Thanks, Keiva. With the help of Halliwell's filmgoer's companion, I offer the following excerpts:
"A much cleverer woman than she was usually given credit for being, [Mae West] seemed to talk in epigrams. In her seventies on TV, when someone gushed:
- Oh, Miss West, I've heard so much about you
the reply was:
- Yeah, but you can't prove a thing.
When a life jacket was named after her during World War II, her reaction had the appearance of spontaniety:
- I've been in "Who's Who" and I know what's what, but it's the first time I ever made the dictionary.
… For the rest, one can only list a few sparklers:
- She's one of the finest women who ever walked the streets.
- How tall are you son?
- Ma'am, I'm six feet seven inches.
- Let's forget the six feet and talk about the seven inches.
(On arriving at her office and being greeted by a score of virile young men):
- I'm feeling a little tired today. One of those fellows'll have to go."
Her best film (according to most critics) was She done him wrong (1933) with Cary Grant, adapted from her stage success Diamond Lil. The film society which I'm involved with has programmed this film in May 2002. Lucky us!
