Jump to content

Platinum Blonde(film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Platinum Blonde
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrank R. Capra
Written byRobert Riskin(dialogue)
Jo Swerling(adaptation)
Dorothy Howell (continuity)
Story byHarry Chandlee
Douglas W. Churchill
Produced byHarry Cohn
Frank R. Capra
StarringLoretta Young
Robert Williams
Jean Harlow
CinematographyJoseph Walker
Edited byGene Milford
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Columbia Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • October 31, 1931(1931-10-31)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Lobby card for the film

Platinum Blondeis a 1931 Americanpre-Coderomantic comedymotion picturedirected byFrank Capra,written byJo Swerlingand starringLoretta Young,Robert WilliamsandJean Harlow.Platinum Blondewas Robert Williams' last screen appearance; he died ofperitonitisthree days after the film's October 31 release.[1][2]

Though not as well known as Capra's later 1930s movies, the film's reputation has grown over the years. It is occasionally aired in the United States onTurner Classic Movies.

Plot[edit]

Stewart "Stew" Smith, ace reporter for thePost,is assigned to get the story about the latest escapade of playboy Michael Schuyler, abreach of promisesuit by chorus girl Gloria Golden, who has been paid to drop it. Unlike rivalDaily Tribunereporter Bingy Baker, he turns down a $50 bribe from Dexter Grayson, the Schuylers' lawyer, to not write anything. He does pretend to be swayed by the pleas of Anne, Michael's sister, but then brazenly calls his editor with the scoop, appalling the Schuylers.

Stew returns to the house to return a copy of Conrad he had taken from the Schuylers' library. The butler, Smythe, tries to make him leave, but Anne sees him. Stew surprises Anne by presenting her with Michael's love letters to Gloria, who had intended to use them to extort more money from the Schuylers. Anne offers Stew a $5,000 check, which he refuses. She asks why he reported the suit, but not the love notes. Stew explains that one was news, the other, blackmail. He later tells her he is writing a play. Intrigued, Anne wonders if she can turn him into a gentleman. She invites him to a party at the house.

They fall in love and soon elope, horrifying Anne's widowed mother, Mrs. Schuyler, an imperious dowager who looks down on Stew's lower-class background. Michael takes it in stride, telling Stew he's not as bad as everyone thinks. The wedding is scooped by the rivalDaily Tribune,enraging his editor, Conroy. Even more upset is Stew's best friend Gallagher, a "sob sister"columnist secretly pining for him. Conroy taunts Stew as" a bird in a gilded cage. "Despite his bravado, Stew is upset by the implication he is no longer his own man, vowing not to live on Anne's money. However, she cajoles him into moving into the mansion and starts to make him over, buying him garters (despite his objections) and hiring a valet, Dawson.

When the Schuylers hold a reception for the Spanish ambassador, Gallagher substitutes for the society reporter and chats with Stew. Anne is surprised to learn that her husband's best friend (whom she had assumed was a man) is actually a lovely young woman and treats Gallagher icily. Then, Bingy tells Stew theTribunewill give him a column if he signs it "Anne Schuyler's husband." Insulted, Stew punches Bingy when he calls him Cinderella Man. The next morning, Mrs. Schuyler is aghast to find Stew's brawl has made the front page.

Wrestling with his play, Stew invites Gallagher and another friend, Hank from Joe's. They arrive with Joe and several bar patrons in tow and even Bingy shows up to apologize. A raucous party ensues. Meanwhile, Stew and Gallagher ponder the play, deciding to base it on Stew's marriage. Anne, Mrs. Schuyler, and Grayson return as the party is in full swing. Stew apologizes for letting the party get out of control, but protests that he can invite friends to "my house." Anne replies, "Your house?"

Stew returns with Gallagher to his own apartment. Along the way, he gives a homeless man his expensive garters. Grayson stops by to say Anne will pay himalimony,whereupon Stew punches him (earlier, Stew had warned Grayson that his twentieth insult would earn him a "sock to the nose" ). Stew tells Gallagher the play could end with the protagonist divorcing his rich wife and marrying the woman whom he had always loved without ever realizing it. Overwhelmed, Gallagher hugs him.

Cast (in credits order)[edit]

Reception and legacy[edit]

Mordaunt HallofThe New York Timescalled it "a mildly successful venture on the light side of entertainment."[3]Varietywrote that it offered "a lot of light, pleasing comedy" and "a cast that's tops" but described it as "only innocuously spicy" and reported that the dialogue was "way above the story, far outdistancing its situations and plot."[4]Film Dailycalled it "a big laugh farce filled with comedy punches" and "rich entertainment."[5]The Kansas City Stardescribed it as "a rousing farce" and "a sterling comedy well above par."[6]TheNew York Daily Mirrorlauded it as "one of the gayest, sauciest comedies you've ever seen."[7]TheNew York Americanexpressed some disappointment, writing, "For all her top billing, Jean Harlow has very little to do, and Loretta Young even less. To say they are competent to the picture's requirements is only a mild compliment."[8]

Despite the film's measure of positive reviews and star power, it wasn't much of a hit at the box office, with returns around the country reported as "just fair" and "a bit disappointing".[9][10][11][12]The historical significance of the picture would only become apparent in later years as Capra's reputation grew, as did that of Harlow, who, like co-star Williams, died young.[7][8]Roger Ebertcalled the film "central to the Jean Harlow legend".[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^Burr, Ty (July 2, 1992)."PLATINUM BLONDE".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon April 21, 2009.RetrievedJune 3,2009.
  2. ^"Death Claims Robert Williams; Film Actor".Reading Eagle.November 4, 1931. p. 22.RetrievedFebruary 4,2013.
  3. ^Hall, Mordaunt(October 31, 1931)."The Screen".The New York Times.RetrievedDecember 7,2014.
  4. ^"Platinum Blonde".Variety.New York: 27. November 3, 1931.
  5. ^"Platinum Blonde".Film Daily.New York: 10. November 1, 1931.
  6. ^"The Critic On the Hearth".The Kansas City Star.Kansas City: 44. November 1, 1931.
  7. ^abWood, Bret."Platinum Blonde".TCM.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2014.
  8. ^abBret, David (2009).Jean Harlow: Tarnished Angel.JR Books.ISBN978-1906779344.
  9. ^""Yellow Ticket" in for $37,000 – S.F. ".Variety.New York. November 3, 1931. p. 8.
  10. ^"Pittsburgh About Average".Variety.New York. November 3, 1931. p. 9.
  11. ^"'Cisco Kid,' Roosevelt, $24,000; 'Love' at U.A. in Chi, $16,000; 2d Vaude Stand Starts Well ".Variety.New York: 8. November 10, 1931.
  12. ^"Par's $65,000 Leading B'Way; No Totals Above That Figure; $8,000 for Warner's at Sherlock".Variety.New York: 9. November 10, 1931.
  13. ^Ebert, Roger(September 8, 1991)."Mr. Capra Went to Hollywood".RogerEbert.com.RetrievedDecember 7,2014.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toPlatinum Blonde.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Platinum_Blonde_(film)&oldid=1234024484"