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A30 LOCAL
Tuesday 16 June 2020
PBS invites you to come up sometime and see a Mae West doc

By MARK KENNEDY what anybody thought of
AP Entertainment Writer her."
NEW YORK (AP) — Before The documentary is part
there was Cher or Madon- of a summer slate by PBS'
na, Beyoncé or Rihanna, American Masters series to
there was another savvy honor female trailblazers,
media star who unapolo- which also includes a look
getically embraced her sex at Toni Morrison and a one-
appeal and femininity. hour special on pioneer-
That would be Mae West, ing female politicians from
the bawdy, witty, sex sym- America's past.
bol of the 1930s who pio- The Brooklyn-born West
neered a path for modern created her character —
women with guts and a a blonde sex symbol who
nod and a wink. came from humble roots
" Mae West: Dirty Blonde," and earned success — and
the first major documen- never really let that role go.
tary film on this cultural Unlike contemporary stars,
figure, makes its world she played the same role
premiere Tuesday on PBS, until her death, even turn-
and attempts to look be- ing down parts — like "Sun-
yond West's famous gowns, set Boulevard" —because
curves and jewels. she didn't think her audi-
"She really does belong ence would want to see
in the pantheon of great, her broken or weak.
strong American women. This image released by PBS shows Mae West in a scene from the 1933 film "I'm No Angel." In Vegas, she shared the
She's just been forgotten. Associated Press stage with half-naked,
So we wanted to shine a oiled-up muscled men.
bit of a light on what she Many of her witticisms have homosexuality and cross- like Candice Bergen, Lady They were the eye-candy
achieved," said Sally Rosen- been embraced, including dressing, and later penned Bunny, Margaret Cho, Na- — she had flipped the sex-
thal, who co-directed and 'When I'm good, I'm very the movie "I'm No Angel," in tasha Lyonne, Ringo Starr, ual script.
co-produced the film with good, but when I'm bad, which her character sings, Dita Von Teese, Kathy Na- "She was pushing the en-
Julia Marchesi. I'm better" and "Between dances and gossips about jimy and Mario Cantone velope in so many different
The film, executive pro- two evils, I always choose men with several black add their insights, too facets of society. But the
duced by Bette Midler, the one I've never tried be- maids, unheard of in 1933. What emerges is a portrait one that still exists — the
traces West's origins in fore." She also insisted, over ob- of a woman who was in- taboo that still exists — is
vaudeville, her leap to "She was this incredibly jections from the movie stu- credibly savvy about mar- that sexualized older wom-
Broadway as performer smart woman who had a dio, that Duke Ellington and keting herself. When West an that we're still sort of all
and playwright, her Holly- message about power and his band be hired for "It Ain't was charged with obscen- made uncomfortable by,"
wood debut as a sex sym- sexuality and gender. And No Sin." ity in 1927 for her play "Sex," Marchesi said.
bol at age 40, and her last she found a way to get "She was no civil rights ac- she was sentenced to 10 The filmmakers hope view-
acts as Vegas nightclub people to listen to her, and tivist. She was not marching days in prison but was of- ers will be spurred to enjoy
star in her 60s and camp that was to make them in the streets. This was the fered the opportunity to a fresh look at West's films
icon in her 80s. laugh," Marchesi said. 1930s," Marchesi said. "But pay a fine and be released and really take a look at a
It's a remarkable life: De- As the filmmakers peeled we do know that she was immediately. Seeing the woman being subversive in
spite having only a third back layers to West, they around a lot of black enter- huge publicity value of the plain sight.
grade education, West discovered more than just tainers and musicians. And case, she demanded to be "One of the things that was
wrote her own plays and a sex siren who was playing she does seem to have had sent to prison. just so astounding for us to
screenplays and rarely almost a parody of a sex a lot of respect for them "Mae's example is about discover was how much
delegated any detail. She siren. They found a woman and want to sort of prop the sort of a woman who strategy and messaging
launched Cary Grant's ca- embodying female em- them up in the industry." doesn't experience shame there was underneath all
reer, was sentenced to pris- powerment who was giv- The documentary tries to or embarrassment, and she of that," Marchesi said. "I
on and became the sec- ing subtle nods to lift up get to the heart of West with never, ever apologizes for hope this will inspire people
ond highest paid person African Americans and the observations from biogra- who she is," Marchesi said. to go back and look at her
in the entire country, be- gay community. phers, historians, friends, "Women are always apolo- movies because there's
hind only William Randolph West wrote the 1927 play directors, her former man- gizing for everything all the a lot more there than just
Hearst. "The Drag," which dealt with ager and journalists. Stars time. She just didn't care wisecracks."q
Drake tops BET Awards nods; show to air on CBS for 1st time

NEW YORK (AP) — Drake is viewer's choice award, coronavirus pandemic, will for video of the year, best video of the year along-
the leading nominee at the Drake is nominated twice also air on BET and BET HER. female hip-hop artist, best side DaBaby's "Bop," DJ
2020 BET Awards, which will thanks to the hits "No Guid- Breakthrough rappers collaboration, the viewer's Khaled, Nipsey Hussle and
celebrate its 20th anniver- ance" with Chris Brown and Megan Thee Stallion and choice award and album John Legend's "Higher,"
sary later this month. "Life Is Good" with Future. Roddy Ricch follow Drake of the year for "Fever." Doja Cat's "Say So," Megan
BET announced Monday The 2020 BET Awards will air with five nominations each. Ricch, who won his first The Stallion's "Hot Girl Sum-
that Drake is nominated for live on June 28 across Via- Megan Thee Stallion, who Grammy Award earlier mer" and Chris Brown and
six honors, including video comCBS networks, includ- recently topped the Bill- this year, also topped the Drake's "No Guidance."
of the year and best male ing CBS for the first time. The board Hot 100 chart with pop charts with his upbeat Beyoncé, Minaj, Brown,
hip-hop artist. For both show, which will be a virtual her Beyoncé-assisted "Sav- hit "The Box." The video for Lizzo and DaBaby earned
best collaboration and the celebration because of the age" remix, is nominated that song is nominated for four nominations each. q