MovieChat Forums > Marihuana Discussion > Harley Wood as Burma

Harley Wood as Burma

posted 20 years ago by PrincessAnanka
4 replies | jump to latest

This is one of my favorite 30s movies, mostly because of a now forgotten actress named Harley Wood. She portrays "Burma" in "Marihuana" and she does a great job. You've got to keep in mind that she was working with a cast and crew that had only days to get this movie finished. She probably had to wear her own wardrobe, do her own make-up and hair since there were no staff listed in the credits. Does anyone know anything more about this gal? Her best acting is toward the end, when she becomes a hardened addict and helps kidnap her own daughter although Burma doesn't realize it at the time. This is a great time capsule to study-for the clothes, the hair-styles, the dance craze (I think they're all doing the lindy-hop), etc. To Harley Wood, whereever you are, you are not forgotten!

[–] Victorias_Secret 18 years ago

Her name was Burma? I thought it was Verna. I liked her. Remember when she told her boyfriend, "You're silly because you're not silly! There's not a laugh left in your larynx."

I thought the ending was really stupid. The first part rocked.

Terry
Your soul and your body are your own, and yours to do with as you wish.

[–] jimtinder 18 years ago

Harley Wood later turned up as Jill Martin in some Columbia comedies with the Three Stooges and Buster Keaton. It's definitely her, despite the name change.

[–] enfilmigult 17 years ago

I was pretty surprised at how genuinely good she was, myself. After a while it was actually getting frustrating, because she kept threatening to get me kind of involved in her plight, and this is not the kind of movie where that's supposed to be happening. Damn you and your highly competent and empathetic acting, Harley Wood. You nearly ruined one of the most hilariously ludicrous movies of all time.

[–] robertocartera 17 years ago

I was really impressed by her performance. She goes from a care-free adolescent to a hard-bitten criminal in the most convincing fashion. What a trooper.

I have little time for those who dismiss this as abysmal stuff. Yes it's pure exploitation and gratuitous titillation, but it becomes increasingly involving. It has pace and energy and some lovely touches. The gang member playing with the child and answering the door with a lampshade on his head! That is a wonderful suggestion of innocence and corruption in one image. The drops of blood before her boyfriend dies of a gunshot wound.

Current film-makers could learn a lot from this!