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Jean HarlowAmerican movie star, sex symbol of the 30s.
Date of Birth: 03.03.1911
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was an American film star and sex symbol of the 1930s. Her characters, like herself, stopped at nothing to win over the men they desired. At the same time, Jean possessed a rare sense of humor for women of her type, which helped her succeed in comedy films.
Early Life and Career
Jean Harlow, whose real name was Harlean Carpenter, was born on March 3, 1911, in Kansas City. She tragically passed away on June 7, 1937, in Hollywood. The phrase "Gentlemen prefer blondes, but marry brunettes" largely defined the image of actresses in American cinema. While there were many dark-haired vamps who played ruthless and heartless women, the iconic sex symbols were often the blonde beauties: Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard. The first two are often compared, as their biographies have many similarities, including early deaths. However, in terms of their personality and creative essence, these two stars were sharply different. In contrast to the soft, feminine, and charming Marilyn Monroe, Harlow, with her light "permanent" curls, cold eyes, and predatory smile, was ideal for playing aggressive seductresses. Her characters, like herself, stopped at nothing to win over the men they desired. At the same time, Jean possessed a rare sense of humor for women of her type, which helped her succeed in comedy films.
Turbulent Life
Jean Harlow's turbulent biography largely corresponded to her appearance. At the age of sixteen, she ran away from home with a wealthy young man from Chicago, but she soon had to return with nothing. After moving to Los Angeles with her parents, she immediately started visiting studios, trying to break into the industry, even as an extra. Taking her mother's surname as a pseudonym, Harlow appeared in small roles in films such as "Moran of the Marines" (1928), "The Love Parade" (1929), "City Lights" (1931), and Laurel and Hardy's "Double Whoopee" (1931). However, no one noticed her there. Her chance to stand out and attract attention came in 1930 with the introduction of sound in cinema. Howard Hughes, the director of "Hell's Angels" (1930), had to replace a Swedish actress whose accent was too noticeable. Jean was invited to take her place. Although her pronunciation was far from perfect, her role was a winner: her character toyed with the hearts of two men and had an affair with a third, with low-cut dresses and constant flirting, instantly gaining fame. As soon as she purred, "Do you mind if I slip into something more comfortable?" and appeared in a transparent robe, showing off her attractive figure and slender legs, the audience was captivated.
Rise to Fame
This was followed by a series of "gangster moll" roles in trendy crime films of the early 1930s, such as "The Secret Six" (1931), "The Public Enemy" (1931), and "Beast of the City" (1932). Similar characters were familiar to the actress not only on screen. Her lover at the time was the prominent mobster Paul "Lo" Zivkman, for whom she introduced one of the leaders of the "Crime Syndicate," Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, into Hollywood society. Jean's true fame came after her performance as a prostitute in Victor Fleming's "Red Dust" (1932), in which she seduced a rugged gorilla hunter in Africa (Clark Gable). This lady nearly destroyed his life, forcing him to choose between her and his former lover. It was thanks to her that the film was considered "too bold in depicting sex" for a long time. Jean also found success in the comedy "Hold Your Man" (1933), where she starred opposite Clark Gable, and particularly in "Bombshell" (1933), where she played a sexy star who wants to become a respectable wife and mother. She played a significant part in making this film one of the funniest satires on Hollywood dwellers. By the end of 1933, Harlow had become one of the highest-grossing stars in American cinema, skillfully varying and modifying similar roles. In "Dinner at Eight" (1933), playing a brazen and coquettish socialite wife (Wallace Beery), she stole the show from the excellent actor. She also appeared in the comedy "The Girl from Missouri" (1934), where her character, a "gold digger" hunting for a millionaire, ended up falling in love with his son.
Later Career and Legacy
Jean Harlow also tried her hand at musicals, although her singing voice was dubbed, and her dance skills were not impressive. In Victor Fleming's film "Reckless" (1935), based on the true story of Broadway star Libby Holman, who was suspected of killing her husband, Joan Crawford was initially considered for the role. However, after careful consideration, the studio decided to replace her with Harlow. The reason was that similar rumors surrounded Jean. In 1932, just two months into her marriage, Jean's husband, Paul Bern, a leading MGM producer, died under mysterious circumstances. Unfazed after his death, she married cinematographer Harold Rossen, and then had an affair with William Powell, the leading man in "Reckless." MGM saw an opportunity to capitalize on this story, although it was clear from the beginning that Harlow was not suited for the singing and dancing role. The actress began to repeat herself more and more. She reunited with Clark Gable in "China Seas" (1935), a variation of "Red Dust." She starred in comedies such as "Wife vs. Secretary" (1936), "Suzy" (1936), and "Personal Property" (1937). She began shooting "Saratoga" (1937), a melodrama, but unexpectedly fell ill and died of brain edema. The film had to be finished with a double. Although the substitution was noticeable, the film was a huge success, with audiences flocking to see the prematurely departed star.
Nearly thirty years later, in 1965, two films with the same title, "Harlow," were released in the United States. However, the audience responded coldly to them. The new generation knew nothing about the blonde sex bomb, while the older generation did not recognize their beloved actress, who had become one of the Hollywood legends.
