FEB 2016: Harlow in Hollywood by Darrell Rooney

[Samantha]

Our February/March read is an opulent one. It is the story of Jean Harlow's short life, her career in films, and her three marriages. Although it is a coffee table book, the content is there and the visuals serve to enhance the reading.

What do you hope to learn from this book?
Which Harlow films are your favorite? Least favorite?

[Andrea]

So excited that we are reading a book on Jean Harlow! And I finally have a little more time to participate in group discussions now that my daughter is a little older (and plays well on her own! lol) She is one of my idols! My favorite Harlow film is definitely Red Dust with Clark Gable. I read "Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow" by David Stenn

[Andrea]

a few years ago... it's a great read

[Samantha]

What do you make of the relationship between Jean (AKA Harlean) and her mother?

[Sirena]

I need to get this book so I can participate!

[Samantha]

Are there any Harlow films you would like to see now after having perused this book?
Any favorite photographs?

[Samantha]

I really enjoyed this book because I think it blended a lot of facts from other biographies like Bombshell and Platinum Girl with gorgeous photographs that show off Harlow's magnetism in front of the camera. She wasn't really all that beautiful on the surface--those drawn-on eyebrows and that odd accent do nothing for me-- but she had a quality that attracted audiences anyway. It took me a while to become a fan, but once I was, I couldn't get enough of her movies. I've seen most of them by now, but my favorites are Suzy which reminds me a lot of the first Oscar winner Wings, and Hold Your Man which is melodramatic, somewhat risque and polished to perfection. The story on the surface is somewhat laughable but it is done so well that I can't help but love it anyway. Harlow had great chemistry with Clark Gable.

[Samantha]

TCM is showing a lineup of Harlow's films on Thursday:

7 am Platinum Blonde
8:30 am The Public Enemy
10 am The Secret Six
11:30 am The Beast of the City
1 pm Red Headed Woman
2:30 pm Three Wise Girls
3:45 pm Hold Your Man
5:15 pm The Girl From Missouri
6:30 pm Personal Property

[[deleted user]]

I did it! I finished the book today! I have loved Jean Harlow since I was a young teenager & saw Platinum Blonde with a Marilyn Monroe movie at a revival house, Theater 80 in Greenwich Village in the late 1970's.

I've read many books about her and this book was wonderful! It's up there with the Stenn book. The photos are amazing.

I bought this book as a present to myself in 2012 and I'm so glad I joined this group, otherwise I may not have taken the time to read this.

My favorite Harlow movie always changes, so today is a toss up between Bombshell & Hold Your Man. To me Hold Your Man is a very "New Yawk" film and Harlow's accent fit right in.

Fun fact: There are two endings for Hold Your Man, both involve a preacher in the end but one is white and the other is African American. Supposedly this was done so the film would be able to shown in the South. (I can't find the source right now, so it could be my foggy memory.)