When I'm Bad, I'm Better: Mae West, Sex, and American Entertainment

by Marybeth Hamilton

In a world of trendsetting film icons, few are more familiar than Mae West. Yet for all her public controversy, West is also a mystery. Marybeth Hamilton combines elements of biography, cultural analysis, and social history to unmask West and reveal her commercial savvy, willpower, and truly shocking theatrical transgressions.

Genres: Biography

328 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Marybeth Hamilton was born in California and teaches American history at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting biography that gives a full portrait of American entertainment as it developed during the course of the 20th century and affords a multi-faceted portrait of West herself. The style and approach is sometimes a bit dull, but this book does offer a wealth of information about changing attitudes toward sex, gender, sexual orientation, and race as viewed through the lens of West's impact on popular culture.

[Scott Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure I would call this a biography. At times it strays into history of theatre or New York for some pages without even mentioning West. It’s meticulously researched and highly academic — perhaps not what a reader would expect of a volume about Mae West. At times I found it slightly judgemental of its subject, and also vaguely racist and homophobic while at the same time exploring the influence that Black and gay cultures had on West.

[Sarah Brecko · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not quite a biography, it was refreshing to read Mae West’s career through an academic of sexuality and transitional values. Most of the book explored her stage career and her struggles to balance the down and dirty, raunchy world of the lower class and hidden communities. The struggle to balance artistic voice and sensationalism, and how often she failed at that, was especially fascinating. As the book points out in the final chapter, West is so iconic that she is one dimensional. Even to adoring fans nearly a century later.

[V.A. Herring-Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Mae West so pretty much read everything on the subject. I actually did a major thesis on her impact on Hollywood and American culture. Saying that, I am also a much harsher critic on mediocre writing on the subject. This one was above average but lacked the oomph of Ms. West's own writing Therefore, I rated it a four star but would not hesitate to recommend it to a reader who enjoyed learning about Mae West or Hollywood's golden era.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

i learned about respectability/pseudo-respectability in entertainment, and about the awesome me west. a history of the american 'legitimate' theatre was helpful to see the 'why' of so many of the maladies of today's theatre, including theatre attendance/nonattendance.

[Beverly Steele · Rating 2 out of 5]

This read more like a textbook on early American theater and entertainment than a biography of Mae West. Based on all the positive reviews, this just wasn't what I was expecting. The book unfortunately couldn't hold my interest.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than i expected. Not great literature but pretty strong.