I’m No Angel (1933)

I’m No Angel
Directed by Wesley Ruggles
Written by Mae West
1933/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Criterion Channel

Tira: Beulah, peel me a grape.

This has everything a Mae West movie should have, including a young Cary Grant.

Tira (West) is a sensation with her act in the sidehow of a circus.  She plays her many admirers like a fiddle.  Most of this involves the receipt of diamond bracelets and some sexual innuendos.  Finally, Tira is courted by Kirk Lawrence (Kent Taylor) and he asks her to marry him.  Problem is Kirk is already engaged.  Both the fiancee and friend Jack Clayton (Grant) try to persuade her to drop him.

Jack does succeed in breaking up the relationship but only because he falls in love with Tira himself.  When he hears damning information, he calls off their engagement.  This leads to a funny breach of promise trial.

The suggestive one-liners fly and West does some good musical numbers.  I’m especially fond of “They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk”.  I enjoyed this one a lot.