Jean Harlow
Acting
Born March 3, 1911 · Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era of American cinema. Often nicknamed the "Blonde Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde", Harlow was popular for her "Laughing Vamp" screen persona. Though her screen persona changed dramatically during her career, one constant was her sense of humor. She was given superior movie roles to show off her looks and nascent comedic talent. Harlow was in the film industry for only nine years, but she became one of the biggest stars in the US, whose image in the public eye has endured. Harlow was consistently voted one of the strongest box office draws in the United States from 1933 onward, often surpassing that of MGM's top leading ladies, such as Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. Her movies also continued to make huge profits at the box office even during the middle of the Depression. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Harlow No. 22 on its greatest female screen legends of classical Hollywood cinema list.
Films (78)
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
2023
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
2022
Becoming Marilyn
2022
The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes
2022
Discovering Jean Harlow
2015
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
2008
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
2007
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
2006
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
2005
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
2004
Complicated Women
2003
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
2000
Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
1999
Sports on the Silver Screen
1997
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
1996
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
1995
That's Entertainment! III
1994
Death Scenes
1989
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
1986
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
That's Entertainment!
1974
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
1967
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964
The Golden Age of Comedy
1957
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
1945
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
1942
Saratoga
1937
Personal Property
1937
Libeled Lady
1936
Suzy
1936
Wife vs. Secretary
1936
Riffraff
1936
China Seas
1935
Reckless
1935
The Girl from Missouri
1934
Dinner at Eight
1933
Bombshell
1933
Hold Your Man
1933
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12
1933
Red Dust
1932
Red-Headed Woman
1932
Scarface
1932
The Beast of the City
1932
Three Wise Girls
1932
Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)
1931
Beau Hunks
1931
Platinum Blonde
1931
Goldie
1931
Iron Man
1931
The Public Enemy
1931
The Secret Six
1931
Hell's Angels
1930
The Love Parade
1930
New York Nights
1929
Weak But Willing
1929
This Thing Called Love
1929
The Saturday Night Kid
1929
Bacon Grabbers
1929
Masquerade
1929
Thundering Toupees
1929
Double Whoopee
1929
The Unkissed Man
1929
Close Harmony
1929
Why Is a Plumber?
1929
Why Be Good?
1929
Fugitives
1929
Liberty
1929
Chasing Husbands
1928
Moran of the Marines
1928
Honor Bound
1928