KLONDIKE ANNIE
US, 1936, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Mae West, Victor Mc Laglen, Philip Reed, Helen Jerome Eddy, Harry Beresford, Harold Huber, Esther Howard. Directed by Raoul Walsh.
Klondike Annie is a creaky but very entertaining Mae West vehicle. As with all her films, she wrote the dialogue which is full of her one-liners and innuendo. As in all her films she plays the same character over and over - but this time she has the chance for a variation as she tries to impersonate (quite incredibly) a missionary to Alaska in the 1990s. She has Victor Mc Laglen as her raucous hero with Philip Reed as a gallant Mountie.
The film is directed by Raoul Walsh. veteran of many action films. However, the film is an example of American humour of the '30s, of Mae West as a sex and comedy symbol - and a comment on the American tradition of comedy.
The plot reminds audiences of Sister Act.
1. Popular entertainment? Conventional material - even old-fashioned and creaky? Given particular life by Mae West and her style?
2. Raoul Walsh and his comedy adventures, San Francisco in the '90s, seal sequences, Alaska? Black and white photography, studio work?
3. Mae West, her presence, image? Her manner of speaking, her swagger, laugh? Costumes? The contrast with her disguise as Sister Annie? The original play, her dialogue? Enjoyment of sexual innuendo and attacks on wowsers? Her one-liners and their timing? Her songs and recitative? Mae West and her worldly style? Her comedy on religion? ironies?
4. The basic plot and its humour, types? West as Sister Annie? The audience almost believing Mae West as sister Annie?
5. The China doll and San Francisco, the world of Chinatown, her being ensconced there and being dissatisfied, her maid? The Chinese and his hold over her? Her plan to escape, the murder - self-defence? The Captain and her going on board? His attentions to her and her leading him on? her cynical touch? The arrival of Annie, her sincerity, talk, effecting a change in Rose? The dangers in Seattle, Vancouver? The police and Rose changing to Annie? Her handling the situation? Arrival and welcome by the missionaries? Confronting the girls in the saloon? The plans for the service - the songs, the collection and its success? Jack Forrest and his failing in love with her, the ride in the snow, overhearing the truth? Rose caught between the two? Her decisions? Leaving Jack Forrest for his career? Going with the Captain?
6. Victor Mc Laglen and his bull-roaring style as the Captain? The jokes with his attentions to Rose?
7. Jack as the upright Mountie, falling in love, facing the truth?
8. Chinatown and society people going to Chinatown in the 90s? The contrast with Nome? The ship crew, the Englishman, life at the settlement, the dance-hall types?
9. The themes of religion - its good and bad aspects? Annie’s work? sincerity ?
10. The 30s and American attitude towards Mae West's humour, censorship? Enjoyment of her Rabelaisian style.
