Jean Harlow

I read David Stenn's biography of Jean Harlow entitled Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow.  It is about 250 pages, well-sourced, and has an easy-to-read font. Maybe it's just me, but some books seem to be too tiny these days. 

He also wrote a book on Clara Bow, whose career ended at about the same age but not (as in Harlow's case) because of an early death. The Harlow book is a serviceable smooth reading account. It is at times a bit over the top, perhaps, but mostly is straightforward. 

The book provides an account of the tragic life of a passive girl woman who deep down was a nice person who had no strong self of self. She was totally uninhibited about her body while being happier away from the spotlight. A teenage illness doomed her, ruining her kidneys without people knowing about it.

She is regularly said to be beautiful with a body akin to an elegant sculpture. I don't think the pictures particularly do her justice. I'm sure her presence was a significant part of her charm. Still "bombshell" is not how she seems to me. I do overall like her acting. 

I enjoyed Dinner at Eight and decided to check out more films with Jean Harlow. China Seas is a mid-1930s film packed with stars, including Clark Gable and a young Rosalind Russell (I know her most from His Girl Friday with Cary Grant). 

The film is somewhat ridiculous but the stars make it enjoyable. Still, it is more than a tad bit forced, including Jean Harlow's dramatics. She is less of a caricature in Dinner at Eight. Other characters are a bit much too. Overall, good pacing for a 1930s film.

I checked out Wife vs. Secretary with Clark Gable and Myrna Loy. The DVD was acting up so I shut it off. Still, the film was less enjoyable. 

It does provide a chance for Jean Harlow to be much more low-key than usual. James Stewart, in an early role, is her love interest. 

I also enjoyed Red Dust, which starred Clark Gable as a man's man on a rubber plantation dealing with two women -- Jean Harlow's prostitute and Mary Astor's cultured married woman who catches his eye. 

Gable eventually decides to leave her with the husband, a nice sort that was asking to be cuckolded. Harlow is more suitable for rough environs. Plus, Gable is deep down a good person, seeing how much the husband loves his wife.  

The film is somewhat more creaky at spots but overall flows well. There is also a racist portrayal of a servant that gets to be tiresome. Harlow shines.  

Clark Gable (as an African hunter this time) made a remake twenty years later. Mary Astor had film roles into the 1960s. Gene Raymond (her husband in the film) lived the longest -- 1998.  

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Libeled Lady, had high praise, and Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, and William Powell (she fake marries him; IRL, she dreamed of really marrying him), but didn't like it. One notable true life bit: she legally changed her name to "Jean Harlow" (her stage name was her mother's real name) during filming. 

She plays her usual tough on the outside/soft on the inside, fast-talking character, and looks great (more natural).  A lot of fast talking but found it dull. If the film doesn't catch my interest, I turn it off.

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Jean Harlow also wrote a book that was published in the 1960s. It sounds silly though I'd like to check it out. Not at the prices I see it being sold. 

ETA: Jean Harlow's first notable role was Three Wise Girls, which is referenced here with the video. 

The author, whose hot takes can be as valid as hot takes tend to be, says he is not a fan of Harlow. He suggests her draw was her beauty. Comments note her comic skills factor in as does her snark/naughtiness. Both pop up here.

The author likes another of the "girls" better in the film. She's fine but so is Harlow -- she has a clear presence. I also liked the referenced film Waterloo Bridge, which is a melodrama of sorts.  

I only skimmed the film but it's worth a look. The girls are the draw. The guys are rather tiresome sorts.