Mae West - Interview with Dick Cavett

[rayllompart]

Let me start by saying that I am a GREAT Mae West fan...........I had also read that she was a very shy woman--------the very opposite of her persona, and my! doesn't it show here!! This is probably about mid 70's? She died in 1980, but how old and almost SAD she looks, but most importantly how PAINFUL to watch!

Look how she has no conversation and Cavett has the hardest time. Amazing!!! May she be at peace.......She certainly EMBRACED us gay men when the world HATED us........

[Capt777harris]

What a great American personality she was. Heh, I never had a thing for blondes until 1991. But that's another story.

Suddenly I feel like seeing a Mae West film.

[gljohnson33]

as a teenager, i had every poster of Mea West known to man...

my mom tho't i was a bit off-- why i would have a pinup of a doll from the 30's... in 1970's...

Mea West- the incomparable first lady of harlot-dom. *sigh*

[Sept11Discovery]

God I hate Dick Cavett

[annielouism]

@Sept11Discovery

why?? he was and is a very cool guy.

[Sept11Discovery]

@annielouism oh please, in the 1920's he would of been consider cool, in the 1940's he would be considered the establishment, in his era he was considered square and today he is considered just fucking awful, not to mention un fucking memorable.

At the most he will be remebered like Larry King, unable to ask a hardball question.

[realist7250]

Great to see this interview, thanks.

[sweet161402]

Can we not even put MAE WEST in the same catagory as madonna and other people who did nothing to become famous? No comparrison!

[Chuckscott]

@sweet161402 Let's seee......I would compare Mae to......... Divine. Yea, that's it.

[Showinbulge]

A true legend. 

[lauxsd123]

She was an original. All the rest just cheap copies.

[Timmerjax]

Fascinating interview. 

[CapAnson1]

born in 1893.. wow. and no plastic surgery.. unreal..

[mikeyp1230]

This is why I spend hours on YouTube. Every once in a while you strike gold.

[JoanCollins2009]

see this woman talking right here you dont get any more star than that a true star wow

[gabsylv]

A mover and a shaker, we need to honor her more in the gay community

[irvinemuscle]

What a treat...Cavett with his great interviewing technique, and Mae West, one and only...

[lingo280]

my guess is that they didn't mess with her to much

[lingo280]

I like this interview thank you for posting it

[pipsqueakNZ]

''i liked him so much, i had him twice''!! lol

[funkeekatt]

Everything Madonna did in the '80s, Mae West did in the '30s.

[rayjr62]

@funkeekatt Including swallowing.

[1madDogz]

@funkeekatt She's not half of Mae West.

[kangadillo]

@funkeekatt And she did it much better.

[80Jellybean]

@funkeekatt

yeah and we all know and respect that, Madonna did it good in her time.

[76elfin]

rumers with the g ay community in LA was that mae west was really a man?

[diddymuck]

@76elfin nonsense.

[76elfin]

@diddymuck ha ha your probably right.I didnt know much about hershe was before my time. I just knew she was the lady who said come up and see me sometime lol

[Cheryl16cliffy]

I love Mae; she spoke her mind! Whether anyone liked it or not!  Kudos! I decided to put a bit a Mae in my personality.

[Darrigrande]

She was an incredible and amazing woman! An icon and inspiration for many others:actress, singer, writer, hollywood star and a unique personality. She created an style, an attitude!  She is still now, admired and beloved.because icons live for ever!

[ucanleaveurHATEon]

She was amazing!!!! a beautiful free spirited woman!!

[MsSilentsiren]

Gosh, even older she was still stunning and alluring.

[ncdude367]

Her voice is very similar to Marion Lorne ...

[gandolph7poet]

Mae West was one of the most extraordinary women in the history of the world. God only took a single day to make Adam and Eve. To make Mae, it took him three.

[NobHillTheatreSFTV]

A legendary star!

[mmr11027]

If this was the 1976 episode, she was 83. She was one of the only actresses to allow reporters to check her for signs of plastic surgery. None were found. I read a book about Edith Head and it was said that even West's hands were youthful and beautiful when her costumes were being made for Myra Breckenridge.

[GreatSongwriters]

Is there a video of Mae doing the Diamond Lil that Cavett spoke of?

[PenjiProductions]

Look at Cavett light up talking to her and blush ...At her age ..she still had it!

[judyrose1957]

Thank you. That was so amazing to see I admired her for so long....

[bloggaloggs]

Can anyone tell me what year this was from?

[hunkofspunknl]

i'm speechless! thx for posting!

[AndresAndres8401]

Okay interview. Love her hair.

[coolmoodee]

wow she is pretty old here....classic stuff though

[glenn20081965]

She looked great for her age!

[blueguitarblue]

Ditch the wig and act!

[widgeasha]

she is SO DAMN COOL! LOVE her!

[widgeasha]

she's BRILLIANT!



[GeistFright]

"I glorified the homosexual." So self-assured. Respect.

[dontcindyme]

"Are you trying to show contempt for this court?"

"I'm doing my best to hide it".

[dioioego]

I'm checking this bcos Madonna said she was inspired by Mae West... I can see why

[MadameLil]

Mae is FOREVER, baby!!

[54jeanmarie]

"I'm a little tired, one of them will have to go." Love her sensual & not vulgar style. How old was she here? Gorgeous ,sultry woman.

[TheBeverly1951]

Thank you so much for posting this gem. And I did enjoy Cavette back in the day.

[9162vb48]

Dick Cavett, we're on to you, you oversocialized, latte-sippping phony.

After all the celebrity crotch-sniffing you've done, we've finally figured it out -- YOU WANT TO BE MAE WEST!

Come on, admit it.

The truth is, you've been seen at Elaine's with "Woody & the crowd" in a form-fitting Mae West gown specially made for you by Bob Mackey.

Woody wanted to schtup you ("so bad!") but you reminded him that he didn't pork shikshas unless they Asian.

In short, Dick -- get one.

[sebasj1978]

She was soooo cool! Mae West rocked!

[TinkerMazell]

Is this Lady Gaga 50 years from now?? RIP Ms. West!

[TarheelTad64]

what yr is this? 

[jjdvideo]

@TarheelTad64 Looking at Cavett's hairstyle, maybe early 70's

[grethomory]

LOLOLOLOL, One of a kind!!!! Love her.

[Bijoushow]

Mae West forever!

[jeffpatt]

In the late 70's I met the man that cared for her pet monkey's. He had nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for her. She was truly kind and respectful to all the people who ever worked for her. I believe she deserves the title Icon. A generous Diva with a Platinum heart who continues to impart wit and wisdom. I love you Miss West.

[tygersflowerz]

Odd how she has a rep as a "bad girl" but seems so sweet, talented, and intelligent.

[richierichnumber1]

" The original Queen of the Diva Movement; Mae West."

[ricotinez]

What the "bad girls" of today are missing is the brilliance Mae West had. She was a genius with an incredibly sharp wit. The Lindsey Lohans don't have a fraction of the snap and panache of this woman.

[AlessandraW19]

I love her she is so talented.

[crapfacejoe]

The best way to describe Mae West is a slut with class and intelligence. You can also distinguish her from today's sluts who are clearly void of class, charisma and are utterly ignorant.

[CMloveify]

EVERY generation had and will have it's bad girls. The only difference is, being accepted as one back then was a little different than it is now, except, there'll always be something there that's... just out of the ordinary of course, no matter what generation. Mae West is awesome, she knew where it was at.

[CMloveify]

Mae rocks.

[MrRickCarl]

At this point in her life...she was indeed the "Grandma of Sex!" Even though her years are advanced here, she was a sharp, witty, sexy ole gal who still had it and never lost it! This is one of my favorite interviews of all-time, as Miss West never really did much television and for Cavett to treat her properly showed much respect and admiration. Just after the interview she was seen doing not one, but two musical numbers, tailored just for her.

[MrIndy46202]

what year is this

[MrRickCarl]

@MrIndy46202

This aired as part of a CBS special, Dick Cavett's "Backlot USA" in March of 1976.

[flenif2247]

OMG A drag show was banned in NY? How asinine. Thank Goodness I live today and thank goodness for Mae and her groundbreaking.

[flenif2247]

She went to prison for a play? How ludicrous!

[MadameLil]

@flenif2247  The 1920s weren't always that "roaring". Every era has too many bluenoses.

[globehunter2]

This woman is a timeless legend! her voice and style will never grace the screen again. Loved her wit and sexy humor also.She had class and a special type of beauty that was a total package.Mae we miss you please say hello to the Angels for me.

[rayito2005]

Mae a su edda de la entrevista sigue toda una señora sexy.

[richierichnumber1]

"She grew up in a time when sex was even in the closet for straight people."

[richierichnumber1]

I love Mae, one of the great entertainers of her time.

[ValerieBarlow]

Poor Mae, you can hear her false teeth rattling around in her mouth.

[dalepie]

She sounds a bit like Barbara Walters I think...am I right?

[SamLuvsJamesDean]

Mae's voice sounds so familiar! Did she ever did a voice for a disney film or anything like that? =) I love her voice btw!

[FarnhazenBrep]

@SamLuvsJamesDean

Mae West's voice is one of the most-often imitated voices, ever, along with WC Fields, Groucho Marx, and a handful of others. I'm sure you are remembering cartoons or ads where the character's voice was based on Mae's voice. She's the original...

except that many people believe her character is based on a real-life "character" and speakeasy-owner, Texas Guinan > GWVojP9GDCc

[FarnhazenBrep]

@SamLuvsJamesDean

Here's an excellent cut from her first movie w/George Raft. She was so popular as a live entertainer on the east coast that she could insist that she write her own movie dialogue, right from the start. The movie is Night After Night > ckxDwZA8b5Y

[PatriciaSmear]

What a lady!!

[see4ward]

I just love her...and wow..an talk show interviewer that actually let's the star talk!! I wish now I would have wached more Cavett! Than you for this wonderful post!! ♥

[h3yd3b]

I so miss Cavett. His interviewing skills are unmatchable.

[h3yd3b]

She would have ruled as movie exec; too bad times were so sexist she never got to use her talents to the fullest.

[Bijoushow]

I don't envy talk show hosts today. . . .no real stars to interview. Dick Cavett interviewed all the greatest! Thank you for posting this. . . .

[tygersflowerz]

@Bijoushow And Dick Cavett himself is the greatest late night talk show host/interviewer ever! He came across as the ultimate square with his little suits and neat little haircut, yet treated societal "misfits" like Janis, Jimi, etc. like complete equals and with as much respect as he'd give anybody. He was a class act and extremely accepting of all kinds of different people.

[gloomyoutlook]

@tygersflowerz

he is still among us, thankfully :P

[tygersflowerz]

@gloomyoutlook yes. :-D

[rutsableich]

@tygersflowerz I support that 100%. Mr Cavette is a gentleman.

[PattiwhackPics]

Who's the one dislike? Idiot.

[AndrewRudin]

I had no idea this existed. Certainly gives you a better sense of who she was at this age than the appalling "Sextet". Smart lady, indeed.

[MiamiPush2theLimit]

She's such a smart lady. I love her :)

[tt247jer]

she was like 80 at this time right? AMAZING

[PUNKIEBOYONE]

THE FIRST DIVA

[oofooh]

When she said "goodness had nothing to do with it," you knew that Diamond Lil was very much herself.

[outinsider]

I want to see the recreation!

[gypsijewel]

this is amazing! to see her as herself like this is wonderful. love her. didnt even know this interview existed. 

[jennylynned]

I love this girl! She made me feel normal. Fun and loving with EVERYONE! =)

[giavannira]

i love her soo much her and marlene dietrich are my favorite...i just bought the mar west glamour collection and watched all 5 movies in one night,,,she amazing..thanks 4 posting what a legend

[43lochness]

dick cavett is a legend and mae west was the anna nicole smith of her day(but more talented)who lived and ended her life peacefully !

[fbvamp]

@43lochness Mae West was NOT the anna nicole of her time. She was the Madonna of her time. She was a shrewd business woman. She wrote majority of her own material. She owned her sex appeal in a time when women were not even allowed to own property alone. She was from an era where celebrities were not reality tv show stars. They were a persona always. Before Madonna ... before Marilyn.... there was Mae West!

[MadameLil]

@43lochness Don't EVER lump Mae in with Anna Nicole! Mae had so much more independence & control over her life.

[pyrogyra72]

@MadameLil  Apples and oranges. Am I right?

[MadameLil]

@pyrogyra72 You mean about Anna Nicole? More like chalk & cheese ... :-P

[MTPippin]

Cavett is like a kid in a candy store.... I just love this.....



[ferociousgumby]

This is just a collection of one-liners, no doubt practiced ahead of time. Someone who knew her said, "There was no Mae West, just the public persona". Cavett is such a sycophant here, laughing at every lilne. Badda-boom. I would like to see someone REAL here.

[FMoran1966]

@ferociousgumby, you're stating something very obvious. Were you expecting something less or more of a public persona from a "public persona"? All actors are commodities selling their stock-in-trade and image, not what they do at home. LOL. Tabloid culture, reality television, and the hyper-realism in filmmaking's created this sense of entitlement to the entirety of an actor's personality. You're probably just used to a certain of them who even actually sell that. Cont...

[FMoran1966]

Respond to this video... cont -- And where's the sycophancy here? Cavett was nothing of the kind. Not to mention, a certain deference and respect is warranted when we're talking about legends. They haven't earned the title for nothing. Your analysis is a bit superficial, ironically.

[lambty1]

what a star she was simply amazing! she such glamourous and classy lady!



[universoeterno1]

She was brilliantly funny, intelligent and a gorgeous Lady. Funny, she still is. Thank you for sharing.

[woffus]

Mae was a legend and a superstar. What a gal !!!

[melissa13699]

W--wh--while you're in bed?  4:17

[mygirlruth]

She never lost that New Yawrk accent, and she was 83 or 84 here....

[mygirlruth]

She never lost that New Yawrk accent, and she was 83 or 84 here....

[SueSnell]

You are SO incredibly awesome for posting this!!!! So impossible to find video on West outside of her movies. Note to all interviewers - you ALWAYS ask if you can call a legend by their first name. Cavett was the best.

[LastTree]

I love her poem!

[Chipmd21]

I know. Her last few Photo's b4 she died.

[Chipmd21]

she was sexy until the end.

[ensconse]

Thanks!

[SirChezarie]

Our Mae can do nooooooooooooo wrong !

[ensconse]

Can't believe this! What year is this? Thanx.

[Bijoushow]

@ensconse 1976

[CherLivingLegend]

@ensconse It was in 1976... :)

[jevilscientist]

Mae West is Hollywood ! She is the definition of a legend

[burleq]

I once met her - in 1979, I worked at Schwab's Pharmacy (yeah, THAT one) and I delivered a package of medication to her apartment. I was announced, and out she walked, so teeny, so ancient, but sparkling eyes and ...that voice! I gave her the package - it was insulin - I told her I had no idea she was diabetic and she she said, "Well, it's just not the sort of thing you advertise, you know?" She offered me a glass of orange juice, I stayed about 3 minutes, and she showed me to the door. Class!

[thoostorm4]

@burleq i am an ameteur bullshitter myself

[ThePaddyjoejr1]

@TheTrippybutterfly Well, that's just Crazy, Mae West was all Natural! A Real Beautiful & Sexy Woman! AND NO BOTOX OR FACELIFTS, Nothing!

[kevinbrum]

Ms West would always take hours to prepare for her very rare interviews, stating that she dressed for women and undressed for men. This wonderful woman was years ahead of her time yet there was an air of dignity and pride about her. There is no-one with her finesse; if any of her latter contempories try to portray Mae's sexual innuendoes it comes across as slutty! Long live Mae for she for she paved the way for women to be sexual beings!

[rickw1100]

Whenever I see this-I'm surprised at so vulnerable she seems. She was one of a kind.

[genkisenshi]

she puts all of our current "sex symbols" into shame. She had class,wits and was a natural beauty. The ones in our times are shamefully trash.

[Darrigrande]

Yes, she was wonderfull and unforgetable!! There is no stars like she anymore!!

[juanbosco31]

Feliz Cumpleaños Mrs Mae  West

[Lampshade51]

Amazing tape from 1979 when Mae was 83! Mae almost never did television. Glad she was interviewed by Cavett who is a showbiz history buff and asked all the right questions and fed her the right straight lines for her famous punch lines. Yes, Cavett seems a bit nervous here. Who wouldn't be! BTW, Mae reportedly wanted the questions in advance and Cavett refused assuring her that the interview would come off better this way. She shouldn't have worried. She handled herself magnificently.

[Lampshade51]

@Lampshade51

Whoops, I mean 1976, not 1979.

[rickw1100]

Shes remarkable.

[tara3799]

it's amazing that she was 83 years old during this interview....what a dame!

[scotnick59]

what a fascinating women and sharp as a tack!

[76kitt]

Pretty intelligent woman. No fear. Dick is a little shaky.

[Mr1958louief]

Awesome find. A TRUE ACTRESS!! And she was a Smart Business Woman..

[IngloriusBastard11]

My grandmother is just like her. She is the coolest damn woman you would ever want to know. Sharp as a tack, sexy as hell, smart as a whip and funny as hell to be around. She puts the world in perspective.

[theyforcedmetosignup]

To hell with Madonna, Gaga, and Monroe. Mae West was the original. 

[gabbis]

@theyforcedmetosignup Amen to that...

[Nadesiko85]

@theyforcedmetosignup I know, right? She puts them to shame.

[kevinbrum]

What a wonderful interview...Mae is iconic, a true Hollywood LEGEND. I loved the flirtatiousness of Dick with Mae; she made him blush!

[vidgal07]

Absolutely a classic- she almost puts Madonna and Lady Gaga to shame! LOL!

[AntinousIsGod1]

Ah Mae, she was a legend. I'm so happy she was never afraid to admit she loved gays :)

[ChristopherJRobin]

everything she says has at least 3 meanings

[1926valentino]

when was this ?

[Filmdude0]

@1926valentino I'd say around 1971/72 but just guessing :)

[NathanielChristopher]

@Filmdude0 It was 1974.

[Filmdude0]

@NathanielChristopher Thanks :)

[rickw1100]

This is a great clip. Dick Cavett looks genuinely intimidated ! Thats no criticism-I would be too!

[1961diaz1]

Charming

[ThePaddyjoejr1]

She was so Hot & Sexy!!!! Great Hair & Body! All Natural Beauty!

[beyondtheforest]

I was smiling all the way through this. What an amazing woman. I like the part when Cavett said, "Homosexuals love you." Mae's response, "Well, they know what I was doing for them!"

[STORMYB]

awww i wanted to see her do DIAMOND LIL

[STORMYB]

made me want to cry when she spoke about her mother. so glad she loved her so much.

[RiaLake]

@STORMYB I pressed the down button by mistake apologies.

[cheeriosinabowl]

She is an interesting character, that's for sure.

I would NOT call her sexy or hot. Just interesting. Too frumpish for me.

[ThePaddyjoejr1]

@cheeriosinabowl Why not? She is very Beautiful!

[LaSerpentaCanta]

It's unbelievable how much Madonna looks like Mae West.

[ThePaddyjoejr1]

@LaSerpentaCanta Oh, NO WAY! Madonna Sucks!

[LaSerpentaCanta]

@ThePaddyjoejr1 but they look alike!! and Madonna definetely was the Mae West of the 90's.

[ThePaddyjoejr1]

@LaSerpentaCanta They do NOT Look alike, Mae West was Very Beautiful & Sexy! Madonna is Ugly,BIG TIME! And, Madonna was NOT the 90' Mae West, That is an Insult to Mae West(A Great Actress). PS. Madonna's Daughter(Laudes) Is sexier than her mother! And she's 11!

[LaSerpentaCanta]

lol that poem was unbelievable.

[ThePaddyjoejr1]

@LaSerpentaCanta Why? I Love it!