She Done Him Wrong (1933)

She Done Him Wrong
Directed by Lowell Sherman
Written by Mae West, Harvey F. Thew and John Bright
1932/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Lady Lou: I always did like a man in a uniform. That one fits you grand. Why don’t you come up some time and see me?

Fun, fun comedy based on Mae West’s Broadway hit “Diamond Lil” and an early role for Cary Grant as one of her many admirers.

It is the Gay Nineties.  Lady Lou (West) is the headline singer in a San Francisco saloon. But her main business is collecting diamonds provided by her many, many admirers.  Next door to the saloon is a religious mission,  Captain Cummings (Cary Grant) is newly arrived to run the mission.  Lou takes one look at the Captain and makes it clear she wants to know him much better, diamonds or no diamonds.

There is a plot involving a young girl in trouble, a jealous ex-boyfriend who escapes from jail, some counterfeiters, a murder, etc., etc.  The story is but an excuse for West to get off some naughty one liners and sing some of her signature songs. With Gilbert Roland as a Latin lover.

It’s hard to fathom why this was so shocking in its day. There are plenty of double entendres but it’s just bawdy good fun. This is the one where she asks Grant to “Come up sometime and see me.” Mae also sings “I Wonder Where My Easy Rider’s Gone”, “A Guy What Takes His Time” and “Frankie and Johnny”.  I thought this was thoroughly entertaining.

I have to admire West.  She was 40 when she made this film and her curves didn’t fit the figure popular at the time.  Yet she really is sexy.  And she is always in control.never cheap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbzTORe4iD8