Exactly where did Mae West say, "Marriage is an institution and I
ain't ready for an institution yet"? If she said it in one of her
movies, I need to know full details--character, context, etc. Any
other quotes from her on marriage, but I need again exact context (or
source) where. Thank you. |
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
17 Jun 2003 17:49 PDT
Hello sylk-ga,
I only found one reference to the Mae West quotation in an article
from a University Newsletter from 1994. The article is about the
screening of a Mae West movie followed by a panel discussion in an
American film festival. The commentary mentions that the quotation is
taken from this same Mae West movie. I can give you the source of the
newsletter and the name of the movie.
In addition I have located another quotation about marriage by Mae
West.
“Marriage is like a book. The whole story takes place between the
covers.”
I have the sound clip, the name of the movie, and the two line
dialogue between her and the actor.
Would the information I have located suffice as an answer to your
question?
Thanks,
Bobbie7-ga
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
17 Jun 2003 18:01 PDT
Sylk-ga,
I found another quotation on marriage from a Mae West movie where
she’s asked:
"I don't suppose you believe in marriage," she replies, "Only as a
last resort."
I have the name of the movie, the characters, the context and the
seven line dialogue where Mae West says it.
Thanks
Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
17 Jun 2003 19:44 PDT
Dear bobbie7-ga,
Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly, as I need the
information as soon as possible. I am not sure if that would be
enough information. I need to reference this quotation in a book my
husband and I are working on, and the publisher requires every quote
referenced thoroughly. I suppose if I am able to verify the film clip
and sound bite, that would be enough for each quote.
Whatever information you can provide would be a start--I would have to
be able to verify the source myself.
Thanks,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
17 Jun 2003 20:27 PDT
Hi Sylvia,
I am going to present you with all the information I located so that
you may verify it and than let me know in order post it as the offical
answer.
According to the Inside UVA Online Newsletter (94-11-04) for the
Faculty & Staff at the University of Virginia , Mae West said
"Marriage is a great institution – but I'm not ready for an
institution" in the movie “I’m No Angel.”
MAE WEST: MORE THAN A SEX SYMBOL by Rebecca Arrington
“Mae West packed the house once again for a screening of
"I'm No Angel," followed by a panel discussion Oct. 29 at the
Jefferson Theatre on "Liberated Women of the 1930s," as part
of the seventh annual Virginia Festival of American Film.
One of the social obstacles for West was the Hays Office, a
U.S. film industry censor. It forced her and other writers to
use techniques such as double entendre. In "I'm No Angel," she
sings in a blues style and reels off a number of classic
one-liners, including: "Marriage is a great institution -- but
I'm not ready for an institution"; "I wrote the story myself. It's
all about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it";
"It's not the men in my life that count -- it's the life in my
men"; and "men like women with a past -- because they hope
history will repeat itself."
University of Virginia: Inside UVA Online Newsletter
http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/textonlyarchive/94-11-04/4.txt
Text only archives of Inside UVa issues, December 1, 1991 - July 23,
1999
http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/textonlyarchive/
Inside UVA Online Newsletter Website
http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/
*****
From the Internet Movie Database:
Trivia – I’m No Angel
“Considerable problems arose with the censors, mostly about the
suggestive lines in some of the songs. The song "Nobody Loves Me Like
a Dallas Man" was originally "Nobody Does It Like a Dallas Man". After
the songs were toned down, the Hays office approved the film, and it
was passed by the National Board of Review.”
http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0024166
I’m No Angel – Plot
http://us.imdb.com/Plot?0024166
“Married at 18, she quickly discovered that marriage did not agree
with her ("Marriage is a fine institution -- if you want to live in an
institution") and lived as a bachelor for the remainder of her life.”
http://www.atomicmag.com/articles/2001/mae_west.shtml
From Guido Deiro - Marriage to Mae West: Part 2
“Mae filed for divorce from Guido Deiro on the grounds of adultery on
July 14, 1920. The divorce was granted by the Supreme Court of the
State of New York on November 9th of that year. Guido did not appear
at the hearings. Mae later said, "Marriage is a great institution. I'm
not ready for an institution."
http://guidodeiro.com/maewest2.html
I found a slightly different version of the quotation but not from an
authoritative source:
They say love is blind...and marriage is an institution. Well, I'm not
ready for an institution for the blind just yet.
--Mae West
http://home.att.net/~quotations/marriage.html
http://www.freelists.org/archives/sacate/12-2002/fullthread1.html
=================================================================
The other quotation about marriage by Mae West:
“Marriage is like a book. The whole story takes place between the
covers.”
Memorable Quotes from the movie Sextette (1978)
Source: Internet Movie Database
http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0078238
Marlo Manners is played by Mae West.
Sir Michael Barrington is played by Timothy Dalton
Here is the dialogue:
Michael: "Collecting husbands seems to be a hobby of yours, like
collecting stamps or books."
Marlo: "Well, marriage is like a book, the whole story takes place
between the covers."
http://www.badmovies.org/movies/sextette/
Here is the sound clip from Sextette where you can listen to the above
quotation:
http://www.badmovies.org/movies/sextette/sextette4.wav
============================================
The third quotation I located is “I don't suppose you believe in
marriage," she replies, "Only as a last resort." This is from “I’m No
Angel” (1933). Mae West plays Tira and Wm. B. Davidson plays the
Chump.
In an article by Karen DeCrow:
When the Chump in I'm No Angel says to West's Tira, "I don't suppose
you believe in marriage," she replies, "Only as a last resort."
“In every venue she joked about marriage, although insisting that "no
family should be without one." She talked about being a wife as being
a servant, and referred to the role of wife as one of drab domestic
servility. A favorite with both men and women (most of whom did not
have the alternative to marriage of being Mae West), she stated that
"Marriage is a great institution, but who wants an institution?"
Her character Margy LaMont refuses to sew buttons on the shirt of her
pimp Rocky: "What do you think I am, your wife?"
Source: New Times
http://newtimes.rway.com/1997/090397/decrow.htm
Here is the context and dialogue of the above quotation:
“Tira intends to shake down an admiring, visiting suitor in his hotel
room, a Chump named Ernest Brown (Wm. B. Davidson) - the one in the
crowd who had earlier flashed his expensive ring at her. He claims
that she is different. She replies: "Anything different always costs
more, but it's worth it." Tira asks him how many times he has been
married. When he replies five times, this causes her to react:”
“Tira: Five times!...Wedding bells must sound like an alarm clock to
you.
The Chump: I don't suppose you believe in marriage, do you?
Tira: Only as a last resort...What do you do for a livin'?
The Chump: Oh, uh, sort of a politician.
Tira: I don't like work either.
The Chump: Oh, you know I like to get around and travel, and believe
me, I've been places and seen things.
Tira: I've been things and seen places. That sorta evens us up, huh?”
“Learning that he is from Dallas, she puts on a record: "No One Loves
Me Like that Dallas Man," (originally titled No One Does It Like That
Dallas Man), choosing the appropriate city title from among similar
records for Frisco and Memphis Men. The song's racy lyrics have a
number of suggestive lines”
(..)
She dances seductively in front of him as he warms up to her:
The Chump: You're certainly givin' me the time of my life, baby.
Tira: Don't say givin'. I don't like that word givin'.”
Filmsite: Review by Tim Dirks
http://www.filmsite.org/imno.html
============================================
Additional information that may interest you:
Here’s a quotation about marriage being an institution by Ira Skitch
(Will Rogers) to his son-in-law in Mr. Skitch (1933):
'A wife is a wonderful thing and no husband should be without one.
Now, Harvey, I'm gonna give you a bit of advice from an old veteran
husband to an amateur. The most dangerous year in married life is the
first, then comes the second, and the third, and the fourth, and on
down. Marriage is an institution. I've been an inmate of that
institution long enough to know that the most successful marriage in
one where the wife is the boss and don't know it.'
http://216.239.57.100/search?q=cache:L4pR7_ForGwJ:www.sex-lexis.com/CFQuotes/MARRIAGE.htm+mae+West+%22love+is+blind%22++%22Marriage+is+an+institution%22+&hl=es&ie=UTF-8
If this information suits your needs please let me know and I will
gladly post it and claim the fee.
Thanks
Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 04:06 PDT
Dear bobbie7,
You did a phenomenal amount of work in such an unbelievably short
time. It does seem as if you found the answer I was looking for. I
will, of course, have to verify it by getting the films and hearing
the quote (and that may take a little more time). I am extremely
impressed with your diligence. Thank you so much. As soon as I can
verify for myself, I will consider the question answered.
Best,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 08:01 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
Thank you for updating me. That was very kind of you. I look forward
to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 12:34 PDT
Dear bobbie7,
I was miraculously able to find a video of the Mae West movie, "I'm
No Angel" and watched it today. I did not find the line about
marriage and institution--all the others about marriage, but not that
one. I will go over the film one more time before I return it. The
line, which is negative about marriage, does not even fit with the
theme of "Angel". In it, Tira, Mae West's character, wants to leave
the circus where she is a lion tamer and entertainer and settle down
with a wealthy man. The end of the film implies she finally does with
the Cary Grant character. I do not believe that line is from this
film. Any other suggestions? Or exactly where is that line
specifically. I was so hoping to close this question today.
Thank you,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 12:39 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
I will keep on searching for the source of that line.
Do the other quotations that I found relating to marriage meet your requirements?
Thanks,
Bobbie
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 13:11 PDT
Sylvia,
The following quotations by Mae West are related to marriage:
"Marriage is a great institution. No family should be without it."
"Women want certain things in marriage--the right to a title and a
front seat in the lap of luxury."
"Don't marry a man to reform him--that's what reform schools are for."
http://www.mindspring.com/~hsstern/maewest/mw_quote.htm
The website owner states that these quotations were taken from the
book The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West
“Welcome to Mae West's Quotable Quotes home page. Available here
without a prescription is the most comprehensive collection available
on the WWW of that saucy, sultry, seductive silver screen star's most
famous quotes and sayings. They've been meticulously culled from a
rather obscure book: The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West”
http://www.mindspring.com/~hsstern/maewest/
You may purchase this book used at Abe Books:
The wit and wisdom of Mae West by Mae West. Edited by Joseph
Weintraub.
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=144959978
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=204922064
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=141448562
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=153617660
Or at Alibris
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qtit=The%20Wit%20and%20Wisdom%20of%20Mae%20West&qauth=Weintraub%2CJoseph&qsort=r
In this citation it states that the subject of this book is Mae West
Quotations.
Author: West, Mae.
Title: The wit and wisdom of Mae West. Edited by Joseph Weintraub.
Published: New York, G. P. Putnam [1967]
Description: 92 p. ports. 22 cm.
Subjects: West, Mae -- Quotations. Quotations, American.
Other authors: Weintraub, Joseph, ed.
http://www.malaspina.edu/~mcneil/cit/citlcwestmae.htm
This book may have the answer you're looking for.
I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
Bobbie7
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 13:18 PDT
Sylvia,
There are five Mae West quotations on this webpage including “Marriage
is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.”
On the bottom of the page they state their sources.
“Published Sources for Quotations Above:
The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West," (ed. J. Weintraub)
In The Ultimate Success Quotations Library, 1997.
In "An Uncommon Scold," by Abby Adams, 1989.
In "The Speaker's Electronic Reference Collection," AApex Software,
1994.
On Sex, Health and E.S.P., "Last Word" (1975)”
http://www.creativequotations.com/one/303b.htm
There’s a very good chance that the quotation is included in the book
“The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West” by Mae West since I have found two
references to this.
Regards,
Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 16:10 PDT
Dear bobbie7,
The other quotations are helpful and may be of use, but the most
important to me is the one about marriage and institution. I could
not find copies of the movie Sextette or the Will Rogers one, but I
will keep looking. The Will Rogers quotation is very interesting.
Thanks,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 16:17 PDT
Sylvia,
You may purchase a used copy of Sextette (DVD) here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/B00004YA6M/all/ref=dp_pb_a/104-9462304-9832706
I'll see what else I can find.
Bobbie
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 17:06 PDT
Sylvia,
I found a used copy (VHS) of Mr. Skitch at Amazon for $5.94.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/6301942744/all/ref=dp_pb_a/102-3103966-8594525
--Bobbie7
|
Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 17:07 PDT
Bobbie7 has done an amazing job at finding relevant material for this
question. (If I may be so bold, I hope that she is compensated no
matter what the outcome.) What I have found on my own is basically a
subset of what bobbie7 has found.
I am therefore reluctant to make an attempt at answering this
question. However, I should be able to look tomorrow at a copy of
"The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West", as well as other books about Mae
West. Perhaps these books will have the answer.
If bobbie7 has access to such books as well, I would be happy to defer
to her. But if not, would you like me to do some research tomorrow?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
19 Jun 2003 12:23 PDT
A correction to my post from yesterday: I will not be able to look at
the quotations book today, but might be able to put in a request to
view it. But I can still look at some other Mae West books today, if
you would like me to.
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
19 Jun 2003 13:35 PDT
Hi researchers,
Thank you for your many attempts. I have ordered the Mae West
Weintraub book, but it may take a while to arrive--it is out of print.
Let me see if I can find the exact place West made that statement
about marriage and institution from that.If that answers my question
fully, I will considered the question answered from your source book.
Yesterday felt like a wild-goose chase tracking down "I'm No Angel"
and not finding the quote there.
Thanks,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
19 Jun 2003 14:35 PDT
Sylvia,
I'm sorry the quote wasn't found in "I'm No Angel" and I sincerely
hope it's included in the book "The wit and wisdom of Mae West" edited
by Joseph Weintraub.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
19 Jun 2003 16:04 PDT
Dear bobbie7,
Thanks for your note about "Angel." I just got word that B and N
has shipped the Mae West book from one of its out of print sources.
I'll let you know as soon as it comes--let's keep our fingers crossed.
I really do appreciate all the work and concern you have put into my
request.
Thanks,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
19 Jun 2003 18:39 PDT
I hope that you find a source for the quotation in the Joseph
Weintraub book. I couldn't find it in other books about Mae West
(though it could be hiding somewhere in them).
I did find three reputable books of quotations that include this
quotation. All of them indicate that the quote is attributed to Mae
West, but do not list a source, other than a book which itself does
not list a source. This probably means that no one knows when and
where, if ever, Mae West said this, though the Weintraub book will
hopefully prove me wrong.
One of the quotation books lists a similar quote from a movie.
Another notes that a similar quote is attributed to another celebrity
from that time period, though with him too, there is no indication of
time or place.
If the Weintraub book does not indicate the time and place of the
quote, perhaps my three citations of quotation books will be
sufficient for your purposes. Please let me know, once you've checked
the Weintraub book, if you would like me to post these citations as an
answer.
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
23 Jun 2003 18:52 PDT
Dear bobbie7,
The Weintraub book on Mae West finally arrived. It was a major
disappointment--a slim volume that did not even have the institution
quote as I had thought--it had a slight variation that destroyed the
meaning and further did not give any reference for the one it gave. I
am ready to throw in the towel and not be able to use this quote in
our book--we must have a bona fide reference. Should we just close
this question unless I can get a definitive reference for where West
said it? I am sorry for all the work you have done.
Thank you,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
bobbie7-ga
on
23 Jun 2003 19:18 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
I'm sorry that the Mae West book didn't have the information you require.
Unfortunately I was not able to locate any other reference for this quote.
Perhaps anpother researcher will have better luck than myself.
Best wishes,
Bobbie7
|
Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
23 Jun 2003 19:36 PDT
Even if the information that bobbie7 and I have found is not
sufficient for your needs, I would suggest that you keep the question
open. You never know -- someone may come across the question and find
the reference you're hoping for.
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
24 Jun 2003 05:10 PDT
At your request, I will keep the question on Mae West open, though I
am very discouraged. I do hope someone can find the exact reference
for me. Good luck.
Bobbie7 put so much work into the question, but only the exact
reference will be sufficient. Thank you,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
markj-ga
on
24 Jun 2003 06:08 PDT
sylk --
I hope I haven't missed something in this long thread, but I suggest
that one of the websites already provided may contain a further lead
to a quotable source for you. Here is the link:
Creative Quotations
http://www.creativequotations.com/one/303b.htm
The list of five Mae West quotations is followed by a list of five
sources. If you look at that list carefully, each source is preceded
by a letter. The letters correspond to letters on the icons to the
left of each quotation, and the cited sources are listed in the same
order as the five quotations.
The source that is paired with the quotation in question is "An
Uncommon Scold," by Abby Adams. It is a book of humorous quotations by
women. The book appears to be out-of-print, but it is readily
available from used book sellers for as little as $.08 (!).
Here is a link to a long list of used copies available for purchase:
Bookfinder.com: An Uncommon Scold
http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=rlr12CqvuZbse5SPqCDgFD4u7L0_3979719762_2:63:235
The book may also be available at your local public library
(unfortunately, it is not available at mine).
I hope this is new lead provides with the citation you need.
markj-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
24 Jun 2003 08:02 PDT
Thank you very much for that source on Mae West. I will now try to
locate this book by Adams, but again, I need not just that Mae West
said this quote but exactly where she did. I hope this book will
help.
Thank you, and I will keep you posted.
Sylvia
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
27 Jun 2003 07:05 PDT
Dear Researchers,
I have now, on your suggestion, purchased another book hoping to
find the Mae West quotation. This book, An Uncommon Scold, is again
totally unhelpful. No quotes have any source other than the name of
the person. No exact references are given.
I think it is time to close this question unsuccessfully. There may
be no way of getting the exact place Mae West spoke of marriage as an
institution. So let's stop beating a dead horse.
Thank you for your efforts, but enough of this wild-goose chasing.
sylkar
|
