The 1890s and turn of the century seem to be Mae West's favorite era because she can dress up in outrageously fancy clothes and enormous hats, which perfectly fit her personality. I was disappointed we only saw a little of Johnny Mack Brown, who was 3rd billed. He was much the least of the 3 suitors the screenplay focused on. Yet, he was the one who gave Mae the most expensive jewels. He might have been a jewel thief for all I know, but those jewels played a crucial part in the plot.
Boxer Tiger Kid(Roger Pryor) has a big crush on famous entertainer Ruby Carter(Mae), interfering in his concentration on his boxing training, or so his manager-trainer(Kirby) thinks. Thus, Kirby schemes to get Ruby out of the St. Louis area by arranging for her to work for oily Ace Lamont(John Miljan) in New Orleans. Ace also immediately develops a crush on Ruby, making his girlfriend, Molly, jealous. Brooks(Johnny Mack Brown) also takes a romantic interest in Ruby, and showers her with expensive jewelry. These jewels are of interest to Ace for 2 reasons: They make Ruby feel less dependent on working for him, and they are a possible source of money for putting on a boxing match between Tiger Kid and the world champion heavy weight. Thus, he talks Tiger into stealing them under conditions where neither he nor Ruby know each other was involved. But, Ruby finds out the truth in eves dropping. She figured out a way of hurting both men simultaneously. In the 27th round, she slipped a sedative into Tiger's water bottle, causing him to lose the fight and Ace to lose a fortune in bets. Ruby suggests to Tiger that Ace may have put something in his water bottle, causing Tiger to confront Ace, punching him to the floor, cracking Ace's skull, killing him. Ruby is still mad at Tiger for stealing her jewels, until Tiger pleads he thought they were Molly's jewels, given by Ace. She forgives him, and he soon becomes a hero when he saves Molly from a fiery death when Ace's establishment catches fire, and she is locked in a closet by Ace.
It's interesting that the historic fight between J.L. Sullivan and "Gentleman" Jim Corbett took place at the Olympic Club in New Orleans in 1892, when this story takes place, the difference being that the challenger beat the champ in that one.
Aside from the classic "Memphis Blues", which Mae sings, the songs were composed by Arthur Johnson and Sam Coslow. Gene Austin sings "My American Beauty", while Mae is on stage, various objects being projected onto the wall behind her. Mae later sings "When a St. Louis Woman Goes Down to New Orleans" onstage, dressed in a very fashionable dress and hat. Later, at an informal gathering, she sings "My Old Flame". Lastly, Mae sings "Troubled Waters" from a balcony overlooking a dark evening revival meeting.
I don't understand why Ace took the extreme measure of locking Molly in a closet to burn to death, to get rid of her. Perhaps she was pregnant, and he wanted to run off with Ruby? Ace's crazy reason for planning to set his establishment on fire was so that he could plead bankruptcy and thus not have to pay out all the money to those who bet on the champion winning the fight.
Mae exhibits her typical stage persona of frequent sarcastic remarks and other types of one liners, often swinging her hips, one hand on a hip, the other on the back of her head. A few of her one liners are as follows: Ace: "It's an old masters"(painting) Mae: "Looks like an old mistress, to me". Mae: "Is this a proposal, or are you taking an inventory?" Man: Do you expect to be here for good?" Mae: I expect to be here, but not for good" Man "I'm the best man"(for wedding). Mae: "That's what you think!"
Boxer Tiger Kid(Roger Pryor) has a big crush on famous entertainer Ruby Carter(Mae), interfering in his concentration on his boxing training, or so his manager-trainer(Kirby) thinks. Thus, Kirby schemes to get Ruby out of the St. Louis area by arranging for her to work for oily Ace Lamont(John Miljan) in New Orleans. Ace also immediately develops a crush on Ruby, making his girlfriend, Molly, jealous. Brooks(Johnny Mack Brown) also takes a romantic interest in Ruby, and showers her with expensive jewelry. These jewels are of interest to Ace for 2 reasons: They make Ruby feel less dependent on working for him, and they are a possible source of money for putting on a boxing match between Tiger Kid and the world champion heavy weight. Thus, he talks Tiger into stealing them under conditions where neither he nor Ruby know each other was involved. But, Ruby finds out the truth in eves dropping. She figured out a way of hurting both men simultaneously. In the 27th round, she slipped a sedative into Tiger's water bottle, causing him to lose the fight and Ace to lose a fortune in bets. Ruby suggests to Tiger that Ace may have put something in his water bottle, causing Tiger to confront Ace, punching him to the floor, cracking Ace's skull, killing him. Ruby is still mad at Tiger for stealing her jewels, until Tiger pleads he thought they were Molly's jewels, given by Ace. She forgives him, and he soon becomes a hero when he saves Molly from a fiery death when Ace's establishment catches fire, and she is locked in a closet by Ace.
It's interesting that the historic fight between J.L. Sullivan and "Gentleman" Jim Corbett took place at the Olympic Club in New Orleans in 1892, when this story takes place, the difference being that the challenger beat the champ in that one.
Aside from the classic "Memphis Blues", which Mae sings, the songs were composed by Arthur Johnson and Sam Coslow. Gene Austin sings "My American Beauty", while Mae is on stage, various objects being projected onto the wall behind her. Mae later sings "When a St. Louis Woman Goes Down to New Orleans" onstage, dressed in a very fashionable dress and hat. Later, at an informal gathering, she sings "My Old Flame". Lastly, Mae sings "Troubled Waters" from a balcony overlooking a dark evening revival meeting.
I don't understand why Ace took the extreme measure of locking Molly in a closet to burn to death, to get rid of her. Perhaps she was pregnant, and he wanted to run off with Ruby? Ace's crazy reason for planning to set his establishment on fire was so that he could plead bankruptcy and thus not have to pay out all the money to those who bet on the champion winning the fight.
Mae exhibits her typical stage persona of frequent sarcastic remarks and other types of one liners, often swinging her hips, one hand on a hip, the other on the back of her head. A few of her one liners are as follows: Ace: "It's an old masters"(painting) Mae: "Looks like an old mistress, to me". Mae: "Is this a proposal, or are you taking an inventory?" Man: Do you expect to be here for good?" Mae: I expect to be here, but not for good" Man "I'm the best man"(for wedding). Mae: "That's what you think!"