American Masters—Mae West: I'm No Angel

FAIN: TR-259353-18

WNET (New York, NY 10019-7416)
Michael Kantor (Project Director: August 2017 to present)

Production of a documentary film about the writer and actress Mae West (1893–1980).

WNET is seeking a production grant from the NEH for a multi-platform project about the writer and actress Mae West, her extraordinary career and her untold impact on American entertainment and culture. The centerpiece of the project is a documentary biography of Mae West titled Mae West: I’m No Angel that will be broadcast in late 2019 or early 2020 as part of WNET’s American Masters series. Among the many entertainers who defined 20th century American show business, Mae West occupied a unique place. Over the course of an 80-year career that saw great acclaim in every major popular entertainment medium, West constantly challenged social norms with her unconventional female characters. Taking the full measure of her life and career reveals a singular artist who served as a kind of fever chart of changing social mores in 20th century America. Mae West: I’m No Angel will explore the life and legacy of this complex cultural figure who left an indelible imprint on American entertainment.