a number of things that are slightly off-putting about the films, though. For instance, most of the characters find Mae West completely irresistible, which is not always believable to me. Her witty and liberated style can undoubtedly be very attractive and she is of course good looking, but when she's paired with Cary Grant and others, the age difference shows quite a lot. But, the thing that can be the most off-putting about it is that you know she is the one describing herself that way, really. To put it mildly, that's narcissistic.
Still, having a female character who can have her pick of the men and who is moslty in control of the situation can be liberating, and it's one of the things that make these movies special, so it can also be a good thing. What little plot there is to the movies wouldn't be there otherwise. And it does seem a bit like Mae West based her stories on experience, so she's probably right. At any rate, the films are really entertaining, especially the precodes.
My favourite is Belle of the Nineties, which is from 1934 so it's a precode on the fence. It's not quite so daring as She Done Him Wrong and I'm No Angel, but it's still full of innuendos. Mae West also gives an unusually heartfelt performance. I'm No Angel is in second place.
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Post by harlowbaby on Nov 17, 2008 22:50:06 GMT -6
I adore Mae West! I have seen all of her movies, except for Belle of the Nineties, I believe. Her movies are ones that I could watch over and over. The dialogue is great....very funny and racy. It is true that the age difference is a bit noticeable between her and Cary Grant or whomever else she is paired up with. But I really don't find it too unbelievable to think that these men would be attracted to her. That lady had some serious sex appeal and she really knew how to carry herself. I mean, look at the way she struts across the room Anyways, you named my two favorites of hers-->She Done Him Wrong and I'm No Angel. And she also wrote most, if not all, of the screenplays for all the pictures she starred in. Thumbs up!
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Nov 18, 2008 5:17:52 GMT -6
I have seen very little of Mae West, and it has been so long ago since I had, I guess I just cannot remember, unfortunately. Perhaps, I will have to watch for her films the next time they are aired on TCM. I wish I could chime in a little more about her.
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Post by Hedvig on Nov 18, 2008 16:37:12 GMT -6
I adore Mae West! I have seen all of her movies, except for Belle of the Nineties, I believe. Her movies are ones that I could watch over and over. The dialogue is great....very funny and racy. It is true that the age difference is a bit noticeable between her and Cary Grant or whomever else she is paired up with. But I really don't find it too unbelievable to think that these men would be attracted to her. That lady had some serious sex appeal and she really knew how to carry herself. I mean, look at the way she struts across the room Anyways, you named my two favorites of hers-->She Done Him Wrong and I'm No Angel. And she also wrote most, if not all, of the screenplays for all the pictures she starred in. Thumbs up! You should see Belle of the Nineties sometime, Harlowbaby! It keeps much of the precode style intact. I think one of the reasons why I'm No Angel and She Done Him Wrong are many people's favourite movies are because they weren't as censored as her later films. Mae West had a lot of trouble with the censors throughout her career. She even went to jail for a few days in the 20's. Eventually she left films for a while because she hated the heavy censorship her work was subjected to.
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Post by harlowbaby on Nov 18, 2008 19:17:27 GMT -6
Yeah, she went to jail in the 20's for the play she wrote Sex. It was shut down for being obscene and Mae West spent a few days in jail. Incidentally, I just saw a ?revival? of this play, Sex, in Berkeley, California last year and it was really wonderful! And the woman playing Mae West's role wasn't bad, considering that Mae West is a bit tough to emulate I will have to Check out Belle if I can find it!
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Post by Hedvig on Nov 19, 2008 16:20:19 GMT -6
It must be really tough to step into Mae West's shoes. She was such a huge personality.
She aged pretty well too. I saw some clips on Youtube of the very strange movies she was in in her 80's and 90's. She looks to be in her 60's, perhaps.
Some of her plays have been given out in book form. It would be interesting to check them out. Diamond Lil was her most successful play. Apparently that's also the one She Done Him Wrong is based on.
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Post by diane on Nov 25, 2008 0:19:29 GMT -6
This is an interesting topic. I have never had the slightest interest in Mae West - it's weird because I love pre-code movies. I can remember many, many years ago seeing a Mae West movie - she was singing and she was in a lion's cage??? (Obviously made a big impression on me I don't think). Like Larry, if there were any on TV I would watch but I don't even feel like seeking them out. I know she was hugely popular and I think she saved Paramount from going under.
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Post by kelly on Nov 25, 2008 15:19:17 GMT -6
I hope somebody who had rights to mae West movies release her on DVD you don't see her on TV anymore I saw on TV back in1970s and 80s when my local PBS Station show it alot
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Post by harlowbaby on Nov 25, 2008 17:39:42 GMT -6
Kelly: They actually have released a Mae West Glamour Collection set, if you are interested. I can't recall at the moment what movies are included in it, but I know that She Done Him Wrong WASN"T included, much to my dismay
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Post by Hedvig on Nov 27, 2008 4:45:52 GMT -6
That's a bit strange, Harlowbaby. She Done Him Wrong was included in the British DVD set I own. Why wouldn't they include it in the American one?
Diane, I can see how she wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I got the film set for Christmas last year, and though I thought the films were fun it took me some time to warm to her as a personality. When I watched the films again I thought she was great though. I guess I saw something new.
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snorrem
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 41
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Post by snorrem on Dec 13, 2008 7:40:10 GMT -6
I think I've only seen one of Mae West's films so far, My Little Chickadee (-40) with W.C. Fields; she was good enough in that one and did some funny stuff, but my ability to enjoy her performance was spoiled somewhat as it was Uncle Claude I'd wanted to watch in the first place! I've read a lot about her and find the myths of her personality intriguing.
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Post by rmichaelpyle on Dec 13, 2008 12:45:07 GMT -6
Personally, I think that "My Little Chickadee" is one of W. C. Field's AND Mae West's worst films. They keep trying to top each other and never really interact except in one scene on the train. Both did far better separate from each other!
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Post by kelly on Dec 17, 2008 21:18:48 GMT -6
OH okay maybe I check it out if I check out on Movies unlimited sister company of TCM
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Post by harlowbaby on Jan 18, 2009 17:39:49 GMT -6
Hey! I happened to find a copy of Belle of the Nineties at the library the other day..yaay! Will let you know what I think after I have finished watching it
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Post by Hedvig on Jan 22, 2009 8:31:47 GMT -6
Belle of the Nineties, it's got many similarities to I'm No Angel and She Done Him Wrong, but in some ways it's also quite different. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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Post by harlowbaby on Jan 29, 2009 14:21:52 GMT -6
Okay, I watched Belle of the Nineties over the weekend and I must say that it isn't my favorite Mae West picture. The storyline was similar to a few of her pre-codes but Mae West and her lines seemes SO watered down! And I know that this is because this movie was released right during the time of the Production Code. But it really didn't seem like Mae West at all. She seemed so tame and it appeared as though in certain parts of the movie there was going to be an extra line or two but it was edited out(which I'm sure was the case..lol!) And the final strangeness of this picture was Mae West getting married at the end! Anyways, this picture was okay but not my fave Just weird seeing Me West so tame..lol...
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Post by Hedvig on Jan 31, 2009 16:36:34 GMT -6
I agree with you to a certain extent. I didn't mind that she was a bit tamer. For me she still had an edge over all the other actresses of that time, and the fact that she was tamer was just a proof to me that she could play a slightly different role from her usual ones and make it seem sincere, too. That made her a more well-rounded character for me.
But the production was beset with problems because of the production code, and it shows. I'm totally with you about her getting married to that overly possessive guy, I didn't like that at all. Here you can see the way the production code was putting the woman in her place. There is such a blatant ideology behind it. He didn't seem like a good man either, so when I think of the film I edit this bit out. I liked the rest of the movie though, I liked the look of it and I liked Mae West. The plot - what plot?
I need to re-watch She Done Him Wrong. It's like Belle of the Nineties, but dark and humorous in a way that film couldn't be. I don't know what my original problem with it was. I'll get back on that.
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