Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Carol Lynley | ... | Jean Harlow | |
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. | ... | William Mansfield | |
Ginger Rogers | ... | Mama Jean Bello | |
Barry Sullivan | ... | Marino Bello | |
Hurd Hatfield | ... | Paul Bern | |
Lloyd Bochner | ... | Marc Peters | |
Hermione Baddeley | ... | Marie Dressler | |
Audrey Totter | ... | Marilyn | |
John Williams | ... | Jonathan Martin | |
Audrey Christie | ... | Thelma | |
Michael Dante | ... | Ed | |
Jack Kruschen | ... | Louis B. Mayer | |
Celia Lovsky | ... | Marie Ouspenskaya | |
Robert Strauss | ... | Hank | |
Sonny Liston | ... | First Fighter |
One of two "Harlow" film biographies that appeared in 1965, this one stars Carol Lynley in the title role that begins as [link-nm0001318], a bit player in Laurel and Hardy comedies, is invited to test for director Jonathan Martin for the lead in Howard Hughes's "Hell's Angels." She is an instantaneous sensation, and in a series of films devoted more to her body than her talent, she becomes Hollywood's "Platanum Blonde." Written by alfiehitchie
More of a curiosity than a movie, this shot-in-8-days quickie was made to beat the release date of the big budget Joseph E. Levine production of Harlow. Lasting in a few theaters for just about as long as it took to shoot it, it utilized the experimental "Electronovison" process (as was The T.A.M.I Show and Richard Burton's Hamlet) which was basically a step up from kinescopes. The effect is like watching a shot-on-video soap opera from the 60s and one not quite as polished as say, Dark Shadows. As for the content, this Harlow trivializes the image of the great 30s star as much as the Carroll Baker Harlow yet in different ways. Here she's petulant, demanding, and obnoxious. With its shot-on-the-fly direction, writing, and performances, it doesn't get much deeper than the video tape allows. Oddly enough, what this movie most reminded me of was Inserts, the low-budget Richard Dreyfuss movie about the shady adult-film industry in the 30s. Yet, if you get a chance to see it don't miss it. It's one-of-a-kind.