Jean Harlow: The Original Platinum Blonde

[cheguevara101]

you remember that movie better than i do cause it's been years since i last saw it so i remember not a thing from it i've only seen it a few times to be honest

I watched Saratoga and Hell's Angels, quite separately, long ago. However, after watching Mogambo, I was intrigued to see the original, and that's where I fell in love and the fireworks began. It's been only a few months and I've formed a collection of 19 Jean Harlow DVDs(mainly disc only from eBay). There's a few featuring her in supporting roles, the rest she's lead actress. But, no matter which, I hang on her every word. Jean Harlow has given me a fresh lease on life.

 

[darkshadows38]

i just have copies of some of her movies that's about it some of them i have seen and some i haven't. i don't remember which ones i do have though off the top of my head

 

[cheguevara101]

i just have copies of some of her movies that's about it some of them i have seen and some i haven't. i don't remember which ones i do have though off the top of my head

Up until 3 months ago, the only one of Jean's films I could name was Red Dust, and by name only. At a push I'd struggle to name Saratoga and Hell's Angels. The only ones I'd ever seen. After a comprehensive search, I've discovered all of Jean's films are available online, of good quality too. With one exception, Goldie, but the quality was appalling. It is one of three Jean made with Spencer Tracy.

 

[darkshadows38]

red dust (1932) if i'm thinking of the right film was one of hers i didn't much care for

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

red dust (1932) if i'm thinking of the right film was one of hers i didn't much care for

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

I love these.

Thanks!

 

[cheguevara101]

red dust (1932) if i'm thinking of the right film was one of hers i didn't much care for

I love the dynamic Jean brings to every role. Even the roles she hated.

 

[cheguevara101]

Thanks!
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These are among the greatest. I love Jean Harlow

 

[darkshadows38]

she hated Red Dust (1932)?

 

[cheguevara101]

she hated Red Dust (1932)?

I'm not surprised.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I could understand why she hated Red Dust, as her husband of only a few months, Paul Dern sadly committed suicide during filming. It was definitely a dark time in Jean’s life.

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

 

[cheguevara101]

I could understand why she hated Red Dust, as her husband of only a few months, Paul Dern sadly committed suicide during filming. It was definitely a dark time in Jean’s life.

Have you read the Samuel Marx - Joyce Vanderveen book?

 

[ClassyCo]

Quite obviously not Jean Harlow.

Even so, I'm glad they decided to complete SARATOGA with what footage they had of Harlow. There was a brief period where MGM toyed with the idea of re-filming the movie with either Virginia Bruce or Virginia Grey. I think Jean Arthur (because of her box office popularity) was also a serious contender for replacing Harlow if the film were to be re-shot.

Maybe if they just reworked the script, they could've done without Harlow needing a stand-in.​

 

[cheguevara101]

Quite obviously not Jean Harlow.

Even so, I'm glad they decided to complete SARATOGA with what footage they had of Harlow. There was a brief period where MGM toyed with the idea of re-filming the movie with either Virginia Bruce or Virginia Grey. I think Jean Arthur (because of her box office popularity) was also a serious contender for replacing Harlow if the film were to be re-shot.

Maybe if they just reworked the script, they could've done without Harlow needing a stand-in.​

It was Jean up to 1hr 15, the remaining 15 mins featured her stand in doing her best. But the stab at impersonating Jean's voice was appalling in my view. I guess Saratoga was finished in a rush. Still, I loved Jean's performance. She handled the cigar scene beautifully.

 

[ClassyCo]

Mary Dees, the actress hired to stand-in for Harlow in SARATOGA, was born in 1911, just around three months younger than Harlow herself. Dees worked in Hollywood as an actress, even popping up in a bit part in DINNER AT EIGHT, the 1933 ensemble comedy-drama that featured Harlow as Wallace Beery's smart-mouthed society-climbing wife.

Apparently Harlow and Dees first met one another on the set of RED-HEADED WOMAN, the racy 1932 film that propelled Harlow to stardom at MGM. Harlow encouraged Dees to study dancing, helped her shop for "the right clothes", and even paid for some of the clothes herself.

Dees was working successfully as a dancer when L.B. Mayer phoned her to replace Harlow in SARATOGA in 1937. She filled in for Harlow physically, while another actress, Paula Winslow, doubled for Harlow's voice.

Dees later had small roles in THE LAST GANGSTER (1937) and THE WOMEN (1939). Her final role was in A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA (1946).

Mary Dees died in 2004, aged 93, after a long illness.​

 

[ClassyCo]

It was Jean up to 1hr 15, the remaining 15 mins featured her stand in doing her best. But the stab at impersonating Jean's voice was appalling in my view. I guess Saratoga was finished in a rush. Still, I loved Jean's performance. She handled the cigar scene beautifully.

I've never watched SARATOGA myself. I've never really wanted to watch it to be honest, fearing that I'd judge it by the stand-in over Harlow's performance. That wouldn't be fair to film itself or even to Mary Dees. I've just decided not to watch it. I figure I'm safer that way.​

 

[cheguevara101]

I've never watched SARATOGA myself. I've never really wanted to watch it to be honest, fearing that I'd judge it by the stand-in over Harlow's performance. That wouldn't be fair to film itself or even to Mary Dees. I've just decided not to watch it. I figure I'm safer that way.​

I've watched a few films where the star passed away before completion. Sometimes their absence is neatly crafted by the double, but sometimes to appalling effect. The first time I watched Saratoga it was just out of curiosity. I knew nothing of Jean at the time. If I were able to to re-edit the film myself I'd probably try to match sequences of Jean from her other films, with no traces of a double anywhere. I wouldn't use CGI as I find it quite appalling, where the heart and presence of the deceased cannot be replaced, leaving it void.

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

I watched Saratoga and Hell's Angels, quite separately, long ago. However, after watching Mogambo, I was intrigued to see the original, and that's where I fell in love and the fireworks began. It's been only a few months and I've formed a collection of 19 Jean Harlow DVDs(mainly disc only from eBay). There's a few featuring her in supporting roles, the rest she's lead actress. But, no matter which, I hang on her every word. Jean Harlow has given me a fresh lease on life.

Yeah. I’ve got some of those

It was Jean up to 1hr 15, the remaining 15 mins featured her stand in doing her best. But the stab at impersonating Jean's voice was appalling in my view. I guess Saratoga was finished in a rush. Still, I loved Jean's performance. She handled the cigar scene beautifully.

Well, Saratoga was released within seven weeks of Jean’s death.

 

[cheguevara101]

Yeah. I’ve got some of those

Well, Saratoga was released within seven weeks of Jean’s death.

It was her most successful film too. I wonder what other films which were in the pipeline and what became of them.