1930s - film and film stars (1) Jean Harlow

The 1930s - often known as 'The Golden Age of Hollywood' - saw the introduction of sound and later colour in film.

The decade opened with Jean Harlow (the 'Blonde Bombshell') appearing in her first starring role in Howard Hughes's Hell's Angels

A year later, in Frank Capra's aptly titled Platinum Blonde, Harlow was already looking like Hollywood's hottest new property.

As steamy off-screen as on it, JH was apparently the target of one of the 1930s smartest put-downs.  Introduced to the Countess of Oxford (and wife of the British Prime Minister), Margot Asquith, Jean repeatedly addressed her as 'Margott'.  The Countess, aware of Jean's reputation, allegedly replied:
               "No, dear. The 't' is silent...as in 'Harlow'."

Whether or not that story is true, JH's private (and not so private) life was packed with scandal and no little misery. When her second husband, MGM producer Paul Bern was found shot dead at their home, rumour spread that Jean had pulled the trigger. The death was officially recorded as suicide. Jean moved on to a much talked about affair with World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Max Baer. Guess she liked 'em big and beefy?

Despite such turbulence, Jean's on-screen jinks with Clark Gable proved a major (and repeatable) hit.

Jean Harlow died aged 26, from kidney failure. Spencer Tracy, another of her co-stars wrote in his diary. "Jean Harlow died today. Grand gal."

Slinky, clinging satin was Jean's style, and there's plenty in evidence in this compilation of images: