She Done Him Wrong

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

She Done Him Wrong is a 1933 pre-Code American crime/comedy film starring Mae West and Cary Grant, adapted from West's own successful Broadway play Diamond Lil. The film is famous for West's many Double Entendres and quips, including her best-known (and frequently misquoted), "Why don't you come up sometime and see me?"

The plot revolves around a bawdy singer, Lady Lou (Mae West), who has several men revolving around her. First is her current benefactor and lover, Gus Jordan (Noah Beery), the owner of the saloon where she sings and, unbeknownst to her, dabbles in prostitution and counterfeiting to finance the expensive diamonds he covers Lou with. There is Dan Flynn (David Landau), one of Jordan associates, who keeps dropping hints on Lou that Jordan may not be that nice. There is also Chick Clark (Owen Moore), a vicious criminal that is currently jailed for robbery, expects Lou to be faithful and loyal to him while he is in the can, and eventually escapes when the news that Lou's has already moved on reaches him. And finally, there is Captain Cummings (Cary Grant), the young director of the City mission neighboring Jordan's saloon, and who during the film becomes Lou's new seduction target. Also around are Jordan's associates, Russian Rita (Rafaela Ottiano) and Rita's lover, the suave Sergei Stanieff (Gilbert Roland), and Lou's bodyguard Spider (Dewey Robinson).

She Done Him Wrong was nominated for an Academy Award for Outstanding Production, now known as Best Picture. At 66 minutes, it is the shortest film ever to be so honored. In 1996, it was was selected for listing on the United States National Film Registry.

Tropes used in She Done Him Wrong include: