Mae West was an acquired taste. Some negative comments in this forum seem to forget the enormous talent of Ms. West, who was, without a doubt, a woman way ahead of her times. Mae West was the writer and the star of "Diamond Lil" on Broadway, a huge success at the time. The screen play, while not the strongest thing in the film, offers some good moments in which the star shines. Under the direction of Lowell Sherman, this Mae West vehicle appears somehow dated.
The mere task of translating the stage play into a film must have given the studios executives nightmares. How would Mae West get away with some of the suggestive dialog, where innuendo and double entendres play greatly in the star's delivery? Ms. West seems to be having great fun in playing Lady Lou, a woman who attracted men by just being there.
Cary Grant plays a small part as the Salvation Army Capt. Some of the most suggestive dialog in the film is directed at him. Gilbert Roland is another man that catches Lou's eyes and she makes it known she wouldn't mind a visit at her star dressing room any time.
We also see some of great old players in the film. Owen Moore is Chick. Noah Beery plays Gus. David Landau, Rafaela Otiano, and Dewey Robinson are seen in supporting roles.
The film is worth seeing just for the witty and daring dialog Ms. West wrote. Some of the lines are classics by now.
The mere task of translating the stage play into a film must have given the studios executives nightmares. How would Mae West get away with some of the suggestive dialog, where innuendo and double entendres play greatly in the star's delivery? Ms. West seems to be having great fun in playing Lady Lou, a woman who attracted men by just being there.
Cary Grant plays a small part as the Salvation Army Capt. Some of the most suggestive dialog in the film is directed at him. Gilbert Roland is another man that catches Lou's eyes and she makes it known she wouldn't mind a visit at her star dressing room any time.
We also see some of great old players in the film. Owen Moore is Chick. Noah Beery plays Gus. David Landau, Rafaela Otiano, and Dewey Robinson are seen in supporting roles.
The film is worth seeing just for the witty and daring dialog Ms. West wrote. Some of the lines are classics by now.