I’m no Angel Film Review Directed by Wesley Ruggles

"I'm No Angel" (1933), directed by Wesley Ruggles, perfectly captures the ideas of a sex farce before the Hays and Production Codes. A sex farce is a sub-genre of romantic comedies, prominently seen between 1928 and 1934, that plays with the concept of sexual tension, and views seduction and adultery as funny. We began to see sex farce in America in Vaudeville, Broadway, musical revues, and low comedy. Mae West was a well-renowned writer and actress who flourished in this sub-genre. She wrote the play "Sex", in which she later starred, and it had a ten-month run on Broadway.

When the Hays Code entered the enforcement period (the Production Code) in 1934, writers had to find new ways to convey their ideas. To succeed in mocking marriage and showing extramarital sex without making explicit jokes and showcasing women in lingerie on screen, one had to be extremely witty. This was a struggle for many playwrights until the '50s-'60s, when sex farce returned; Marilyn Monroe was the new Mae West.

Mae West was known for her scandalous roles and double entendres. In 'I’m No Angel,' her character, Tira, was portrayed as a prostitute. She would wear revealing clothing on stage, dance, sing, and attract all the men. If a man revealed his wealth, for example through a diamond ring, she would pull them aside after the show and make an advance. Despite being married, Tira continued to flirt with other men. This was a departure from the norm before the popularity of sex farce films. Tira would draw men in, have them buy her luxurious items, and then move on to the next suitor. This pattern continued until the end of the film where she found true love and got married. Mae West performed in other films of this nature like 'She Done Him Wrong,' 'Goin’ to Town,' and 'My Little Chickadee.'

"I’m No Angel" has many scenes that treat some aspects of what make this film a Romantic Comedy. One outstanding scene is in the beginning where Tira is performing on stage. Her performance is made out to be very burlesque, designed to tease the men as she comes out in an almost transparent dress. She begins to sing and move her hips, positioning herself as the object of the male gaze. During this scene, director Wesley Ruggles uses a reverse shot. The camera shows Tira’s point of view; her on top, looking down. This was a power move and showed how she controlled the male gaze. She knew she would need to play into the desires of men and be extremely seductive on stage. Her outfit choice was her main variable. The dress she wore was tight and revealed her bare armpits, which in the 30’s was very scandalous. To do so was almost a code for sex. Revealing things such as bare armpits or ankles suggested "the vaginal space." Tira did all of this while another man was out claiming to be her husband. This leads to the idea of extramarital sex and adultery. Even with the intimate moments, Tira’s actions were so exaggerated that the movie felt like a comedy. However, near the end of the film, Tira meets Jack Clayton and falls in love. She was willing to give up all the gifts, all the men, and the performance, just to be with him. The real romance appears near the end when they get married.

Apart from this beginning scene, there's an abundance of symbolism and impressive shots throughout the film. When Tira first met Jack, she lit his cigarette, foreshadowing an intimate relationship between them. Jack, however, wasn't initially extremely fond of Tira, making her work harder for his attention. Before he leaves, she gives him a picture of herself, creating a longing for her continued presence. Later in the film, Tira wears a long gown with a black widow on the side, a visual pun that communicates her controlling personality. She draws men in and traps them in her web. Many of her outfits were designed to be visual puns, revealing her personality to the audience.

A romantic comedy usually ends in marriage, but to arrive there, the characters deal with lots of miscommunication and misunderstandings in attempts to overcome insane obstacles. "I'm No Angel" hits all these points, from Tira being a so-called prostitute, to her thinking she found love, a miscommunication causing a breakup, and sending her to court, to finally being married. Mae West did an incredible job writing this script and portraying the main character. I would highly suggest this film to anyone who is interested in romantic comedies or even the sub-genre of sex farce itself.

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