Customer Reviews

Intimate Portrait: Mae West [VHS]

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On the whole this video is a entertaining look at the life and times of one of this century's most important women. My only points of contention are that there is misinformation as well as a lack of any real rare material presented. We've seen the movies, how about some of her television and radio appearances. Granted they did excerpt a couple of lines from the radio shows. I think this video could have been better researched and put together.

Since there aren't very many documentaries on Mae West, one of the truly racy figures of the 1930s, it is easy to be drawn to this one. However, it has many flaws aside from being simply mediocre.

West began on the stage but made her way into films when she penned a controversial play called "Sex." The popularity of the play led her to films where she had a hand in the dialogue that went into them. Of course, things had to be toned down substantially, but West lured men with her ample body without shame. Her career lasted decades though she is most associated with the 1930s. She even made a screen appearance into old age.

The film clips used for this documentary aren't in the best shape. Also, not enough of the unknown parts of West's life are explored, so we hardly get an idea of who the woman was, only of what she did.