Mae West: The Original Sex And The City Icon
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Decades before Candace Bushnell conceived her version of Sex And The City, Mae West was experiencing the lifestyle loud and proud. West's Broadway play, "SEX' which premiered in 1926 was so far ahead of its time, she had to soften the blow of its content and make it safe for mass consumption by placing the setting in the Bowery of the 1890's complete with period piece costumes. West's vision of SEX was not an escape into the fantasy of the past, but a journey into the possibilities of the future.
Taschen's latest addition to their Movie Icons series, Mae West, is depicted in a stunning collection of mostly black and white stills from her films and stage productions, many never published before, wearing gowns designed by Travis Banton, Schiaparelli, Walter Plunkett, and Edith Head. A pleasant surprise is the inclusion of several rare advertisements that Paramount and Columbia Pictures utilized in promoting these films at the time of their original release.
The only disappointment is the rather weak commentary. In an attempt to appeal to three markets, Taschen has printed the accompanying text in English, German and French, leaving a lot to be desired. However, the superior production values and low price make this volume a must have for West aficionados.
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