We now re-visit another classic misfire- Myra Breckinridge. Many people forget that the legendary Mae West retired from Hollywood fairly early in her career. Hamstrung by the Hayes Code which put a damper on her ribald jokes and smutty entendres, Mae West chose to quit making pictures rather than conform to the prudish censorship office.
Flash forward to the 1960's. Free love and the collapse of the studio system brought new freedoms and a new rating system. By this time, Miss West was intrigued by the possibilities and was willing to come out of retirement for the right film. She thought that film would be Myra Breckinridge.
Mae went all out on this one, writing smutty one liners and even warbling bizarre versions of popular songs. Already a tacky mess, the film became even more of a slog when it stops to allow Miss West a chance to perform. Why a slutty old casting directress would prance around and sing at a night club is never explained and the audience is left worrying about whether Miss West will break a hip. It was an embarrassing comeback and the financially successful Mae West would wait another ten years to attempt another cinematic comeback in the equally scorned Sextette.
