Monday, July 12, 2021

Mae West Blu-rays from Kino Lorber

Source: Kino Lorber


Mae West was a force of nature. Born into a showbiz family, West seemed destined to take the industry by storm at an early age. After a successful career in vaudeville and theater, West made her film debut at the age of 40 with Night After Night (1932). West wasn't conventionally beautiful, she was older than most actresses playing romantic leads and she broke the mold of how a movie star should look and act. The fact that she became such a huge movie star seems to defy logic. But West just had this presence that drew people to her. She was confident, in tune with her sexuality and could deliver a sexual innuendo like nobody else. West was a self-made woman and when she told you she was hot stuff, you believed her. 

West wrote much of her own material and many of her movies are based on her plays, original stories and featured her special brand playful dialogue. West was such a huge star, especially in the 1930s, that she helped her home studio Paramount avoid bankruptcy. Over the years, she battled with censors and many of her films faced heavy editing. The Pre-Code era was her time to shine but she was able to carry on her special brand of sexuality into an era of increased censorship. 

Mae West starred in 12 films and 9 of them are available on Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Below are my reviews of 7 of them (I forgot to ask for two of them hence there only being 7). Each Blu-ray features brand new audio commentary as well as English subtitles. She Done Him Wrong has undergone a 4k restoration for the Blu-ray release.



Night After Night (1932)

directed by Archie Mayo
Starring: Mae West, George Raft, Constance Cummings, Wynne Gibson, Louis Calhern



When Night After Night (1932) came out, star George Raft joked that Mae West stole everything but the camera. West had a small role as a party gal who crashes Raft's club and while she only has a few scenes boy does she make them count. Raft plays a boxer turned club owner during Prohibition. He turns a mansion, formerly owned by Jerry (Constance Cummings) and her family, into said club. Joe is determined to obtain the one thing he doesn't have: class. West was unhappy with the scenes she was given and insisted on writing her own dialogue. This gave her the opportunity to deliver one of the best opening lines for any character ever made: "Goodness, what beautiful diamonds.... Goodness had nothing to do with it, Dearie." This is a subdued little Pre-Code until West arrives and livens up the joint. She's fourth billed but she might as well have been the star. I recommend this curio for its fun little story and West's epic debut.




She Done Him Wrong (1933)

directed by Lowell Sherman
Starring: Mae West, Cary Grant, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery
 


She Done Him Wrong sees Mae West in her first starring role and boy does it suit her. West is perfect for a tale set in the Gay Nineties (1890s). Hollywood loved this time period because it was a great way to show revelry in the time frame that's both recent and distant. West plays Lady Lou, a lounge club singer who has caught the eye of many men including an ex-con and a Salvation Army missionary. The latter is really Captain Cummings, an undercover Federal agent, played by Cary Grant. The two films West starred in with Grant are Pre-Code gems. Grant is at the very beginning of his career and just achingly beautiful. 




I'm No Angel (1933)

directed by Wesley Ruggles
Starring: Mae West, Cary Grant, Gregory Ratoff, Edward Arnold


In their second film together, Mae West has an even better opportunity to be seen the handsome and debonair Cary Grant. West stars as Tira, a circus performer who, of course, has caught the eye of many a suitor. Perhaps too many. When she becomes smitten with an otherwise engaged man about town, Kirk (Kent Taylor), she gets in over her head. Kirk's cousin Jack (Cary Grant) comes to the rescue only to discover he's falling in love with the glamorous Tira. It's with this film that you start seeing POC (people of color) characters pop up. They become more and more prominent in subsequent films and unfortunately that means more stereotyping. Libby Taylor plays Tira's personal maid and Hattie McDaniel has a very small role as a maid/manicurist. I'm No Angel and She Done Him Wrong pair well together and if you had to watch any Mae West films, I recommend trying these two.






Belle of the Nineties (1934)

directed by Leo McCarey
Starring: Mae West, Johnny Mack Brown, Duke Ellington, Katherine DeMille, Roger Pryor
 

It's back to the Gay Nineties for Mae West! She stars as Ruby Carter, a nightclub performer who flees to New Orleans to escape her prizefighter boyfriend Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor). Supporting players include Johnny Mack Brown as one of Ruby's handsome admirers and Katherine DeMille a jealous society girl. This film has a little bit of everything, musical numbers, a jewelry heist, murder, and a lot of Mae West. Belle of the Nineties was based on West's original story It Ain't No Sin, which due to censorship had to change to something more "respectable." West looks her best adorned in period clothing and dripping in jewels. The film lacks in viable leading men and from what I read George Raft turned down the role of Tiger Kid. Duke Ellington performs in one of the musical numbers.






Goin' to Town (1935)

directed by Alexander Hall
Starring: Mae West, Paul Cavanagh, Gilbert Emery, Marjorie Gateson, Tito Coral

Saloon performer Cleo Borden (Mae West) is preparing to marry a wealthy rancher when he's tragically killed in a robbery. Even though they hadn't married yet, she still inherits his estate. It doesn't matter how much money she has, Cleo can't buy status among the snobby elite. This is another example of a West film exploring the intersection between monetary wealth and social status. The story features West traveling down to Buenos Aires and agreeing to marry a degenerate gambler in order to inherit his status. She gets involved in horse racing which is where Taho, an indigenous character played by Venezuelan actor Tito Coral, comes in. I found this one to be quite enjoyable even when the storyline got a bit convoluted.






Go West Young Man (1936)

directed by Henry Hathaway 
Starring: Mae West, Randolph Scott, Warren William, Alice Brady, Lyle Talbot

AmazonBarnes and Noble Deep DiscountKino Lorber TCM Shop

Go West Young Man has the best line-up of supporting male players of all the Mae West films I've seen thus far. West plays Mavis Arden, a much beloved movie star, is bound by her employer, A.K of Superfine Pictures, to not marry. At least until her 5 year movie contract expires. This proves to be too much for Mavis when she falls for both mayoral candidate Francis X. Harrigan (Lyle Talbot) and small town engineer Bud Norton (Randolph Scott). Warren William plays her press agent and caretaker who is constantly trying to prevent her from marrying one of her beaus. There is a fun fish-out-of-water element to this story where we see the glamorous movie star residing at a quaint boarding house in rural Pennsylvania. This is by far my favorite from the batch specifically because of the leading men. Unfortunately, it does feature Stepin Fetchit type character performed by Nick Stewart.






Klondike Annie (1936)

directed by Raoul Walsh
Starring: Mae West, Victor McLaglen, Phillip Reed, Helen Jerome Eddy, Harold Huber


Groan! Klondike Annie is one of the most cringe-inducing films I've seen from this era. It's a hot mess with how it depicts Asian stereotypes, miscegenation, religion and female purity standards. West plays Rose Carlton, a nightclub singer in San Francisco's Chinatown who is being held captive by her beau Chan Lo (depicted in yellow face by Harold Huber). In scenes cut due to censorship, Chan Lo is murdered and Rose flees to Alaska via shipping vessel to avoid criminal prosecution. Along the way she falls for the ship's captain (Victor McLaglen) and tends to dying religious missionary Sister Annie (Helen Jerome Eddy) whose identity she takes over. West essentially plays a woman of the world pretending to be a religious figure and it just doesn't work. There's a lot of "othering" here which makes it painful to watch through a contemporary vantage point. 



Also available from Kino Lorber



Every Day's a Holiday (1937)

directed by A. Edward Sutherland
Starring: Mae West, Edmund Lowe, Charles Butterworth, Charles Winninger, Lloyd Nolan, Louis Armstrong





My Little Chickadee (1940)

directed by Edward F. Cline
Starring: Mae West, W. C. Fields, Joseph Calleia, Dick Foran, Margaret Hamilton, Ruth Donnelly




Thank you to Kino Lorber Studio Classics for sending me these titles for review. 
Using the buy links helps support this site. 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

2021 Summer Reading Challenge: First Round-Up

 



I've never been more impressed with the summer reading challenge participants as I have been this year. They have been killing it with some awesome reads and even more awesome reviews. Keep up the good work! Seeing their social media mentions and the #classicfilmreading hashtag pop up and reading/watching/listening to their reviews brings a smile to my face every single time.

Congrats to Woodson for being the first to complete the challenge!

Here is the first batch of reviews!*


Andy of Journeys in Darkness and Light

""a great book for any classic film lover, and perhaps an even better book to read with another classic movie fan, leading to many opportunities for discussion, agreement, or maybe even knock-down-drag-out arguments"

The Art of American Screen Acting, 1912-1960 by Dan Callahan

"Holding has crafted not only a suspenseful tale, but also an examination of relationships, race issues, moral dilemmas, gender roles, and much more."

The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding

"provides a good overview of the actor’s life and work and will no doubt make fans want to check out as much of his performances as possible."

Edmond O’Brien: Everyman of Film Noir by Derek Sculthorpe

"Although time and budget were constant woes, the stories of how these creators overcame such constraints are remarkable, compelling, and often jubilant."

Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup by Tom Weaver

"The characters of the kidnappers are less well-developed and their motivations somewhat standard, yet taken as a whole, the novel is a tightly knit page-turner that’s quite satisfying."

King's Ransom by Ed McBain 


Breanna of Bresfilms41

"As a movie trivia lover, this was a treasure trove of information, and I loved every bit of it." 

52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter by Jeremy Arnold

"The discussion between the two directors is relentlessly fascinating, sometimes funny, and occasionally poignant."

Hitchcock/Truffaut

"[Vieira's] research is incredibly thorough, and he crafts such a compelling, living image not only of Thalberg but of every other character in his story..."

Irving Thalberg: Boy Wonder to Producer Prince by Mark A. Vieira 

"McGilligan manages to pull back the curtain and create an incredibly compelling narrative study."

Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane by Patrick McGilligan


Brittaney of The Story Enthusiast

"Having now read about Cukor’s life, I can appreciate his pictures even more."

George Cukor: A Double Life by Patrick McGilligan




Carl of The Movie Palace Podcast 

"will prove most satisfying to those who already actively admire the film, because Tarantino uses the novel to expand on various aspects from the movie."

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino

"this book is highly readable, concise and persuasive, therefore I recommend it to all cinephiles who admire Rebecca."

Rebecca by Patricia White


Chuck on Twitter

"The book is a quick read at a slim 144 pages and I was informed and entertained reading it.  It's a irreverent look at this classic film, kind of like the brothers themselves."

Hail, Hail, Euphoria!: Presenting the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup, the Greatest War Movie Ever Made by Roy Blount Jr.

"the book is informative without being overly academic in its analysis."



Source: Jess of Box Office Poisons


Jess of Box Office Poisons

"It's light and refreshing, just like Ann-Margret!"

My Story by Ann-Margaret


Kara on Goodreads

"I came away from this book feeling that I know Audrey Hepburn better and that our world is a poorer place without her in it."

Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen


Lee of Lee Mac on YouTube


"It was fantastic. 5 stars. Amazing. Love hearts raining everywhere." 

Captain Blood: His Odyssey by Rafael Sabatini


Miriam of Cine Gratia Cinema on YouTube


"one of the most magnificent books and cookbooks that I've ever come across... quote me on that."

A Treasury of Great Recipes by Mary and Vincent Price 


Molly of Classic Mollywood

"As a TCM lover, every time I saw quotes from Robert Osborne I felt enormous joy. It was like hearing Robert talk about these films all over again."

The Essentials Vol. 2 More Must-See Movies and Why They Matter by Jeremy Arnold


Nathan on Twitter and YouTube


"Through various anecdotes, he reveals tragedy, humor, and transparency within that fractured world."

Kieślowski on Kieślowski 

"Thomson shines a light with sensibility, wit, and with a love of cinema."

A Light in the Dark: A History of Movie Directors by David Thomson

"an excellent insight from a genuine filmmaker about the process of filmmaking."

Making Movies by Sidney Lumet

"It's not a pretty story, but there's a strength in telling it and I'd implore you to give it a good read."

What Falls Away: A Memoir by Mia Farrow


Raquel of Out of the Past

"paints the portrait of a complicated woman who stumbled upon fame and soon found her calling as an internationally renowned entertainer."

Mean... Moody... Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend by Christina Rice

(Plus an author interview for TCM!)


Robert of Robert Bellissimo At The Movies on YouTube


"some of these stories are dramatic, engaging and brutal"

Conversations with Ava Gardner by Lawrence Grobol

"a real page turner"

The Marlon Brando Western - The Making of One Eye Jacks by Toby Roan


Sarah on Goodreads

"Reading about her time in Hollywood and her experiences in silent and early film-making were interesting and fun- she was definitely a '20s spirit!"

Lulu in Hollywood by Louise Brooks

"such a fun summer read! This book has a little of everything- animals, starlets, dancers, child stars and more."

This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars and Stories by Carla Valderrama


Steve on Goodreads

"This book serves as a testament to how the film was made but also why it will be eternal. It’s a fascinating read for a legendary film. Read it twice."

Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece by Earl J. Hess, Pratibha A. Dabholkar


Woodson on LibraryThing

"Spoto is quite adept at pointing out the many interesting motifs which run throughout the film maker's works..."

The Art of Alfred Hitchcock: Fifty Years of His Motion Pictures by Donald Spoto

"This book is a finely crafted balancing act: serious without being grindingly academic, honest without being salacious, adoring the art without basking in the rosy glow of nostalgia..."

Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley by Jeffrey Spivak 

"Sadly, the author has only written one other book concerning that film world... That he hasn't continued writing about film is the cinematic world's loss" 

The Great Movies by William Bayer

"Though all of the essays would make sense to the layman, this is really more of a work for the hard core cultists. As such, it is wonderful."

Film Noir Prototypes: Origins of the Movement edited by Alain Silver and James Ursini

"Some books tell us a lot. Some books delight us a lot. Quite often the two types don't intersect. By the happiest of circumstances, a book concerning the subject of films which delight is at once informative and as delightful as its subject."

Romantic Comedy in Hollywood: From Lubitsch to Sturges by James Harvey

"In some sense this book is a bit of a parlor game with smart cinephiles identifying films, roles, actors. However, Thomson is also making a big point about that and the very fact of watching as opposed to doing."

Suspects by David Thomson 


*If for any reason you don't see your review here, it's because it's missing from the link submission form. Make sure you submit and it'll be included in the next round-up.



Monday, June 14, 2021

Mean... Moody... Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend by Christina Rice

Mean... Moody... Magnificent!
Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend

by Christina Rice
University Press of Kentucky
ISBN: 9780813181080
June 2021
392 pages



“The movie star turned out to be devastatingly human.” 

Jane Russell was larger than life. A bonafide movie star. She first made a splash as the sultry lead in Howard Hughes' western The Outlaw (1943). The marketing campaign for that film lasted years thanks to Hughes' penchant for controversy and control. She was dubbed the "motionless picture star" as she traveled to promote her first film for months before its release. The wait was worth it because it cemented her place as a Hollywood celebrity. Russell was an entertainer through and through. She had great screen presence, could sing and had a figure that caught the attention of moviegoers, something Hughes had banked on from the very beginning. Russell was under contract with Hughes for over 30 years, working with him at RKO and beyond, and was often loaned out to studios when she wasn't making a film for her boss. While Hughes was controlling and their working relationship could sometimes be contentious, Russell remained loyal to her boss, a trait that Hughes both valued and rewarded. The pinnacle of her acting career was her co-starring role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) opposite Marilyn Monroe. Taking the role was a total gamble. Russell had to be okay with being overshadowed by her costar. And just like The Outlaw, this gamble paid off. 

Russell collaborated with Robert Mitchum on two noirs for RKO: His Kind of Woman (1951) and Macao (1952). The two had great chemistry on screen and off-screen became lifelong friends. Russell was great to work with and even had a core team from RKO that she took with her on other studio gigs. She married three times, first to Robert Waterfield, a professional football player with whom she later ran Russ-Field Productions. Russell was deeply religious, passionate about adoption and lived to perform. After making Darker Than Amber (1970), she retired from films. In the years that followed, Russell performed on stage and on television, wrote a memoir, gave interviews about her career and made countless appearances. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 89.



Jane Russell and Robert Mitchum in His Kind of Woman (1951)


June 21st marks the 100th anniversary of Jane Russell's birth and to celebrate we have Mean... Moody... Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend, a delightful book from the capable hands of librarian, researcher and archivist Christina Rice. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big fan of Rice's biography Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel. It's one of my top favorite classic film biographies so needless to say I had high expectations for Rice's biography on Jane Russell. Rice did not disappoint.

Mean... Moody... Magnificent! paints the portrait of a complicated woman who stumbled upon fame and soon found her calling as an internationally renowned entertainer. As Rice says in her book, Russell was "more of a movie personality than a serious actress,... [she] could electrify a screen and was a true star of the old studio system.” I really admire how Russell found her confidence to perform even as she was being objectified for her naturally curvy body. One could say that Russell and her body type paved the way for curvaceous entertainers to come, like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. 


Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

“During production Jane adopted Marilyn as a kind of kid sister, exhibiting a tremendous amount of empathy for Monroe, who was experiencing the same type of amped-up sex symbol publicity Jane had been enduring for over a decade.”

Russell's religious beliefs were often in conflict with her actions, something Rice adeptly explores in the book. There is lots to garner from this biography including how Hollywood packaged and promoted their movie stars for public consumption, how sometimes movie stars were made from being in the right place at the right time, and how networking and close working relationships were key to survival in this cutthroat industry. This biography is laid out chronologically with each chapter focusing on a particular theme. This made the book flow very well. Rice's research shines through and her storytelling skills make this for an engrossing read. There's lots of great behind-the-scenes information, especially as it relates to how Russell was styled for her movies. Even if you're not particularly interested in Jane Russell as a person, this is still a must read for anyone who loves stories from old Hollywood.




This is my first review for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge.


Thank you to University Press of Kentucky for a copy of the book for review.


Popular Posts

 Twitter   Instagram   Facebook