“Marriage is a fine institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.” This quote of Mae West’s pretty much sums up the theme of this biopic. Influenced by her parent’s relationship, Mae is determined not to be tied down to one man as she makes a place for herself in the world. Yet after experiencing success on stage, screen and radio, Mae comes to realise that some experiences are best enjoyed when shared. If only the biopic focused more on West’s witticisms and less on the pop psychology, it might have been far more successful.

As it is, the film is mildly entertaining, with most of the credit going to Ann Jillian in the title role. Performing six song-and-dance numbers, Jillian expertly reproduces the raunchy burlesque of the star’s early stage career. Off-stage, she effectively mimics West’s speaking voice while delivering the lines with a comedienne’s sense of timing.

Less successful is her co-star. Six years after Gable and Lombard, James Brolin’s moustache may have got fuller, but his performance remains wooden, hindered more so by a wandering Irish accent.

It would also be another six years before Ann Jillian made another biopic. That one was about an actress battling breast cancer. Its title – The Ann Jillian Story.