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Jean Harlow: The Original Platinum Blonde
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<blockquote data-quote="cheguevara101" data-source="post: 283581" data-attributes="member: 32116"><p>The following is a transcription from a film magazine, which may interest you:</p><p></p><p>Jean & Myrna</p><p></p><p>In the spring of 1934, Jean I Harlow, 23, was riding high as Hollywood's sex symbol, having starred in Platinum Blonde (1931) and Bombshell (1933), and was one of MGM's biggest stars. Myrna Loy, 29, while relatively new at MGM, had a long career behind her - in silent films she'd regularly played the exotic femme fatale and was in danger of being typecast. All that changed when, after playing opposite William Powell in Manhattan Melodrama (1934), the pair were teamed up in The Thin Man (1934) as man and wife detectives. Powell and Loy would star in a further five Thin Man films together, and Loy would go on to be known in Hollywood as The Perfect Wife.</p><p></p><p>While The Thin Man would help resurrect Loy's career, it would also help forge one of her dearest friendships. While performing scenes from the film for gossip columnist Louella Parson's radio show, Powell introduced Loy to Harlow, who he was dating. They immediately liked each other and could recognise their similar predicaments. Loy was dating producer Arthur Hornblower Jr. who was still married - she wanted to be his wife but he was comfortable with the status quo. Harlow was married for the third time but keen to marry Powell - recently divorced from Carole Lombard (his second wife), he was wary and reluctant to marry again. Loving in Hollywood was complicated. Harlow and Loy didn't get to work together until 1936, where</p><p>they first starred in Wife vs Secretary, in which Myrna plays the wife who becomes jealous of her husband's secretary (Jean). It gave Loy the chance to get to know the real Harlow. "Jean was beautiful, but far from the raucous sexpot of her films. As a matter of fact, she began to shake that image in Wife vs Secretary. She'd begged for a role that didn't require spouting slang and modelling lingerie. She even convinced them to darken her hair a shade, in hopes of toning down that brash image. It worked."</p><p></p><p>The same year the pair starred in Libeled Lady. This was a fun film to make-alongside co-stars Spencer Tracy and William Powell, the actresses would hang out together during breaks and soon discovered they had a lot in common, including their sense of humour.</p><p></p><p>Their friendship really had a chance to cement itself during the filming of After the Thin Man (1936). Much of filming was shot on location in San Francisco, and when co-stars Powell and Loy, accompanied by Harlow, all arrived at the St Francis Hotel, it became clear there was a booking error. So convincing was Powell and Loy's portrayal of a married couple in their films together, the hotel clerk had thought they were married</p><p></p><p>in real life too and assigned them one suite. The only other room available was a small bedroom. Despite the press rumours at the time that Powell and Harlow were due to marry soon, no-one wanted a scandal. In her memoir, Loy later recalled Harlow taking charge, saying: "There's nothing for you to do... We'll just have to put Bill downstairs."</p><p></p><p>Loy delightfully recalled: "That mix-up brought me one of my most cherished friendships. You would have thought Jean and I were in boarding school we had so much fun. We'd stay up half the night talking and sipping gin, sometimes laughing, sometimes discussing more serious things..."</p><p></p><p>Loy was shy, reserved and a good listener she was a very private person and a good confidante. Harlow was warm, funny and down to earth. They treasured the support they provided each other. Loy recalled: "Jean was always very cheerful, full of fun, but she also happened to be a sensitive woman with a great deal of self-respect. All that other stuff - that was all put on. She wasn't like that at all. She just happened to be a good actress who created a lively characterisation that exuded sex appeal."</p><p></p><p>In 1937, Harlow, who was at last engaged to Powell, was filming Saratoga with buddy Clark Gable, the sixth and final film they would make together. Loy meanwhile was co-starring with Powell in Double Wedding, their seventh pairing.</p><p></p><p>In May, Harlow felt unwell while filming - during this time Loy noticed Harlow looking grey and that her face was beginning to swell. On May 29, Harlow was playing a scene where her character had a fever - she didn't need to act as by this time she was out of breath and covered in sweat. "I feel terrible," she told Clark Gable. "Get me back to my dressing-room." Powell came and requested a doctor, and Harlow was sent home with her mother and a team of nurses to look after her.</p><p></p><p>Unbeknownst to all, even Harlow, she had been suffering from kidney failure since her teens. On June 7 she died, with Powell and her mother at her side. Harlow, who had been the embodiment of youthful exuberance, was just 26. Her mother had the words 'our baby' inscribed on her tomb. Loy, meanwhile, had lost a dear, cherished friend: "Oh, it was horrible, an awful blow; I loved Jean, deeply."</p><p></p><p>"I felt a sickening mixture of grief, guilt and frustration because I hadn't been able to do what might have saved her; get her away from her mother for an examination." - Loy on Harlow's death. Harlow's mother was a Christian Scientist and a rumour started that she had refused to take Harlow to hospital.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="cheguevara101, post: 283581, member: 32116"] The following is a transcription from a film magazine, which may interest you: Jean & Myrna In the spring of 1934, Jean I Harlow, 23, was riding high as Hollywood's sex symbol, having starred in Platinum Blonde (1931) and Bombshell (1933), and was one of MGM's biggest stars. Myrna Loy, 29, while relatively new at MGM, had a long career behind her - in silent films she'd regularly played the exotic femme fatale and was in danger of being typecast. All that changed when, after playing opposite William Powell in Manhattan Melodrama (1934), the pair were teamed up in The Thin Man (1934) as man and wife detectives. Powell and Loy would star in a further five Thin Man films together, and Loy would go on to be known in Hollywood as The Perfect Wife. While The Thin Man would help resurrect Loy's career, it would also help forge one of her dearest friendships. While performing scenes from the film for gossip columnist Louella Parson's radio show, Powell introduced Loy to Harlow, who he was dating. They immediately liked each other and could recognise their similar predicaments. Loy was dating producer Arthur Hornblower Jr. who was still married - she wanted to be his wife but he was comfortable with the status quo. Harlow was married for the third time but keen to marry Powell - recently divorced from Carole Lombard (his second wife), he was wary and reluctant to marry again. Loving in Hollywood was complicated. Harlow and Loy didn't get to work together until 1936, where they first starred in Wife vs Secretary, in which Myrna plays the wife who becomes jealous of her husband's secretary (Jean). It gave Loy the chance to get to know the real Harlow. "Jean was beautiful, but far from the raucous sexpot of her films. As a matter of fact, she began to shake that image in Wife vs Secretary. She'd begged for a role that didn't require spouting slang and modelling lingerie. She even convinced them to darken her hair a shade, in hopes of toning down that brash image. It worked." The same year the pair starred in Libeled Lady. This was a fun film to make-alongside co-stars Spencer Tracy and William Powell, the actresses would hang out together during breaks and soon discovered they had a lot in common, including their sense of humour. Their friendship really had a chance to cement itself during the filming of After the Thin Man (1936). Much of filming was shot on location in San Francisco, and when co-stars Powell and Loy, accompanied by Harlow, all arrived at the St Francis Hotel, it became clear there was a booking error. So convincing was Powell and Loy's portrayal of a married couple in their films together, the hotel clerk had thought they were married in real life too and assigned them one suite. The only other room available was a small bedroom. Despite the press rumours at the time that Powell and Harlow were due to marry soon, no-one wanted a scandal. In her memoir, Loy later recalled Harlow taking charge, saying: "There's nothing for you to do... We'll just have to put Bill downstairs." Loy delightfully recalled: "That mix-up brought me one of my most cherished friendships. You would have thought Jean and I were in boarding school we had so much fun. We'd stay up half the night talking and sipping gin, sometimes laughing, sometimes discussing more serious things..." Loy was shy, reserved and a good listener she was a very private person and a good confidante. Harlow was warm, funny and down to earth. They treasured the support they provided each other. Loy recalled: "Jean was always very cheerful, full of fun, but she also happened to be a sensitive woman with a great deal of self-respect. All that other stuff - that was all put on. She wasn't like that at all. She just happened to be a good actress who created a lively characterisation that exuded sex appeal." In 1937, Harlow, who was at last engaged to Powell, was filming Saratoga with buddy Clark Gable, the sixth and final film they would make together. Loy meanwhile was co-starring with Powell in Double Wedding, their seventh pairing. In May, Harlow felt unwell while filming - during this time Loy noticed Harlow looking grey and that her face was beginning to swell. On May 29, Harlow was playing a scene where her character had a fever - she didn't need to act as by this time she was out of breath and covered in sweat. "I feel terrible," she told Clark Gable. "Get me back to my dressing-room." Powell came and requested a doctor, and Harlow was sent home with her mother and a team of nurses to look after her. Unbeknownst to all, even Harlow, she had been suffering from kidney failure since her teens. On June 7 she died, with Powell and her mother at her side. Harlow, who had been the embodiment of youthful exuberance, was just 26. Her mother had the words 'our baby' inscribed on her tomb. Loy, meanwhile, had lost a dear, cherished friend: "Oh, it was horrible, an awful blow; I loved Jean, deeply." "I felt a sickening mixture of grief, guilt and frustration because I hadn't been able to do what might have saved her; get her away from her mother for an examination." - Loy on Harlow's death. Harlow's mother was a Christian Scientist and a rumour started that she had refused to take Harlow to hospital. [/QUOTE]
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Jean Harlow: The Original Platinum Blonde
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