Directed by:
Wesley RugglesScreenplay:
Mae WestCinematography:
Leo ToverCast:
Mae West, Cary Grant, Gregory Ratoff, Edward Arnold, Kent Taylor, Gertrude Michael, Russell Hopton, Dorothy Peterson, William B. Davidson, Irving Pichel (more)Plots(1)
Tira works as a dancer and occasional lion tamer for a circus, but her greatest pleasure in life is in her liaisons with wealthy men. During one of her dances, she makes eye contact with a gentleman wearing a huge diamond ring. He later joins her in her hotel room for a nightcap but is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Slick Wiley, a pickpocket who thinks of himself as Tira's "man." Slick knocks the gentleman unconscious and steals his ring but later is arrested and thrown in jail. The circus owner offers to lend Tira money for a lawyer to avoid prosecution on condition that she put her head in a lion's mouth as part of a new act to tour major cities. Tira agrees and becomes the star attraction, gaining fame and wealth from her success. Various society patrons visit Tira backstage, among them Kirk Lawrence and his fiancée Alicia Hatton. Alicia is disdainful of Tira, but Kirk becomes infatuated with her, and a whirlwind romance ensues, with Kirk lavishing expensive gifts on Tira. Kirk's friend and associate Jack Barton calls on Tira to ask her to give up her relationship with Kirk on Alicia's behalf. Tira agrees and she and Jack fall seriously in love. One night after his release from jail, Slick enters Tira's penthouse and pretends to be her lover when Jack arrives. Jack calls off his engagement to Tira, who, unaware of Slick's ruse, sues Jack for breach of contract. Tira represents herself in court and proves to all concerned that she is a respectable woman and deserves substantial payment for damages. Realizing he was set-up, Jack agrees to the settlement. Later he and Tira reaffirm their love for each other. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
I'm No Angel is that famous Mae West movie that is so often discussed as being too provocative, cynical, and sexy. In fact, it had to cut back because the pre-code era was ending. West once again chose a young Cary Grant as her partner (just like in She Done Him Wrong six months earlier) and left no one in doubt about who the queen was. Mae West plays the lead role, she practically never leaves the screen (and there's always something nice to look at because the costumes are the work of Paramount king Travis Banton), and she wrote the theme, the script and of course the dialogue. It's a great show, it’s funny, spicy, and even lavish in the circus acts. The final section is absolutely perfect. The characters of the trio of black maids who cheer Mae on in her fabulous flirtations are also great. Only those who do not want to understand do not understand. It was a joy to go to the movie theater back then, with Dietrich shining in Blonde Venus, Marion Davies in Polly of the Circus...
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