Movie Reviewed: Belle of the Nineties (1934), starring Mae West

Movie Reviewed: Belle of the Nineties (1934), starring Mae West

It ain’t no sin

This is a tale of a New Orleans singer juggling her career and romances with a boxer and a millionaire while her villainous boss lusts for her. The story written by Mae West is pretty weak and not very appealing. Looking like an upholstered egg-timer, the star of the movie was kept on screen front and center throughout by the astute director Leo McCarey in this William LeBaron production. The movie was still a big hit because of the star appeal of Mae West. However it was subjected to severe censoring by the Hay’s office since the morality code was in force in 1934. Some of West’s best lines were snapped by the scissors of Hay’s office. The highlight of the movie is the performance by Duke Ellington and his orchestra helping Mae West thorough four numbers including “My old Flame.”