Belle of the Nineties

And whenever Mae West's not on screen, all the other characters should be asking "Where's Mae West"?"

"All my life I've been looking for a man that is big and handsome and's got plenty of money." - "What you've been looking for is three men." Apart from the great quotes and one-liners in the film, delivered flawlessly by Mae West who obviously wrote them for herself to execute, the film doesn't offer terribly much. Probably hit hard by the Code, the film seldom offers enough substance to maintain a steady level of entertainment. "Better to be looked over than overlooked," but feel free to pass.

The first Mae West picture to get strangled by the Hays code. So much that they had to shoot it twice to satisfy the authorities. And it is a tamer West, but the dame still rules the picture and songs become the main source enjoyment. This is the biggest role Roger Pryor ever had. Up against Mae West he was exposed as a lightweight. Definitely not up to West's standard of screen admirers. Regardless of the men surrounds the lady, it's Mae West that always out-shines them like a gloria of sin.

Simple comedy revolving around Mae West's snappy comebacks and one-liners. She simply carries this movie. Tiger Kid was lame. Ace was interesting. Problematic depictions of black people. Fav scene: Mae West's song.

Viewed February 8, 2021. West's persona is so rigid thatMcCarey can't really impress his personal style upon this, or put West in the sort of free-flowing comedic set pieces he does best. This could be any director's movie; West has to be one of the key star-as-auteur examples. I did get a few good laughs out of her one-liners ("He wanted to put me on the board of directors"), the smoky New Orleans atmosphere is fun, and a couple of the musical numbers are surprisingly enjoyable.

"Take care of these men." "Yes--give them all my address!" For my money, of all Mae West's movies, this has the greatest number great lines per square inch.