MovieChat Forums > Platinum Blonde (1931) Discussion > Jean was not mis-cast

Jean was not mis-cast

posted 15 years ago by TheDuchessofM
14 replies | jump to latest

I thought she was pitch perfect for the role of Anne Schuyler. Perhaps her better known floozy characters have colored one's view of her acting, but I found her soft and charming in this movie, and Anne's inability to see anything but herself was portrayed absolutely spot on. Typically, the "other woman" is played as a cold-hearted biyatch, but Jean gave Anne realism. She wasn't the "other woman" she just wasn't right for Stew, and vice versa. The movie isn't perfect, since the script favored a more superficial look at a typical "the upper classes are snobs" angle, but the general story line and character arcs of Anne and Stew are marvelous. I wish Jean had gotten the chance to play the "Myrna Loy" type of characters rather than being typecast as a floozy (which is ironic since Myrna was an "Asian vamp/floozy" until the Thin Man series turned her into the "perfect wife.")

[–] xylonian-1 15 years ago

Actually I didn't know what to expect from Jean Harlow the first time I watched one of her movies, "Dinner At Eight" not that long ago. Somewhere I had gotten the impression she played 'sophisticated upper class beauty' roles most of the time. Unsure where I got this impression from.....

Needless to say I was a bit shocked the first time I saw her :) Like you say, I thought she was great in this, perhaps me not being not overly familiar with her makes that easier to see.

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."

[–] cadeaux 15 years ago

I honestly would have loved to see it with her playing Loretta Young's part of "Gallagher" instead...and vice versa. I think Jean would have played it with a lot more spunk and they probably would have enlarged that part. Loretta would also have done a fine job in the more "refined" role.

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[–] npaxton-3 14 years ago

I absolutely agree with you. Loretta Young seemed the more refined - even in the gowns both women wore. She looked the part of the society beauty more than Harlow, in my opinion. Although Loretta was charming as Gallagher, I think Harlow could have really sunk her teeth into that part. Harlow was understated in her portayal, as she should have been, but I was never completely convinced that she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

[–] lmchildress 14 years ago

I just finished watching this and I agree that both Harlow and Young were miscast, and should have had each other's roles. Every so often, Harlow would slip and you could hear the brass in her voice, and Young was definitely not the type to play a "one of the guys" role.

But, regardless of that, I think they both did a great job playing against type. It's interesting to see them before they got locked into stereotype.

But, my God, Robert Williams! What a loss. If he had lived, I am sure he would have been up there with the greats. He was a natural, and, watching him, I had the feeling that Bing Crosby watched this movie at some point and took his screen persona from Williams. Amazing. Gone much too soon.

[–] fugazzi49 13 years ago

You are all on to something here.Loretta Young was so transcendently beautiful in this film that I could not imagine her as "one of the boys".Harlow was fun and more down to earth.In the big party scene had one just turned on the film,it would seem to be Loretta's party,she seemed so naturally glamorous and in her element there.Good as this film is,the roles should have definately been switched.

[–] tabari 13 years ago

When I watched Jean Harlow walk any distance in this movie, I was struck with her style of walking. She sashayed like a Mae West imitator. Perhaps that was a style back then in the 30's, but I can not imagine any high class lady walking like that with getting a whole lot of unwanted attention. It just was not believable.
She always advertised her sexuality. I read that JH never wore undergarments in her films, so that her bias cut clothes would show her curves and....assets. I am a big fan and that is why I ordered this movie that I had never seen before. Our cable does not carry TCM and I miss a lot of good stuff.
I agree with all of the people who have said that switching the actresses would have fit the script better. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed both of them . And without Robert Williams, the whole movie would have bombed. They both played off of him. What a sad story that he died right as this movie was released.

[–] skiddoo 11 years ago

More of a Paris Hilton style of heiress than a Mrs. Astor type. :)

[–] HarveyManfredSinJohn 10 years ago

The real Jean Harlow was born with a silver spoon in her mouth! By contrast Loretta Young came from a regular background.

For goodness sake. Many, if not most, rich people aren't as smart and refined as you think they are. Many are quite dim and crass, even old-money types. Privilege makes them lazy and jaded.

Why can't you believe that blonde bimbos are often spoiled rich girls?

[–] lakealice 11 years ago

I think the title is misleading--a "platinum blonde" at the time meant a cheap or hard-boiled floozy, or "The Other Woman". That is not the character Harlow portrays in this movie-just the character she usually portrayed.

[–] TheLightFantastic 11 years ago

The film was originally titled "Gallagher" because Loretta Young was the star of the film (she is even billed first). The title was changed to "Platinum Blonde" to capitalize on Harlow's popularity and her famous hair color.

If you think about it, hell, even if you don't think about it, the title of the film makes no sense. Harlow isn't an incidental character but she's not the lead - I don't think the audience is really suppose to be pulling for her because she is somewhat manipulative and controlling and she doesn't even end up with the guy. I think changing the name was a bit of a bad move because it just doesn't make sense. Even now that I know the backstory, it still seems silly.

I do think Harlow and Loretta Young should have switched roles. Both did a fine job in their real roles but Harlow as a sophisticated lady whose speaking voice is very measured (like someone else said, you can catch her slipping at times) was a bit odd. Young as a cub reporter who is one of the guys is a stretch. She did look really beautiful but slightly uncomfortable.

[–] s007davis 11 years ago

I agree. Neither Jean Harlow nor Loretta Young were miscast. Each actress played the right role. It would make sense for Robert Williams' character to initially be attracted to the seemingly more glamorous and flashier platinum blond Harlow played before realizing that the more understated beauty Miss Young played was the right girl for him.

[–] HarveyManfredSinJohn 10 years ago

Spot on s007davis! Glad to see someone speaking some sense on this thread, along with the OP.

Harlow represented the glamorous unattainable, yet shallow, rich blonde. The type of woman an average joe would be attracted to, at least until they got to know them and realise there wasn't much beneath the glamour. Loretta Young's more understated (i.e. brunette) beauty was better suited to the substantial working girl and right match for the lead.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] HarveyManfredSinJohn 10 years ago

I completely agree! The critics who keep saying that the 'platinum blonde bimbo' can't play the rich girl really annoy me. They must all be upper-class snobs who believe that all rich people are automatically smarter. Paris Hilton begs to differ. In my opinion, rich kids are usually less intelligent and shallower than working class people who have to live by their smarts.

Beautiful, glamorous blonde, Jean Harlow, was the perfect pick to play an upper-class, spoiled rich girl. I'm tired of seeing brunettes and/or Jewish actresses in those parts. It makes me think that filmmakers are anti-Semitic and like upholding offensive Jewish Princess stereotypes, so thank goodness when the voluptuous Anglo-blonde bombshell is cast as the 'princess'. If Harlow had lived longer I would have loved to have seen her play more of these types of characters. I also wish Marilyn Monroe had been cast in at least one of these parts. But unlike MM, Harlow did in fact come from a very privileged family (which makes all the "Harlow was miscast" naysayers seem even more ridiculous).