Mae West

If you're one of those people who is going to watch this to obtain information about Mae West and be entertained, then this film will suffice. Child actor? Married? In jail? Anyone who knows little about Mae West will find these key tidbits about her interesting.

But for those that know this and more about Mae, you'll be disappointed to see so many things left out. Sure the budget of the film only allowed so many actors, and so many sets, but Mae West had a brother and sister, a second serious love that she married named Guido Deiro. Jim Timony was certainly a main man of hers, and their rumored romantic relationship only actually lasted a short time. Frank Wallace came back to haunt her and Timony for several years looking for money after Mae struck gold in the business. Dragging her to court every few years may have been the reason of her failed film career as it interrupted her life for several years. But this film focuses mostly on the short-term romance between Jim and Mae.

This film shouldn't be counted out for accuracy. In fact, so many small things were obviously researched incredibly well. Examples: Mae's green and pink dress that she wore as a child actor. Mae's obtainment of her own personal silk underwear and sidebar friendship while incarcerated. Mae's determination to help give direction pointers in Night After Night, and George Raft's quote about her performance "she stole everything but the cameras". And eerily, Ann Jillian's ability to belt out a number with Mae's signature salty timbered voice.

As this review is written in 2020, it is hard to believe that it hasn't been since 1982 (four years after Mae West's death) that a biopic hasn't been recreated. Until a new film is made, if you can tolerate some dated technology and old-style methods of filmmaking of this originally made-for-TV film, then it's not bad to get your Mae information and learn a more about her.

I can only say that when I saw this movie on Showtime I completely enjoyed it. Then, in the months that followed, when I would be flipping through the channels looking for something to kill a little time, I'd stop when I came upon Mae West. I'd think to watch it for a few minutes and go on. Inevitably I would watch it through to the end once again. I must have seen the last half or two-thirds of this movie twenty times or more and I never tired of seeing it again.

If I could find it on DVD or VHS I'd likely watch it twenty more times. I can't really say why but the story, the casting and the acting, mainly Ann Jillian made it memorable and endlessly enjoyable.

RODDY McDOWALL'S character Rene Valentine was based on the legendary stage and film star JULIAN ELTINGE, and not the drag queen that is mentioned above. Mr. Eltinge was quite influential in creating the sexy style and alluring mannerisms that became Ms. West's trademarks in the long run. Before she was tutored by him, she was nothing more than a raucous singer that had little style. The costume she wears in the scene at the vaudeville theater, after working with him, is based on factual information researched by Costume Desinger, JEAN-PIERRE DORLEAC, who was nominated for an Emmy for the film. The same goes for all the other costumes in the film.

Miss Ann Jillian is a fine actress and comes off quite well in her portrayal of the legendary Mae West. She looks great in the gowns, feathers and furs, and gives enough of a well crafted impression of the character to keep her performance from being a parody.

All the cast does a fine job here. I do feel however that fault lies with shortcomings in the writing department. Fact is most often more entertaining than fiction. One case in point is 'The Mighty Barnum' which came out in the 1930's. The most interesting person of his day was so poorly portrayed by the script men that it is almost painful to watch! This is unfortunately the fate of many a Hollywood biographical film.

This film does have what it takes to stand on it's own but misses the mark because the writers left out some of the very best of what made Mae West so interesting as a performer and as a truly fascinating person in her private off screen life. There was just so much more to Mae West than was depicted here. Miss West was a shrewd woman and a true professional. She usually got what she wanted in life by whatever means whether fair or as it was sometimes, foul! She kept gangsters as friends and could wrap the studio big shots around her bejeweled little pinkie!

James Brolin is a Hollywood hunk and a fine actor also.Unfortunately, as James Timony he is sorely miscast. Mr. Timony was an overweight round faced man who in the early years was perhaps a passing romantic interest but the truth is he was more Miss West's manager and business partner than anything else. It would have been great stuff to see what really went on. Miss West would see to it that the jealous Mr. Timony was kept occupied with some sort of business doings while on the sly she dropped her room key into the pocket of one of the muscle boys in her nightclub act! A good writer could have had a hayday with that! And most of all, it was true!

Some films of this sort, and I feel this is one, are so often flawed from the point of historical accuracy. But....with all the efforts of a fine cast it is ....Entertaining? Yes! Worth seeing? Indeed!

Perhaps only the true West fans will pick out the errors in an otherwise well done television movie. If you haven't seen it, watch for it. And if like me, a true devote' of the great Mae West, you've just got to not miss seeing it.

This was Ann Jillian's shining moment. I saw this on Amazon Prime and thought it would get funny camp like most bios. I was pleasantly surprised

I never cared much for Ann Jillian during her TV heyday. I disliked that white shag hairdo and her two dimensional chacter on Its A Living..

How ironic that is become a dan watching her play the one dimensional Mae West.

Jillian is fun, charismatic and endearing. She is careful to not make West into a total caricature.

I don't know how historically accurate this film was, but it seems to have shown regard for the star and her struggle to find fame.