I was familiar with her photographs. I read books about her. And I knew her music from a CD I purchased many years ago. But I never actually saw a movie of this 1930s queen of double entendres,until now. Last night I decided to finally see "I'm no angel" from 1933. to check out what the fuss was all about.
I always loved old black & white movies,as I already explained on this site there is something magical about black and white world and usually it pulls me right in the story,because it is so unreal and dreamlike I get lost completely and forget about everyday life,it is a pure,unadulterated pleasure and escapism.
At the very start we are introduced to a traveling circus troupe and a man outside advertises various artists,teasing the curious stand-byers to check all the marvels circus has for them - he works very hard on them and builds quite excitement until finally presenting Tira,famous lion tamer and apparently eight wonder of the world - she will walk outside just a little bit,to tease them and show them what tonight's show has to offer. Carpet is rolled and out steps Mae West.
With eyebrows raised,I watched plump and average-looking blonde walking like somebody who is not accustomed to high heels,hands on her hips,smirky smile on her lips,she actually looked more like a drag queen than anything - that ridiculous,exaggerate femininity was definition of camp and there was (sorry Mae) absolutely nothing sexy or attractive about her. This first scene,this introduction is basically explanation of everything that follows - she camps it up to the sky,men in the audience are supposed to watch her like hungry animals and the whole world goes crazy when Mae walks around. Really?
The rest of the movie is actually not important at all - plot,if we can call it so (Mae wrote it herself) meanders quite a bit and its all about men who turn into jelly when Mae comes on the screen. Young,old,rich or poor,they all lose their self-composure and fall on her feet,while Mae smirks,looks in the sky and checks out their rings and wallets. The only traces of her humanity come when she is surrounded by black maids (she actually jokes around with them and seems relaxed) and at certain moments when she looks closely to young Carry Grant - its obvious she actually genuinely likes him and in a split of the second her eyes twinkle,that campy composure is forgotten because she is smitten and it is not act.
The morning after this ridiculous little movie (apparently quite a big hit 78 years ago,I know,its a long time) I am drinking my coffee and wondering was she serious or just laughing on her way to the bank? I am aware that West build her empire herself with self-writen scripts,double entendres and sharp wit,fighting with censorship and moralists. Her "fabulous" looks carefully assembled facade,more monument to camp than genuine feminine appeal. But to take seriously that every man in sight (including brave Carry Grant who was good sport about it) fell head over heels for her? Surely not. I am still divided between thinking that either West knew this was all just a joke and was sharply poking fun at games people play between each other or perhaps she was mad as hatter and taking herself seriously,seeing herself as sex bomb. It could easily have been any of these solutions - she was clever and provocative,definitely knowing mastery of playing the role but on the other hand,she also refused "Sunset boulevard" saying she is not so old as to play Norma Desmond and initially declined to be placed on cover of "Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Heart Club" saying she don't belong to Lonely Heart's Club. Clearly,vanity also played part here - she won't be seen as washed up actress even if its excellent role in a new movie or album cover for the most popular band in the world (she eventually accepted,after guys wrote her a letter). I still don't know what to make out of her,but at this moment I am prone to accept she somehow hypnotized herself and everybody around her into thinking she was fabulous,sexy and irresistible. And audience actually bought it.
If you look closely,you can recognize Hattie McDaniel (later famous as "Mammy" in "Gone with the wind") as one of Mae Weast's black maids who is doing her manicure,it was her second movie role and its quite a fun to spot her here.
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