Belle of the Nineties (1934)

Ruby Carter, a dazzling American Beauty and reigning queen of the nightclub scene, decides to shift her glamorous operations from St. Louis to New Orleans. Her move, although far removed from the Western genre, is primarily driven by her desire to escape the clutches of her obsessive admirer, the prizefighter known as Tiger Kid. Upon her arrival in the southern city, Ruby becomes the star attraction at "The Sensation Club," an establishment managed by the suave and cunning Ace Lamont. Quickly ascending the social ladder, Ruby stirs the envy of Molly Brant, Ace's spurned lover, while simultaneously becoming Ace's personal infatuation. When the naive Tiger Kid arrives in town for a title match, Ace sees this as an opportunity to manipulate the boxer and steal some of Ruby's precious jewels. However, Ruby, far more than just a pretty face, suspects Ace's duplicitous intentions and devises a clever trap using her remaining jewels. After the fight, Tiger confesses his part in the jewel robbery to Ruby, who subtly insinuates that Ace had been the puppeteer behind his actions. Enraged, Tiger confronts Ace, who, for reasons of his own, has trapped Molly in a closet. As tension mounts, the characters find themselves entangled in a web of deceit, passion, and rivalry, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.

Belle of the Nineties is a comedy movie featuring Mae West.

Belle of the Nineties is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.