- Well, when I'm
good, I've very good,
but when I'm bad, I'm better.
(dramatic music)
- I see a man in your life.
- What, only one?
- Mae West crafted this image.
She was a sexual gangster.
- You are a dangerous woman.
- Thanks.
- She had that walk in.
"I'm here, lads,
take me or take me."
- Are you in town for good?
- I expect to be here,
but not for good.
(men laugh)
- Mae West was a pioneer for
all those wonderful women
who dare to be sexy: Cher,
Madonna, Rihanna, Beyonce.
- Haven't you ever met a man
that could make you happy?
- Sure, lots of times.
- [Woman] She's a parody of
unbridled male sexuality.
- Good night.
- [Woman] She's standing
sexism on its head.
- To play the game, I have
to be smart enough
to play it their way.
- [Woman] She was 40 years old
before she ever
appeared in a movie.
- Goodness, what
beautiful diamonds.
- Goodness had nothing
to do with it, dearie.
- She waltzed in and
said, "I wrote it,
"and we're gonna shoot
it like this, kid."
- Surely, you don't mind
my holding your hand.
- It ain't heavy, I
can hold it myself.
- [Woman] She goes
from being sent to jail
for what she wants
to say in 1926,
to being the toast
of Broadway in 1928,
to being the
highest-paid actress
in America by the mid '30s.
- Young lady, are you trying
to show contempt for this court?
- No, I'm doing my
best to hide it.
- Nothing could intimidate her.
She was just not
afraid to go out
and poke a bear with a stick.
- Come up, I'll
tell your fortune.
Ah, you can be had.
- Somebody like her becomes
very dangerous to
the status quo.
- I don't suppose you
believe in marriage, do you?
- Only as last resort.
(dramatic music)
- Any time you
got nothing to do,
lots of time to do it, come up.
(dramatic music)
