Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

I'm No Angel Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 16, 2022

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Mae West in Hollywood.

For a star who was perceived to be such a voluptuous female sex symbol, Mae West had, well, swagger. Just look at the way she gallivants, even marauds, physically through her scenes, walking almost like a prize fighter observing some prey she's just devastated. She frequently has a masculine mien in her gait, hands on hips almost threateningly, and with a kind of pugnacious attitude that nonetheless never completely masks a rather unexpectedly sweet and kind aspect to many of her characters, even if those characters are just as apt to be tough as nails. Specifically in terms of West's memorable saunter, if none of her other unforgettable aspects, one of the commentaries included with this set calls West's distinctive stride a "shimmy" that West supposedly overtly stated was culled from watching black women, though some may jokingly wonder if West was also watching black men for a few pointers. What is kind of fascinating about West's ineluctable allure in terms of behaviors and mannerisms, though, is how she manages to be slyly seductive and ridiculously overheated almost simultaneously, but it's instructive to note that this layering of attitudes and demeanors, as well as "mere" physical presence, was part and parcel of West's own writing and character building acumen, since it seems only obvious that West was more than aware that she was putting on a show on any number of levels. West's proclivities as "another" kind of auteur, one who crafted a series of films that frequently were based on West's own ideas and/or writing, are rather prominently on display in this handsome new(ish) set from Powerhouse Films' Indicator imprint, which aggregates together ten features ranging from 1932 to 1943.

I'm No Angel takes a lot of what worked with regard to She Done Him Wrong and then adds a number of patently outré elements, including have Mae West's character of Tira work in a circus doing things like sticking her head in a lion's mouth and riding an elephant. As with She Done Him Wrong, the film that pretty much introduced the "character" of Mae West to the movie going public, here West is once again a quasi-nightclub entertainer, albeit this time in the so-called "Wonder Show" run by Big Bill Barton (Edward Arnold). Once again some melodrama involving a criminal cohort of Tira's leads to various problems, though Tira, in true West fashion a woman seemingly inescapably attractive to men, has her pick of wealthy entrepreneurs to help get her out of trouble. Cary Grant is on hand as one of them, setting him up for more of West's come ons. One of West's most famous lines, delivered here to a maid, "Peel me a grape", was later "optioned" as a song title and part of a lyric by the late, great Dave Frishberg, who made my hometown of Portland his stomping grounds for the last couple of decades of his long life.

I'm No Angel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I'm No Angel is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Powerhouse Films' Indicator imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.35:1. The back cover of this release advertises a "2019 4K restoration". This is a generally nice looking transfer, though fans should still be aware the restoration gauntlet has not removed all signs of age related wear and tear and a number of scratches, nicks and other blemishes still remain. While there's still a somewhat swarthy grain field on display, it's much more tightly resolved than in the first two features included in this set, and when this transfer is firing on all cylinders, there's a really appealingly organic look that also offers nice detail levels. My score is 3.75.

I'm No Angel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I'm No Angel features an LPCM Mono track which, like many others in this set, can't escape the limited recording technologies of the day, but which still provides an adequate listening experience. The track is quite shallow and boxy sounding, especially in some of the musical moments or even with regard to some of the crowd sounds during the circus scenes, but actual dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.

I'm No Angel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Powerhouse Films has packaged this release with both I'm No Angel and Belle of the Nineties sharing a disc. The following is a complete listing of supplements on the disc:

• I'm No Angel Audio Commentary with Farran Smith Nehme


• I'm No Angel Super 8 (Short Version) (HD; 8:02) is silent with subtitles.


• I'm No Angel Super 8 (Long Version) (HD; 17:46)


• I'm No Angel Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:55)


• Belle of the Nineties Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:53)


• I'm No Angel Image Gallery (HD)


• Belle of the Nineties Image Gallery (HD)

I'm No Angel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I'm No Angel would seem to be the product of an "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" mentality, albeit with maybe just a soupcon of "well, let's throw in some lion taming, just to be sure" for good measure. Technical merits have a few hurdles to overcome, but nothing I'd term overly problematic. Supplements on this "double feature" disc are most definitely weighted toward I'm No Angel, and are very enjoyable. Recommended.