Jean Harlow | Hollywood Yesterday

James Cagney and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy (1931)

June 8, 2022 By Joi

James Cagney and Edward Woods The Public Enemy

I rewatched The Public Enemy last week (possibly for the hundredth time) and was, yet again, struck by the jaw-dropping talent of James Cagney and Edward Woods (an actor who doesn’t get nearly enough attention). I was also reminded of the magic that was Jean Harlow.

The Harlow Magic can’t possibly be described – it has to be experienced… it has to be felt. You can see photos of the actress and, while they’re obviously lovely, they truly don’t do her justice. when she spoke, when she moved, and when she conveyed emotions with her beautiful eyes, the spell is cast and the magic explodes.

The only knock I have against The Public Enemy is the fact that she wasn’t in more scenes. Then again, her few short appearances may actually make a larger impact – a rare phenomenon is often felt even more.

The Public Enemy is an extraordinary movie. Is it a “feel good” film… Heavens no, but it is one everyone should see at least once. When you do, you’re probably going to end up seeing it countless times like me.

There’s just something about these characters that beg you to revisit them.

You can find The Public Enemy on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

James Cagney, Jean Harlow, and Edward Woods in The Public Enemy

Jean Harlow: Beautiful Platinum Blonde Promotional Pictures

April 11, 2022 By Joi

Jean Harlow, Platinum Blonde

The wonderful Jean Harlow was so extraordinary in every role and possessed so much charisma, it’s often difficult to remember just how young she was when she took Hollywood by storm.

She was only 26 when she died in 1937 – a fact that always leaves me speechless. You can’t help but think of all the films and roles she could have tackled over the years.

If you’ve never seen her in Platinum Blonde, it’s absolutely a movie you need to see. She’s mesmerizing in every scene in a role she seems born to have played.

Platinum Blonde was directed by the legendary Frank Capra and also stars Loretta Young, Robert William, Halliwell Hobbes, and Reginald Owen.

You can watch Platinum Blonde on Prime Video (Amazon link).

Jean Harlow

Platinum Blonde Movie Poster on Amazon:

Platinum Blonde Poster

Jean Harlow, Mary Astor, and Clark Gable, Red Dust (1932)

September 26, 2021 By Joi

Jean Harlow and Clark Gable

One of my favorite films is the 1932 drama Red Dust, directed by Victor Fleming. Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor are absolutely wonderful in this movie and the charisma between the three of them is what you could only call magic.

The story was retold in the 1953 film and I’ll just say this… personally, they should have never tried to retell it. Even though Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, and especially Ava Gardner are wonderful in it, the magic simply wasn’t there – through absolutely no fault of the stars or the legendary director John Ford. Magic either exists or it doesn’t – you can’t make it and you certainly can’t fake it.

You can find the magic of Red Dust on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Jean Harlow and Mary Astor

Great Behind the Scenes Picture from Red Dust (1932)

September 11, 2021 By Joi

Donald Crisp, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor

One of my favorite 1930s films (or films from any era!) is Red Dust (1935) and four of the reasons are pictured above: Donald Crisp, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor. Extraordinary movie, extraordinary cast, and extraordinary director (Victor Fleming).

You can find the extraordinary Red Dust on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video!

Jean Harlow: Movie Classic Magazine July, 1935

April 20, 2021 By Joi

Jean Harlow

This beautiful photo of the wonderful Jean Harlow appeared in the July 1935 issue of Movie Classic magazine. I collect many different things pertaining to Old Hollywood and Classic TV and my old magazines is one of my favorite collections. They’re so much fun to look through – again and again and again…

I have run into a bit of a problem with my magazines, though. Like many people, I collect everything I can get my hands on of my very favorites, so when they appear in a magazine, I remove the clipping or photo to put into their folder/collection. Since I have so many favorites that I collect, I’ve found that I need to start buying most of the magazines TWICE – once to keep whole and enjoy and once to take apart!

Sigh. I get myself into as many fixes than Lucy and Ethel ever got themselves into… maybe more?

Cary Grant, Jean Harlow, and Franchot Tone in Suzy

February 19, 2021 By Joi

Cary Grant and Jean Harlow

Have you seen Suzy (1936) with Cary Grant, Jean Harlow, and Franchot Tone? I’m not sure if it’d be best to call it a war film or a dramatic romance. It fits either description. While I prefer Cary Grant in comedic roles (simply because I think he was one of the most gifted comedic actors ever), he is very good in this role. He plays a World War I pilot and turns in a very good performance, as does the always wonderful Franchot Tone.

With all due respect to both actors, however, this is Jean Harlow’s film and she gives one of her greatest performances. She’s breathtaking in each and every scene and you cannot help but feel very sentimental when you realize what an extraordinary actress was taken from us FAR too soon.

Suzy is one of the beautiful legend’s last films. She made Suzy in 1936 and died in 1937 (uremic poisoning) at the age of 26.

Cary Grant, Jean Harlow, and Franchot Tone

There is something magical about each role Jean Harlow played and this one was no exception. Her charisma and charm jump right off the screen. I knew that her acting style and natural gift for comedy would mesh well with that of Cary Grant but, before watching Suzy, I wondered how she would interact with Franchot Tone, who had a different style from the other two stars. In true Jean Harlow fashion, she worked as flawlessly with Tone as anyone.

While I will always prefer him with Joan Crawford (talk about magic), I enjoyed his scenes with Jean Harlow a great deal.

The movie is very much worth seeing but, when you watch it, be sure to understand that the best thing about it is and will always be Jean Harlow and simply enjoy and cherish every last drop.

Franchot Tone and Jean Harlow

Birthday Celebration: Jean Harlow (BOTD in 1911)

March 3, 2020 By Joi

James Cagney and Jean Harlow, The Public Enemy

Little did anyone know when Harlean Carpenter was born on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri that she’d go on to become one of the biggest movie stars of all time. While “Harlean Carpenter” may not be a household name, the name she took for herself…. Jean Harlow… certainly is.

As I often tell people (Twitter people, family people…. any people who will listen or even just pretend to listen), If you only “know” Jean Harlow from her photographs or from things you’ve read about her… you don’t “know” Jean Harlow at all.

Heck, you’re barely even familiar with her!

It’s when you delve into her quotes and, more importantly, into her films, that you find the magical, magnetic star that she was. Trust me, it’s a delve worth taking.

As you may know, I have watched old movies (as well as classic television) all of my life. Every decade, every genre, every actor, every actress. And yet… I still can’t put my finger on what makes Jean Harlow so special. To this day, I have no idea what trait or feature it was that sets her apart from the rest. She wasn’t necessarily better than other actresses of her time (not all of them, anyway!), but she did have a certain charisma that made her stand out like a beautiful sunset that makes it impossible to look away.