Red-Headed Woman (1932)

Lillian relentlessly attempts to seduce a married man.

Director:

Jack Conway

Writers:

Katharine Brush (book), Anita Loos (screenplay)

Stars:

Jean Harlow, Chester Morris, Lewis Stone

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean Harlow	...	Lil Andrews
Chester Morris	...	Bill Legendre Jr.
Lewis Stone	...	William Legendre Sr.
Leila Hyams	...	Irene Legendre
Una Merkel	...	Sally
Henry Stephenson	...	Charles B. Gaerste
May Robson	...	Aunt Jane
Charles Boyer	...	Albert
Harvey Clark	...	Uncle Fred

Storyline

Lil works for the Legendre Company and causes Bill to divorce Irene and marry her. She has an affair with businessman Gaerste and uses him to force society to pay attention to her. She has another affair with the chauffeur Albert.

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Plot Keywords:

female sexual predator | manipulative female | gold digger | mistress | redheaded woman | 

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Taglines:

the public enemy of sweethearts and wives!- yet Science says she's not to blame! (Print Ad- Cortland Standard, ((Cortland, NY)) 16 July 1932)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean Harlow's first line is "So gentlemen prefer blondes, do they?" which was written by Anita Loos for the movie. Loos' most famous work was the 1925 novel "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes".

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Goofs

When Lil goes to Charlie's penthouse in New York and the butler announces her arrival, Charlie stands up from his chair holding a book in his right hand. In the next shot, where he finishes standing, the book is gone.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lil Andrews: So gentlemen prefer blondes, do they?
[sarcastically]
Lil Andrews: Yes, they do.

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Connections

Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

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Soundtracks

The Stars and Stripes Forever
(uncredited)
Written by John Philip Sousa
Played on Lil's car radio

User Reviews

Has to be seen to be believed

Jean Harlow as a home-wrecker of the worst kind delivers her first great performance in Red-Headed Woman.All the men in her lives are pushovers easily manipulated by the films central character. Made before censorship came into effect in Hollywood, this movie is able to shock viewers even today.The greatest entertainment value of this movie is how naughty all the principal characters are.Sex is out in the open and immorality is the name of the game. Harlow seduces and wins Chester Morris.The sucker has not a chance and which man has when a beautiful woman pursues you.Henry Stephenson is quite good as the moral hypocritical businessman. Nice to see him play such a part. Even a young Charles Boyer has a small important part in his Hollywood bow.The ending is really the biggest surprise.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

25 June 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Red-Headed Woman

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$401,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1