The Complete Films of Mae West

THE original FILMS OF MAE WEST was one of the best entries in the Citadel film series. Originally published in the early 70's when Mae was still alive and active (one film yet to be made!) it's both admiring and serious, fan-oriented and scholarly. Since Mae only made 11 pictures at that point, each movie gets far more attention that films in other volumes where the star made 60 or more. Tuska clearly admired Mae at the time (he even heaps praise of the widely trashed MYRA BRECKENRIDGE, accurately predicting it would become a cult film!) Alas, he apparently had a falling out with West or something because in his update for the edition after her death he brutally trashes her last film, the genteel rather enjoyable sex comedy SEXTETTE as well as her performance, makes comments about her personal abilities in her final years that are unkind and rude, and tacks on a final essay on her that seems dismissive. I would give the book five stars if not for these "revisions".