The Heat's On [VHS]

The Heat's On [VHS] Review

The Heat's On is the last film Mae West made before essentially being forced out of Hollywood by censorship, and she wouldn't make another movie for 27 years. As actress Fay Lawrence, she opens the film singing "I'm Just a Stranger in Town," but her famous saucy smirk seems dimmed. Fed up with performing in a dying Broadway show, Fay gives notice, announcing, "I have a tradition of success to live up to." The film's plot actually involves censorship: the show is raided and Fay is blacklisted by a watchdog group. It's all poignantly close to West's real life. Unfortunately, the film never comes together and Mae West is not at the center of it. She didn't write the screenplay, as she did for most of her other films, and it's obvious. For one thing, there are no handsome hombres for her to romance. Only excruciatingly pitiful Hubert Bainbridge (Victor Moore) woos Fay, his toupee falling off. She lets him down gently but firmly: "Don't look now, honey, but your hair's skiddin'." West must have been miserable. Still, there are some bright spots in this musical revue. Xavier Cugat appears with his band, and the superb singer and pianist Hazel Scott does some fabulous boogie-woogie numbers. Scott is the picture's unsung highlight. --Laura Mirsky