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I'm No Angel

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I'm No Angel (1933) was Mae West's third motion picture. Mae West received sole story and screenplay credit for the film. A young Cary Grant was the male lead. This was the last of Mae West's early pictures to escape heavy censorship. Ms. West plays Tira, a circus performer who becomes a socialite through marriage.

Plot summary

Tagline: A story about a gal who lost her reputation - and never missed it!

Tira begins as a sideshow attraction where she shimmies and sings for crowds of admiring men. She has a collection of expensive jewelry from various admirers and expensive tastes. When her sleazy boyfriend Slick goes to jail she becomes a lion tamer to earn extra money. West does her own stunts including riding an elephant into the ring and putting her head into a lion's mouth. This makes Tira a circus star and affords her fancy residence and servants.

Tira's quest for respectability introduces her to cousins Kent and Jack Taylor, two New York City socialites. Despite his pedigree Kent's interest in her is much the same as any other man's has been. He showers Tira with presents. Kent's outraged fiancee regards Tira as a guttersnipe. Soon Kent's cousin Jack (Cary Grant) takes an interest. After a brief romance a misunderstanding leads Tira to think Jack has jilted her. She sues for breach of promise - an outrageous suit considering her past - and cross examines the witnesses herself. When Jack lets her win in court she realizes he is really in love with her and she's equally in love with him. A triumphant Tira ends the film rich and famous with a handsome husband.

Context

Released immediately after She Done Him Wrong, Mae West was the nation's biggest box office attraction and its most controversial star. Depression era audiences responded to the fantasy rise of a woman from the wrong side of the tracks. Cary Grant stars opposite her for the second and final time. The film makes little use of his talents. The two stars were not fond of each other. West's ribald satire outraged moralists. Film historians cite her as one of the factors for the strict Hollywood production code that soon followed.

The Hays Office forced a few changes including the film's title, originally It Aint No Sin.

Memorable lines

Tira (to a fortuneteller): You just tell me about my future. You see, I know all about my past.

Rajah: Ah, you have a wonderful future. I see a man in your life. Tira: What, only one?

Tira: Never let one man worry your mind. Find 'em, fool 'em and forget 'em.

Tira: Beulah, peel me a grape.

Tira: It's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men.

Jack Clayton: You were wonderful tonight. Tira: Yeah, I'm always wonderful at night. Jack Clayton: Tonight, you were especially good. Tira: Well... When I'm good, I'm very good. But, when I'm bad... [winks at Jack] Tira: I'm better.

Jack Clayton: Look darling, you need a rest, and so do I. Let me take you away somewhere, we'll... Tira: Would you call that a rest? Jack Clayton: What are you thinking about? Tira: Same thing you are.

Tira: I ain't never done this before. Marriage is a new kind of racket for me.

Bibliography

  • Mae West: a bio-bibliography by Carol M. Ward (New York: Greenwood Press, 1989).
  • The complete films of Mae West, Jon Tuska (Secaucus, NJ : Carol Pub. Group, 1992).
  • The Paramount Pretties James Robert Parish (New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1972).
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