Every Day's a Holiday
(1938)
80 or 85 mins | Comedy | 14 January 1938
Director:
A. Edward SutherlandWriter:
Mae WestCinematographer:
Karl StrussEditor:
Ray CurtissProduction Designer:
Wiard B. IhnenProduction Company:
Major Pictures Corp.Information in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library reveals that in Aug 1937, the PCA insisted on the following: "a) That the large number of offensively suggestive, or double-meaning, lines would be omitted; and, b) The excessive and unnecessary drinking and drunkenness would be deleted, and all drinking toned down to an absolute minimum." In addition, the following changes were recommended: "Peaches, Van and Graves will not be shown as drunk, and the business of cutting the pane of glass in the store window will be clouded in such a way as to get away from any definite detail of crime. The suggestion that Peaches is a thief will be cleared up by a line to the effect that a check will be sent for the goods in the morning....The business of Peaches kissing Quinn [possibly an error for Quade], to be followed by a slow fade-out, will be shot in such a way that there will be no possible indication of a sex affair between the two. This is important. Neither will it be indicated, at any time, that Peaches is a promiscuous woman, having associated heretofore with the 'Spanish fellow' and 'Frenchy.' It will also be clearly established that, at no time does Peaches live in the same house with Van and Graves." In an Aug 1937 letter to Joseph I. Breen, director of the PCA, producer Emanuel Cohen noted that "the basic characterization of Miss West in this picture is completely different from anything she has ever done before. There are no sex contacts nor sex situations that could possibly arouse the criticism that her ...
Information in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library reveals that in Aug 1937, the PCA insisted on the following: "a) That the large number of offensively suggestive, or double-meaning, lines would be omitted; and, b) The excessive and unnecessary drinking and drunkenness would be deleted, and all drinking toned down to an absolute minimum." In addition, the following changes were recommended: "Peaches, Van and Graves will not be shown as drunk, and the business of cutting the pane of glass in the store window will be clouded in such a way as to get away from any definite detail of crime. The suggestion that Peaches is a thief will be cleared up by a line to the effect that a check will be sent for the goods in the morning....The business of Peaches kissing Quinn [possibly an error for Quade], to be followed by a slow fade-out, will be shot in such a way that there will be no possible indication of a sex affair between the two. This is important. Neither will it be indicated, at any time, that Peaches is a promiscuous woman, having associated heretofore with the 'Spanish fellow' and 'Frenchy.' It will also be clearly established that, at no time does Peaches live in the same house with Van and Graves." In an Aug 1937 letter to Joseph I. Breen, director of the PCA, producer Emanuel Cohen noted that "the basic characterization of Miss West in this picture is completely different from anything she has ever done before. There are no sex contacts nor sex situations that could possibly arouse the criticism that her picture previously received. I think this is the most important thing to consider in this West picture." Here, Cohen refers to the complaints from the State and local censor boards and the Hays Office regarding previous West films.
As noted by the Var review, this film was considered "less flagrantly sexy than previous Mae West screen exhibits." NYHT noted that "the new Mae West film...is clean and dull. The offering has almost none of the salty speech and suggestive gesture which have made the star the high priestess of innuendo." Despite these reviews, the PCA still received letters of complaint about the film, such as the letter from the San Francisco Motion Picture Council, which felt the film was "definitely vulgar." A pre-release advertisement in HR announced the Paramount production Sapphire Sal, a gay nineties musical to be produced for the 1937-1938 year. This may have been an early title for this film. According to press information, Joseph Cantling, former newspaperman, was technical advisor for a correct reproduction of a turn-of-the-century political rally. In her role as "Fifi," Mae West reenacted a scene from Camille in the manner of Sarah Bernhardt. West reportedly wore seventeen gowns in this film.
In turn-of-the-century New York, Peaches O'Day, a noted female con artist, is wanted by the police. Having a grudging admiration for Peaches, Captain Jim McCarey tells her to leave town so he does not have to arrest her. Peaches manages to befriend Von Reighle Van Doon's butler Larmadou Graves, and the three become friends. They attend a gala New Year's Eve celebration at Rector's, a posh club, and there Peaches' manager, Nifty Bailey, hits on the idea of introducing Peaches in a stage show as Fifi, a famous French performer, thereby allowing her to perform in New York in disguise. Peaches goes to Boston to elude the law, but returns and impersonates Fifi, wearing a black wig, financed by Van Doon. When Peaches rebuffs the advances of the crooked chief of police, John Quade, he becomes enraged and orders that McCarey close the show due to non-existent fire hazards. When McCarey refuses, Quade takes his badge. As Fifi, Peaches visits Quade at his office to regain his favor, and while he is out of the room, she steals her criminal record, as well as those of Quade's henchmen. Both McCarey and Quade become wise to Peaches' disguise, but when Quade threatens her, McCarey throws him out of her dressing room. Peaches then proposes that McCarey run for mayor against Quade. Quade's men kidnap McCarey just prior to his speech in Madison Square Garden. Peaches keeps up the campaign for McCarey, vowing that she will run if he does not reappear. Finally, McCarey breaks loose from the kidnappers and appears just in time to make his speech and knock Quade silly. ...
In turn-of-the-century New York, Peaches O'Day, a noted female con artist, is wanted by the police. Having a grudging admiration for Peaches, Captain Jim McCarey tells her to leave town so he does not have to arrest her. Peaches manages to befriend Von Reighle Van Doon's butler Larmadou Graves, and the three become friends. They attend a gala New Year's Eve celebration at Rector's, a posh club, and there Peaches' manager, Nifty Bailey, hits on the idea of introducing Peaches in a stage show as Fifi, a famous French performer, thereby allowing her to perform in New York in disguise. Peaches goes to Boston to elude the law, but returns and impersonates Fifi, wearing a black wig, financed by Van Doon. When Peaches rebuffs the advances of the crooked chief of police, John Quade, he becomes enraged and orders that McCarey close the show due to non-existent fire hazards. When McCarey refuses, Quade takes his badge. As Fifi, Peaches visits Quade at his office to regain his favor, and while he is out of the room, she steals her criminal record, as well as those of Quade's henchmen. Both McCarey and Quade become wise to Peaches' disguise, but when Quade threatens her, McCarey throws him out of her dressing room. Peaches then proposes that McCarey run for mayor against Quade. Quade's men kidnap McCarey just prior to his speech in Madison Square Garden. Peaches keeps up the campaign for McCarey, vowing that she will run if he does not reappear. Finally, McCarey breaks loose from the kidnappers and appears just in time to make his speech and knock Quade silly. It is then revealed that Peaches herself had Quade's men kidnap McCarey to strengthen his public appeal, and she paid them off by giving them their police files. McCarey wins the campaign and Peaches.
TOP SEARCHES
CASABLANCA
During World War II, Casablanca, Morocco is a waiting point for throngs of desperate refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. Exit visas, which are necessary to leave the country, are at ... >>
CITIZEN KANE
Seventy-year-old newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane dies in his palatial Florida home, Xanadu, after uttering the single word “Rosebud.” While watching a newsreel summarizing the years during which Kane ... >>
REAR WINDOW
Laid up with a broken leg during the height of summer, renowned New York magazine photographer L. B. “Jeff” Jeffries enters his last week of home confinement, bored and ... >>
RAGING BULL
In 1941, at a boxing match in Cleveland, Ohio, pandemonium breaks out when Jake La Motta, an up-and-coming young boxer, loses a decision to Jimmy Reeves, suffering his first ... >>
CITY LIGHTS
At an outdoor dedication ceremony, a tramp is discovered sleeping in the arms of a statue as it is being unveiled before a crowd. He is chased into ... >>
