Grade: D+
Synopsis: A saloon owner (Mae West) juggles a slew of men including a missionary (Cary Grant).
She Done Him Wrong is the film adaptation of Mae West’s play Diamond Lil. Unfortunately, it falls victim to the same fate of her later effort I’m No Angel (1933), namely it doesn’t age well.
While She Done Him Wrong was no doubt scandalous in 1933, it’s positively tame by today’s standards. In the post-feminist era, the idea of a sexually liberated woman is no longer shocking. Indeed, looking through a modern eye, the supposed chemistry between West and Grant is hardly believable.
That aside, the script does move well, especially in the film’s last 20 minutes, and the 66-minute running time keeps things from getting too stale. Further, there’s a solid performance from Cary Grant, even though he looks oddly lanky in that black missionary costume.
Bottom Line: While Mae West fans will no doubt enjoy it, others should look elsewhere.
