Harlow (1965)
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Hurriedly assembled to capitalize on the Paramount feature of the same name, Magna Pictures' Harlow was shot in less than two weeks, utilizing a glorified TV-kinescope process called Electronovision. Carol Lynley is physically an excellent choice to play 1930s Hollywood "platinum blonde" Jean Harlow, though she has little of Harlow's casual charisma. Pushed into a movie career by Mama Jean (Ginger Rogers) in order to support her dysfunctional family, Jean rises from 2-reel comedies to big-budget features in the space of a year. Though one of the highest-priced stars at MGM, Jean's fortune is rapidly depleted by her high-living (and, it is hinted, incestuous) stepfather Marino Bello (Barry Sullivan). Seeking happiness and security, Jean marries producer Paul Bern (Hurd Hatfield), only to have him commit suicide due to his impotence. Just when her misery is about to be ended by her marriage to movie star William Mansfield (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.)--a thinly disguised William Powell, who refused to allow his name or likeness to be used--Jean dies of uremia at the age of 26. If you can get past those miserable Laurel & Hardy imitators at the beginning of Harlow, you might be able to survive the rest of the picture, which gives a whole new meaning to the word "cheap." Watch for boxing champ Sonny Liston in a one-scene bit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Carol Lynley - Jean Harlow
- Ginger Rogers - Mama Jean
- Hurd Hatfield - Paul Bern
- Celia Lovsky - Maria Ouspenskaya
- Audrey Totter - Marilyn
- Audrey Christie - Thelma
- Jack Kruschen - Louis B. Mayer
- Sonny Liston - First Fighter
- Cliff Norton - Billy
- John "Red" Fox - Oliver Hardy
- Buddy Lewis - Al Jolson
- Maureen Gaffney - Miss Larsen
- Harry Holcombe - Minister
- Paulle Clark - Waitress
- Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. - William Mansfield
- Barry Sullivan - Marino Bello
- Lloyd Bochner - Marc Peters
- Hermione Baddeley - Marie Dressler
- John Williams - Jonathan Martin
- Michael Dante - Ed
- Robert Strauss - Hank
- James Dobson - Counterman
- Jim Plunkett - Stan Laurel
- Joel Marston - Press Agent
- Frank Scannell - Doctor
- Ron Kennedy - Assistant Director
- Nick Dimitri - 2nd Fighter
- Christopher West - Bern's Secretary
- Director(s):
- Alex Segal
- Writer(s):
- Karl Tunberg
- Producer(s):
- Bill Sargant, Lee Savin
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