Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Mabel Stark and Mae West


Scan11735, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 5/27/2009 05:57:00 AM

4 comments:

Frank Ferrante said...

Has anyone heard anything new about the big screen biopic on Mabel Stark? At one time Kate Winslet was linked to the project. ~frank

27 May, 2009 12:42
Anonymous said...

The project has most likely stalled. It has made attempts to get off the ground since 2002. The screenplay is based on "The Final Confession of Mabel Stark", Robert Hough's historical fiction account of Mabel's life. It's probably just as well if it doesn't go. Let Roger Smith write the screenplay, and do this amazing lady justice.

27 May, 2009 18:43
Roger Smith said...

Along with many others, I gave Hough extensive interviews, over the phone and when he flew into Houston to tape my recollections in person. This is when he was leading us to believe he was writing a biography. He betrayed our trust by turning out an egregiously offensive, fictional, pornographic distortion of Mabel Stark, written as Mabel speaking in the first person describing lurid scenes that she never spoke of to anyone in my 3 1/2 years of daily experience with her. I bear witness to the fact that Mabel could be hilariously profane when she felt like it, and all of it was in fun, but with the filth as portrayed by Hough, never. I live with regret that my name is associated in print with this book. Possibly Random House Canada is satisfied with Hough's lurid, contrived descriptions of someone he never knew, but we may ask what kind of publisher prints this defiling material, and what kind of man creates pornography as Hough did, and uses the dedication page to name his wife and children?

As for the picture, Tailor Made Films, of London, hasn't made a go of it to date. As Anonymous notes, it's just as well. Ms. Winslet is a beautiful and gifted actress, but she can't work tigers, and has no knowledge of Mabel's personality, manner of speaking, or physical characteristics, so any attempt to portray her will fall as hollow as the pages composed by Hough. We can hope Ms. Winslet and her husband will move away from this project.

I've been engaged with Mabel's biography for some time now, with the encouragement and assistance of her surviving family, and have just opened new avenues of research to bring the fullest accuracy to the work that I can. Further, I'm developing a documentary about her now, having brought on board, so far, a videographer, a circus historical music consultant (well-known to this blog, who will remain un-named until he says otherwise), interviews with Jungleland veterans, and an entertainment lawyer.

As for the accompanying photo, we know that Mabel and Mae West were friends, since Mabel doubled her in Paramount's I'M NO ANGEL, in1933. Ms. West was quoted as saying if she could trade places with anyone, "it would be this Mabel Stark, the tiger girl." To which Mabel responded, "Fine with me. I'd love to be Mae West!"

So whoever you are, Anonymous, your kind words are on the arrows. The work is underway. Anyone who knew Mabel is welcome to contact me with their memories at steelarena314@hotmail.com. Be asssured I will not betray you, or Mabel, as Random House and Robert Hough have done.

28 May, 2009 22:00
Frank Ferrante said...

Roger - Thank you for setting the record straight! I look forward to your documentary. ~frank

29 May, 2009 08:51

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