Belle of the Nineties
According to David Niven, this film was to have been called "It Ain't No Sin" and, as a publicity stunt, 40 parrots were trained to repeat "it ain't no sin." Then the Hays Office made the studio change the title.,The songs "Memphis Blues" and "St Louis Blues", sung by West in 1890s New Orleans, were written and published in the 1910s by W.C. Handy.,Ace Lamont: Great town, St. Louis. You were born here?
Ruby Carter: Yes.
Ace Lamont: What part?
Ruby Carter: Why, all of me.,Featured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982),Memphis Blues
(uncredited)
Written by W.C. Handy
Performed by Mae West and the Duke Ellington Orchestra,This movie is classic Mae West, full of one-liners with carefully disguised meanings to escape the censors. It's interesting to note that this is the movie where she really began to fight with the Hays Office and the Breen Office to get her movie past the censors...She had to change the title from "It's No Sin" (people picketed in the streets with signs that said, "Yes, It Is"). Therefore, this movie could be seen by some as not quite as good as her 3 previous movies. However, it is still a gem from Mae's classic period. Everyone should see a Mae West movie at least once...,