Today’s media clip comes from a movie by Cecil B. DeMille in which a masked ball takes place during a party on an airship.
And then the airship crashes.
It’s a DeMille musical extravaganza, so it’s spectacular and features great set-pieces.
The movie is called Madam Satan, was produced in 1930 and apparently caused no end of trouble with the censors – lots of exposed female flesh, and after all, the plot revolves around a woman re-inventing herself as a masked femme-fatale to seduce back her unfaithful husband.
Racy stuff.
Especially in the 1930s.
Here’s a few samples from that strange movie…
So, yes, a romantic comedy with some pretty risqué contents, surreal costumes, a dieselpunkish set-up, weird Metropolis-like costumes and coreographies, and song-and-dance numbers.
Equal parts comedy, musical, disaster movie and sexy romp, with a dash of science fiction.
What else could we ask for?
The poster is pretty suggestive…
Madam Satan in all her debauched allure…
The original design of Madam Satan’s costume exposed A LOT of skin…
… and yes, there’s also a ballet about engines and electricity. I kid you not.
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