She Done Him Wrong (1933)
Alright let's just get this over with!!
When women go wrong, men go right after them.
She Done Him Wrong (1933) - watched 10/23/24
Director: Lowell Sherman
Writers: Harvey F. Thew, John Bright
Starring: Mae West, Cary Grant, Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery Sr.
Available to watch on most platforms to rent or buy
First Time Watch? Yes
I’m definitely overthinking this.
I mean, look at the date that I watched this movie and look at the date, now, today, that this newsletter is being published. What’s taken me so long? Ain’t no way I’ve got enough to say about this 66-minute movie that it’s taken me nearly two months to crank out this post.
And that’s just it, actually—this film moved me so very little that it’s been a challenge figuring out what, exactly, to say. With every newsletter, I try to write something thoughtful, or funny, or tie the movie to something more current, or impart some interesting historical knowledge. For a while I was looking into Mae West’s origins, her inspirations coming from early 20th century drag performers and the Pansy Craze and trying to find a good angle there, but while this was all interesting, I struggled to come up with anything particularly new or astute to say about any of it. That’s sort of the problem when you’re writing about a figure as well known and larger than life as Mae West—what could I possibly say that hasn’t been said already?
Because I’m very normal and rational, this dilemma threw me into a tailspin, because this is a problem I anticipate having a lot as this project goes on. It was enough to make me consider bowing out of this project altogether. What new things could I possibly say about some of these movies, ones that have been written about extensively since they were released? What on earth am I going to write about The Wizard of Oz, or Casablanca, or The Godfather? And who cares?
Who. Cares.
It’s a question that is both unnerving and freeing. Unnerving because, well, I care. Don’t you? Why don’t you care? I want you to care! Why else would I do this if nobody cares? I’m also a bit intimidated by the fact that this is a Mae fucking West movie, the first one of hers that I’ve seen, and Mae West strikes me as a woman who always knew exactly what to say. Mae West would not have struggled like this, surely.
But Mae West was also famously someone who didn’t give a fuck about what anyone else thought. So maybe that’s the energy I need to channel, instead of the cripplingly insecure energy I’ve grown accustomed to. I mean, hey, I can truly write whatever I want here, and what’s the worst that could happen? What are you going to do about it? Unsubscribe? Hurt my feelings?
This isn’t exactly my livelihood, so it’s pointless to be hard on myself when what I had planned to write isn’t turning out as polished and insightful as I wanted it to be. I am, above all, a silly person and this is a silly newsletter and I might actually be confused if I found out anyone actually took it seriously. So I’m choosing to say, “Who cares?” and finally wash my hands of this post and this movie that has driven me batty for far too long for being as lackluster as it was. If Mae West could write a kind of bad play that this film was based on, then I hereby give myself permission to occasionally write a bad newsletter.
Some guy done her wrong. The story’s so old it should have been set to music long ago.
In 1890s New York, Lady Lou (Mae West) is a popular singer at a saloon. She is romantically involved with the saloon’s owner, the corrupt Gus Jordan (Noah Beery), who showers Lou in diamonds. This doesn’t stop her from trying to catch the attention of other men, especially the hot undercover fed Captain Cummings (Cary Grant). For Lou, the more men who can give her fine jewels and show her a good time, the better.
Lou is unaware of Jordan’s dirty dealings, which include a counterfeit money scheme that he runs with Russian Rita (Rafaela Ottiano) and her lover, Serge (Gilbert Roland). Jordan’s rival, Dan Flynn (David Landau) has plans to expose Jordan in an attempt to both ruin his chances of being elected sheriff and to win over Lou. These men are so, so horny for Lou it’s kind of nuts.
Yet another man in Lou’s life, Chick Clark (Owen Moore) is a ruthless criminal, currently serving time for a robbery. Chick is tipped off that Lou isn’t exactly loyal to him, so she goes to visit him in prison to reassure him. All the other inmates, familiar with Lou, are absolutely foaming at the mouth to see her. Chick becomes enraged and threatens to kill her if he finds out she’s cheated on him before he gets out of prison. She lies and promises she’s been faithful, and returns to the saloon to perform.
Chick escapes from prison and finds Lou at the saloon—he attempts to strangle her, but she manages to wiggle her way out of certain death by promising to run away with Chick after her next performance. Right after, because these men are just relentlessly horny, Serge gives Lou a ring belonging to Rita and professes his love for Lou. This causes a fight between Lou and Rita, and Lou ends up stabbing Rita to death. Lou has her henchman, Spider (Dewey Robinson) get rid of Rita’s body, because hey, the show must go on, right?
During her performance, Lou signals to Flynn to go up to her room to wait for her. Chick is up in Lou’s room when he arrives, and he shoots Flynn dead. After hearing the gunfire, Captain Cummings orders a raid on the saloon. Cummings’ status as undercover agent “The Hawk” is revealed, and he has pretty much everyone arrested, including Lou, whom he handcuffs himself. Cummings escorts Lou out of the saloon and into a carriage rather than the awaiting paddywagon. Once in the carriage, Cummings gives her a diamond ring, telling her he’s going to be her jailer for a “long, long time.” Then they have a hot, hot smooch. The end!
You said I had a soul. I looked for it, but I didn't find it.
This movie is honestly… kind of a mess? And not very good? Aside from Mae West delivering some of the most iconic, saucy lines in the history of film, this is a completely forgettable movie. I’m honestly struggling a bit to come up with anything I enjoyed about it other than THE leading lady herself.
I think the main thing that bothers me about this movie is that the romance between Mae West and Cary Grant suddenly ramps up out of nowhere, right at the very end. The final scene where they kiss in the carriage is exactly the kind of steamy kiss you’d want to see in a Mae West movie, and their chemistry is undeniable in this moment. So why couldn’t we have gotten more of that? Where was the sexual tension this whole time?
I can see the appeal of Cummings being the only man Lady Lou wants but can’t have, then having the payoff at the end of the two of them finally hooking up. But that’s not even really what happens here. Lou’s limited flirtation with Cummings doesn’t really feel like anything special up until the literal last minute of the film; she treats him exactly the same way she treats all of her male suitors. It doesn’t feel like the stakes are high enough, or that Lou’s desire for Cummings is particularly strong by comparison to every other man in the film. You get the sense that if Cummings never takes Lou up on her propositions, she’ll just move on to the next guy who will. Where’s the excitement and tension in that?
Without Mae West, this movie would have been unwatchable. The plot is pure nonsense, and not in an especially interesting or fun way. The men in this movie are either as boring as drywall or they’re terrifying, nothing in between (kinda like real life, am I right, ladies?). The best thing about this movie is its length—a very lean 66 minutes, which unfortunately feels like a slog due to the lackluster story.
It’s a shame, really. This was my first ever Mae West movie and I was expecting this one to set a much higher bar. Will this turn me off of Mae West entirely? Absolutely not! Despite the bad material she was given, West absolutely made a meal out of it. She’s a legend for a reason, with the ability to spin a bad script into something at least somewhat palatable. That’s talent, honey!
Considering Mae West wrote the play that this film was based on, I’m curious about how much input she ultimately had on the final product, how much of her DNA is still left in the script. It seems like at the very least, Lou’s more memorable quips are pure Mae West, through and through. I’m eager to watch more Mae West films where she had more creative control as a credited writer. I want to believe that better material was possible, was worthy of a woman as captivating and interesting as Mae West.
Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?
Quick Facts:
Nominated for one Academy Award, won none
Best Picture
At 66 minutes, the shortest movie to be nominated for Best Picture
Mae West had to be sewn into most of her form-fitting costumes
Somehow the only Mae West film to receive an Academy Award nomination
Stray Notes:
Love when a guy is called Chick—we gotta bring that back
“The Gay Nineties” — Hell yeah brother
This opening montage is silly and fun!
The giant goblets of beer??
Oh Miss West does not play around!
Sally is SO pretty, wow
Mae West rocks. She just does.
There has never been a hornier woman.
These songs… honestly kinda suck lol
Was Mae West… known for her singing? Because…
Literally everyone wants to fuck her!
Rita’s death is… so poorly acted, it’s hilarious
“Noivous”
She’s awfully casual for someone who kinda just stabbed Rita to death.
Aha!!!
lol, how could they not figure out that Cummings was “The Hawk”?
One thing’s for sure, if Lady Lou’s gonna get arrested, she’s gonna do so cuntily
That ending… things were just getting hot ‘n heavy!!
So short! Almost to its detriment.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐½
Next Up: Smilin’ Through (1932)