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She Done Him Wrong

Sie tat ihm unrecht
Retrospective 2022
Source: Deutsche Kinemathek, courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing, LLC
In 1892 New York, Lady Lou is a singer in the Bowery saloon owned by Gus Jordan. Her boss is running for sheriff, but he also runs a counterfeit racket – something Dan Flynn, his rival for office and for Lou, threatens to expose. Flynn tells Lou that a detective nicknamed “The Hawk” is on Gus’ trail. Flynn also has an axe to grind with Chick Clark, another of Lou’s paramours, now in prison. Lou currently has her erotic sights set on Captain Cummings, the handsome director of the mission next to the bar. It’s an explosive situation that comes to head after a young runaway tries to commit suicide in the bar. Lou comes to her aid and the young woman is drawn into Gus’ criminal business … “When women go wrong, men go right after them.” Mae West remained true to herself in this re-working of her play “Diamond Lil”. It was stripped of its sex trafficking plot, songs, and some dialogue to satisfy the Hays Office. But as the New York Times put it, West gave “a remarkably suspicious impersonation of Diamond Lil. In fact, She Done Him Wrong, with a few discreet cuts and alterations, is the same ‘Diamond Lil’ without which no bibliography of Miss West’s literary works would be complete”.
by Lowell Sherman
with Mae West, Cary Grant, Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery Sr., David Landau, Rafaela Ottiano, Dewey Robinson, Rochelle Hudson, Tammany Young USA 1933 English 64’ Black/White

With

  • Mae West
  • Cary Grant
  • Owen Moore
  • Gilbert Roland
  • Noah Beery Sr.
  • David Landau
  • Rafaela Ottiano
  • Dewey Robinson
  • Rochelle Hudson
  • Tammany Young

Crew

Director Lowell Sherman
Screenplay Harvey Thew, John Bright based on the play “Diamond Lil” (1928) by Mae West
Cinematography Charles Lang Jr.
Editing Alexander Hall
Music Ralph Rainger
Sound Harry Lindgren
Art Director Robert Usher
Costumes Edith Head
Producer William LeBaron

Produced by

Paramount Productions, Inc.

Additional information

Print: WDR Filmarchiv