Platinum Blonde (1931)

Waste of time

Absolutely amazing

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Early Jean Harlow. Amazing she went anywhere after this. The picture was dull, stagy and unfunny.The leading man who gets so much praise in reviews is pallid and irritating. Low key to the point of barely being able to fill an iPhone screen. The primary interest is seeing Jean Harlow in one of her first films, but the novelty wears off quickly. Seeing her in Bombshell not long after watching this dud, one can only wonder at the transformation from corpse to flesh and blood screen magic.An early sound curio and nothing more. even Frank Capra can have an off day. It's okay to say it stinks, rather than pretend this movie has some deep artistic value at it's core. A dud is a dud.

I see that I'm in good company here on IMDb in first wondering why on earth I had never heard of Robert Williams before and then in regretting that his career was cut so short after hearing his story.Williams proves himself to be a winning and engaging comedian in this very funny Frank Capra film about a reporter (Williams) who marries a society dame (Jean Harlow) only to realize that his true love is for the female co-worker (Loretta Young) who's been by his side the whole time. Never mind that Young is one hundred times more feminine and prettier than Harlow -- I just chalk it up to the theory that Harlow had a certain look that was very much in vogue in the 1930s and that made her extremely attractive to people.I don't think Harlow is at all attractive, but I do see her appeal, and I didn't find her performance to be as bad in this film as the history books have claimed. It's true that the casting should have been reversed, and Young should have played the society belle with Harlow as the working-class girl next door. But never mind. She equips herself pretty well with the material given her, and she manages to be believable in the role.But in any case, it's neither of the women you'll remember from this movie. It's Williams and his absolutely fantastic way with a funny line. He died of appendicitis at the age of 37, and it's clear that 30s movie audiences lost a potentially major star when they lost him.Grade: A-

You can only imagine how the beautiful Loretta Young felt being upstaged by bombshell Jean Harlow. This screwball comedy is directed by Frank Capra, who knows how to get the best effort out of an actor. A hapless, but energetic newspaper reporter Stew Smith(Robert Williams)gets the assignment to get the real story of a high society scandal. Doing so he rapidly falls in love with a rich platinum blonde Ann Schuyler(Harlow). This doesn't fare well with Stew's fellow reporter Gallagher(Young), who is helping him write a play. Not realizing that Gallagher is smitten with him, Stew marries the blonde heiress only to find the relationship falling apart due to mismatched lifestyles. Quick paced comedy with a strong supporting cast of: Reginald Owen, Halliwell Hobbes, Walter Catlett and Louise Closser Hale.

PLATINUM BLONDE (Columbia, 1931), directed by Frank R. Capra, has a interesting distinction of unusual casting order: Loretta Young feature billed playing secondary character, Jean Harlow in third billing for title role, and Robert Williams, second in the credits, having the official lead. And who is Robert Williams? Not a platinum blonde, no doubt, but a young actor, contracted to RKO Radio with few screen roles to his credit. Showing great promise in his initial lead performance, this turned out to be his last. Williams died from peritonitis shortly after it's theatrical release. Regardless of Harlow's signature trademark in the title, and Young's glittering beauty, PLATINUM BLONDE is Williams' show from start to finish. Williams plays Stewart "Stew" Smith, a wise cracking reporter of the Associated Press, loved by "sob sister" known only to all as Gallagher (Loretta Young). He's assigned by Conroy (Edmund Breese), the managing editor, to get the scoop on Michael Schuyler (Donald Dillaway), son of a prominent wealthy family, being sued by a Goldie Gordon, a chorus girl, on a breach of promise suit. As Dexter Grayson (Reginald Owen), the family lawyer, bribes "Binge" Baker, reporter (Walter Calett) of the Tribune, to forget the whole thing, Stew shows he cannot be bought though can be hypnotized by Michael's platinum blonde sister, Anne (Jean Harlow). Stew soon obtains Michael's letters from the chorus girl and offers them up to the Schuylers at no price. With the breach of promise suit behind them, Stew's encounter with Anne leads to their eloping, news that not only makes front page news, but shock towards the snobbish Mrs. Schuyler (Louise Closser Hale) and bitter disappointment to both Conroy and Gallagher. Regardless of Stew's philosophy of "wearing the pants" with intentions of keeping his job and earning his own money, he succumbs to Anne's ways by giving up his apartment living in the Schuyler mansion. He even goes against his principles by wearing garters, soon earning the awkward title of "Cinderella Man" by his pears, even worse, being addresses as Mr. Schuyler. Unable to fulfill his obligation as playwright, Stew soon realizes what is meant by being a "bird in a gilded cage" when unable to cope with his wife's high society lifestyle.Upon viewing this rediscovered gem, one cannot help but compare Robert Williams facial appearance to future actor, Robert Mitchum. Had the story used in PLATINUM BLONDE been produced later in the 1930s under Capra's direction, there's no doubt that the role of the pipe smoking reporter, Stew Smith, would have gone to James Stewart whose mannerisms parallel that of Williams. Jean Arthur as Gallagher and Ann Sothern in the Harlow role should indicate fine casting that never took place. For this edition, Young, Williams and Harlow are seen to good advantage, especially the ladies very early in their careers. Also in great support are character types Halliwell Hobbes as Smythe, the Butler; and Claude Allister as Dawson, the "gentleman's gentleman. Besides that of Williams' premature death, there were others in this production who'd be gone by decade's end: Louise Closser Hale (1972-1933); Edmund Breese (1871-1936); and naturally Jean Harlow (1911-1937). Only Loretta Young (1913-2000) outlived her co-stars by decades. A forerunner to the "screwball comedy" cycle that was to peak in the mid to late 1930s, PLATINUM BLONDE was Frank Capra's entry to this formula theme. Much of his directorial style and trademarks found in his later productions are quite evident here. Scenes involving the bored Stew alone in the big mansion belting out a big yell up to the top of the stairway to hear the sound of his own echo, along with another where he's labeled "Cinderella Man" would be repeated in Capra's true classic, MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936) starring Gary Cooper. Good photography/camera angles are also an asset to film students, especially one involving Williams and Harlow conversing and kissing in silhouette behind the glass covered by falling fountain water. Robert Riskin's witty dialog also adds to his contribution of general humor. Rarely shown over the years, PLATINUM BLONDE was initially reissued in revival movie houses before turning up on cable's Turner Network Television (1993); American Movie Classics (2000-2001) and Turner Classic Movies (since the 1990s). It's distribution on home video and DVD leaves indication as a Jean Harlow starer, with little or nothing pertaining to either Young or Williams. Overall, the legend of Harlow is appears to be the sole purpose for this movie's current availability anyway. PLATINUM BLONDE may not only a look back at three time Academy Award winner Frank Capra's early career, but something to consider as to what might have been had Williams survived at least another decade as a leading man. (***)