Pre-Code Films: Platinum Blonde (1931)

Release Date: October 31, 1931
Running Time: 89 min.
Director: Frank Capra
Dialogue: Robert Riskin

Cast:

Loretta Young . . . . . . . .  . Gallagher

Robert Williams . . . . . .  Stew Smith

Jean Harlow . . . . . . . .  Ann Schuyler

Reginald Owen . . . . . . . . . . Grayson

 

 

Synopsis:

Down-to-earth reporter Stew Smith marries socialite Anne, despite their obvious differences in background. His fellow reporter Gallagher waits patiently for him to recognize that his marriage was a mistake and that she is in love with him. Stew becomes bored of being married as each assumes the other is the one whose lifestyle must change. Stew asks Gallagher to help him write a play. She arrives with a bunch of reporters and the mansion turns into a party. Anne arrives and orders them out. Stew goes with them. - source

 

 

 

My Analysis:

This movie was surprisingly good! I had never heard of Robert Williams before I watched this film but he is hilarious! I think it’s funny that Young is top billed but that this film is now primarily watched because of Harlow. Without her this film would probably not be known (even though her hair style is horrible here).

 

Trivia & Goofs:

• Robert Williams died of appendicitis just three days after the film's release. He would be forgotten, if not for this role, as he was only in four other films and two shorts.

• The film, originally titled Gallagher after Young's character, was renamed by Hughes to promote Harlow, capitalizing on her hair color, called "platinum" by Hughes' publicists. Harlow was on loan from another studio and was excited to do this film as it was her first comedy.

• When Stew Smith is married, his colleagues make fun of him in the press room. At that moment his wife calls and he walks over to the phone with his pipe in his mouth. However, when he picks up the phone, the pipe disappears.

 

Quotes:

Stew Smith: Yeah, I know those bluenoses. Their ancestors refused to come over on the Mayflower because they didn't want to rub elbows with the tourists... so they swam over!

In a 2008 interview, actor Christopher Plummer called Williams "...one of the most realistic comedians the screen had. He made Cary Grant look like he was overacting... To watch Robert Williams act was like seeing a comic using the Method, long before the Method became famous with Marlon [Brando] and Monty [Clift]".

 

This post is part of the Pre-Code Blogathon hosted by Pre-Code.com and Shadows and Satin. Be sure to check out the other participator's posts!
 

 

All images found via Pinterest.

You may also like my Review of Magic Town (1947), a Capra-like film also written by Riskin.

Also, check out my post on the Legion of Decency.

More Screenshots here!

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