Paramount published as many bra-less photos of Mae West as they could in the trade publications. Even if her nipples showed in 1933.
http://maewest.blogspot.com/2017/06/mae-west-charmed-circle.html
Anything Goes : Did Pre-Code Hollywood feature nipples? Yes. by LindaAnn Loschiavo
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You mean sex wasn't just discovered by the current (regardless of the date) teenagers? Gosh, blush, shuffle, shucks :-)
Lots of pre-code pictures were pretty explicit, Everyone in this industry must have had the education of watching "Intolerance" by D.W. Griffith. "Cleopatra" starring Theda Bara, and of course everyone's favourite poodle, Betty Boop. Further the code only applied in the USA, the rest of the world had their own approaches and full frontal was not unknown going back to the earliest cinema.
Mea West tweaking the nose of prudes seems tame, dated and yet daring on her part. Good for her.
Thanks for the posting Linda
Andrew Sobkovich Hello! Long time no see! Having revised the 3-hr "Diamond Lil" stage play Mae wrote in 1928 for a cast of 33 - - - my lean 89-minute version uses 8 actors -- I know Mae's B'way play had full-on sexual encounters, simulated intercourse, etc. Paramount even made the neckline on Mae's costumes higher. But in the trade papers, Paramount got frisky. Pretty funny.
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Hi LindaAnn. haven't commented, but I love your posts. A view into the past of part of our industry always seems fascinating. Was your "Diamond Lil" re-write ever performed?
Andrew Sobkovich Very kind of you to say so! In 2013 we had a 14-week run on West 46th St. Darlene Violette was FAB as Diamond Lil. See if you agree! https://youtu.be/rEJbRV-WeW8
That was fun. Darlene certainly seems to have connected with the part of Mae. Her attitude and delivery play really well. Assuming you thought of bringing it to either the big or small screen, how is that going? A limited series based upon a larger than life real person, strong female lead, depression era, imposition of censorship, fascism and war building in the background, all done is a risque wrapper sounds like a great starting point.
Andrew Sobkovich Thanks for watching! Mae West wrote the play in 1928; copyright expires in 2023, the year I am free of the Estate's restrictions on what I can do. A project for a bio-pic starring Bette Midler as Mae was announced in 2012. Though I know in my heart they never got a script everyone liked & the project is now dead, the Estate is "afraid" my play will conflict with their bio-pic. I'll have more freedom if I re-start my pitches in 2022, I'm thinking.