I'M NO ANGEL

I'm No Angel
Paramount, 1933, B/W, 87 minutes, ***
Released October, 1933

Tira (Mae West) is an exotic dancer and lion tamer for Big Bill Barton's traveling carnival. On the side, she gets a little lovin' and other more material trinkets from stage door Johnnys she meets in every town. When she hits on the idea of putting her head in a lion's mouth, Barton is excited by the idea and signs her to a five-year contract. The act does well, and Tira hits the big time.

But just as she's about to be married and settle down, she's accused of promoting, and may have to stand trial. At a pre-trial hearing, Tira gets special permission to cross-examine the witnesses, and she slam dunks them all in one of Mae's best scenes ever. She may be no angel, but she's no dummy, either! Meet Tira -- they call her Sister Honky Tonk!

Produced by: William LeBaron
Directed by: Wesley Ruggles
Story, Screenplay and All Dialogue by: Mae West
With Suggestions by: Lowell Brentano
Continuity by: Harlan Thompson
Music by: Harvey Brooks
Lyrics by: Gladys duBois and Ben Ellison
Photographed by: Leo Tover
Film Editor: Otho Lovering

Cast: Mae West [Tira], Cary Grant [Jack Clayton], Gregory Ratoff [Benny Pinkowitz], Edward Arnold [Big Bill Barton], Ralf Harolde [Slick Wiley], Kent Taylor [Kirk Lawrence], Gertrude Michael [Alicia Hatton], Russell Hopton [The Barker], Dorothy Peterson [Thelma], William B. Davidson [The Chump], Gertrude Howard [Beulah], Libby Taylor [Maid]

Musical Program: [0:05] They Call Me Sister Honky-Tonk (sung and "wiggled" by Mae West); [0:17] (Nobody Loves Me Like) That Dallas Man (sung by Mae West); [0:44] I Found a New Way to Go to Town (sung by Mae West); [1:01] I Want You, I Need You (sung by Mae West); [1:26] I'm No Angel (sung on-screen and behind end credits by Mae West)