Jean Harlow, My Favourite

I received my book Harlow In Hollywood today in the mail. It was waiting by my door when I came home and I was so excited to see it. I have not read it yet, but I did look at the pictures and I am impressed. There are several of Miss Harlean that I've never seen before. Harlow being my absolute favourite, I have a huge photo collection of her. Here are some cell-phone quality snaps of the book:








Jean was in movies for a very short time, but during that time she had 4 different incarnations:


In the late 1920s, before she "found" herself as an actress, Jean was just a fresh-faced blonde who supposedly wasn't really interested in acting.


But her fresh-faced innocence didn't last long. Into the very early 1930s Jean was the resident vamp. Very sexy, very "evil" looking with her white blonde hair and dark, low brows. Her eyes kohl-rimmed, always in an evil sideways stare. Her lips painted on as if they are in a permanent kiss. This is my favourite era of Jean Harlow.


By 1932, Jean went back to being an innocent blonde. She had finally found her niche, which was comedy -- not vamping! To match her new persona she was given a makeover by her new studio, MGM. The hair loosened, the brows plucked off, the wicked stare replaced by a huge smile. She was *just sexy enough* without being threatening. I do love her brows. Her eyebrows have always been an inspiration for my very own!


Finally, in 1936 she darkened her hair, wore it curlier and sleeker, and began to take on more mature roles. Jean Harlow needed a rebirth due to the Production Code's enforcement. She would maintain this look until the end of her life in 1937.

These are the films I've seen Jean in:

The Saturday Night Kid (1929)

The Secret Six (1931)

The Public Enemy (1931)

Platinum Blonde (1931)

The Beast Of The City (1932)

Red Headed Woman (1932)

Red Dust (1932)

Hold Your Man (1933)

Dinner At Eight (1933)

Bombshell (1933)

The Girl From Missouri (1934)

Reckless (1935)

Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

Suzy (1936)

Libeled Lady (1936)

Personal Property (1937)

Saratoga (1937)


My favourites of these are The Saturday Night Kid (1929), Red Headed Woman (1932), The Girl From Missouri (1934), and Wife vs. Secretary (1936). The movies I enjoyed least: The Secret Six (1931), Reckless (1935), and I attempted to watch Riff Raff (1935) but I disliked it so much I turned it off. This was several years ago, though, so maybe a more recent viewing is in order!