Platinum Blonde
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Movie Reviews of Platinum Blonde
Movie Review: Give it a Few Tries
Summary: 4 Stars
Platinum Blonde is the story of a newspaper reporter (Robert Williams), one of the best. His job is to investigate a scandal with one of the best known families, the Schuylers. He's so clever, he gets them to admit to a story against their will, but in the process is captured by the eye of beautiful daugher Anne (Jean Harlow). Although he scoops them, he also helps them out of the mess and makes his way into the family by eloping with Anne. This hurts his pal Gallagher (Loretta Young) who has loved him for years, but he's in his own world. He doesn't quite realize what he's getting himself into as a poor man wedding a rich family. Cracks from his friends ensue and day by day his wife does all that she can to change him.
Unfortunately, people have high expectations for this film, and it doesn't necessarily measure up. First of all, this is not typical Capra. There are not heartfelt messages of hope at the end. The characters do not signify what the average man strives to be or the pitfalls he faces. Secondly, Harlow does not play a seductress here; in fact, she's quite classy. Last, Williams is an unknown, and alongside an all star cast, he's the leading man. This can be startling because we have never seen him before and are therefore less likely to like him right off. The first time I saw this film, I was incredibly disappointed and what upset me even more was that this was Harlow's first DVD release. Although the title became her nickname, this is an awful way to experience typical Harlow, but it is a wonderful way for fans to see her in a new light.
If you can find a way to judge this film not based on expectations but on its own merits, you'll find it to be quite enjoyable. Each player is fantastic, namely Williams whose naturalness and easy humor makes the film breezy and fun to watch. Harlow is regal and intelligent, not the least bit green despite this being one of her first big films (before the eyebrow makeover). Young is fresh and exciting, quite thin, but absolutely gorgeous.
Movie Review: Loretta Young has top billing in Platinum Blond. And deservedly so.
Summary: 4 Stars
Originally "Platinum Blond" was named "Gallagher" after the character played by Loretta Young, who also had top billing. But when the studio realized they had a mega star in Harlow, Young was demoted, only by title not billing. At the time Young was a bigger star than Harlow. From all reports Young and Harlow got along famously, no diva quarrels on set, for both were down-to-earth actors. Harlow is definitely sexy in the movie, but she is terribly miscast and her acting leaves much to be desired. Young is quite good as Gallagher; her acting was always unappreciated for her luminous beauty always seemed to get in the way. No about it, the true beauty in this film is Young. In every frame she's in, she steals the scene, not because of her acting, but she intuitively knows the power of her beauty. Just watch her, there's a stillness about her that is remarkable, a kind of minimalist acting that is astounding in that you eye naturally goes to her. It's sad that Harlow died only two years after making this film. Young, however, went on to have a glorious, legendary Hollywood career, culminating in her winning the Academy Award for her role in "The Farmer's Daughter." She later had the courage to take on TV, and there was no bigger star on TV, except for Lucille Ball. Who can ever forget Young swirling through the door every week in a designer gown by Jean Louis, her future husband, by the way. I'm glad to see that because of the new book, "The Star Machine," Young's career is now being reevaluated. She indeed made some fine films. And she is a better actress than critics have give her credit for. As for her beauty: she is one of the most beautiful women to grace the silver screen. The camera loved her face. The photographer Hurrell captured her beauty in many portraits, but the one I favor is the cover of "The Star Machine": she and Tyrone Power together. Classic Hollywood photography. It's Capra's first film, and it's a very good one. For Young and Harlow fans it's a must see.Movie Review: Now Nostalgic, But Still Surprisingly Fresh (3.5 stars)
Summary: 4 Stars
Just 18-year-old Loretta Young comes off as a very talented young actress in this, now three-quarters-of-century old comedy. Her character, of which a viewer will never know her first name, is vulnerable and pretty, especially in her evening gown. No wonder that the journalist colleague (played by Robert Williams) has hard time after snubbing her for a rich platinum blonde. The great bit of nostalgia stems from the fact that Williams died later that year the movie was completed and Jean Harlow (the platinum blonde) died a few years later. Otherwise, it is a surprisingly fresh and lovable comedy (although you shouldn't expect too much), with somehow familiar music and a merit to the name of Frank Capra, who went on to become one of the greatest director Hollywood has ever produced.Movie Review: TWO LOVELY LEADING LADIES....
Summary: 3 Stars
I agree and disagree on points made by some other reviewers about "Platinum Blonde". The title is misleading, I agree. The studio obviously wanted to showcase Jean Harlow to sell the picture. She's a second lead as Ann Schuyler, a wealthy society girl who marries a coarse newspaper reporter, Stew (Robert Williams) and tries to refine him. But, in as obvious a plot line as you can throw to an audience, his heart belongs to Gallagher (Loretta Young) his co-worker at the paper. The studio wanted to please Depression era audiences so the rich are portrayed as stuffy bores and the "poor" (Williams) are portrayed as scrappers who punch people in the face when they get mad and feel it's justified. I disagree that Williams gave a good performance. "Stew" (an apt a name as any) came off as sarcastic and unlikeable. The Schuyler family was justifiably appalled at him. Ann liked him though and tried to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. But he ends up feeling stifled and going ballistic. He wants to write. Williams showed none of the humaness that made Cagney or Gable so good at these kind of parts. His character was way too arrogant and cocky. His performance is badly dated and chauvinistic (especially in his dealings with Gallagher). But what I enjoyed about the film was the luminous presences of two future stars---Jean Harlow and Loretta Young. Both were excellent. Harlow had a thankless role as Ann but she was fabulous in gowns and quite braless. She was more sympathetic than the film would have you think. She didn't deserve the treatment she got from Stew. Young was SO young and so pretty and very good as Gallagher. She certainly didn't deserve Stew either. But that was the studio's approach to pleasing the masses back then. I can't recommend this as a good film because of Williams. But, as a relic of times gone by---it's certainly worth a look or two for Harlow and Young and for that fabulous Schuyler house with those immense diamond shaped tile floors and gorgeous staircase that Harlow goes up and down in those gowns and chandelier earrings. Good DVD print too. And that early Columbia logo is really vintage.Movie Review: A Senseless Jibe; but Jean Harlow is beautiful and Loretta Young is adorable
Summary: 3 Stars
This is not the best work of director Frank Capra who is known for one of the greatest classics ever made in Hollywood, "It's a Wonderful Life." Nevertheless this movie is played out to the desire of Columbia studios to promote Jean Harlow. No one ever complains about the casting, but the theme of the movie, set in depression era (1931) is lame. Jean Harlow plays the only daughter of upper-class socialite, Ann Schuyler who marries a shrewd newspaper reporter Stew (Robert Williams), and then tries to control his life in the confinements of her palatial home as a house husband, but without success. He invites his friends to his home to party, and his female friend Gallagher (Loretta Young) with whom he collaborates to write a play. At the end, Ann and Stew get separated and he later marries Gallagher. This is somewhat an unrealistic story, and a very strange way to poke at the wealthy for the ills of depression era. However Jean Harlow is stunning and offers a great performance as a spoiled wealthy girl. Loretta Young, one of her performances early in the career, is sweet and adorable as she always is. The untimely and sad deaths of Jean Harlow (at the age of 26) due to Influenza and kidney failure, and Robert Williams due to Peritonitis (died three days after the release of the movie) leaves this movie as a tribute to the work of these young artists.
1. It's a Wonderful Life (60th Anniversary Edition)
2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington