Harlow at 100: Day Four of the Jean Harlow Blogathon!
Today is the day, folks!
The hundredth birthday of one cinema’s finest comediennes and a genuinely warm, kind-hearted lady. We are halfway through the Blogathon and you guys are really showing the love. Is today’s lineup ever a lulu! Birthday tributes to the baby are pouring in from all over the globe, it’s truly thrilling!
So many posts to get to, so without further ado:
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MUBI
Very proud to announce that the cineaste gods at MUBI have graced The Blogathon with a lovely tribute to Harlow on the Daily Mubi site. (Thanks so much for sharing in the fun, guys!)
Mythical Monkey joins us as well with a post for Harlow’s Hundredth and he hit’s the nail right on the head: “If she’d just been another pretty face, she would have been forgotten long ago.”
TCM
TCM’s Movie News is not an official Blogathon partner, but did plug this lovely mention of the new Harlow exhibit at the Hollywood Max Factor Museum.
Silent Stanzas
Jennifer’s Silent Stanzas chimes in today with “For Harlean” – a beautiful poem for Harlow on her 100th.
Thrilling Days of Yesteryear
Ivan at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear decided to take a look at Harlow’s work in silent’s with comedy legends Laurel and Hardy. (Ivan’s sister shares Harlow’s birthday so it’s a double treat for him.)
True Classics
Brandie at True Classics has favored the 1936 screball comedy Libeled Lady with “She May Be His Wife But She’s Engaged to Me!” It’s The Pictorial’s absolute favorite Harlow film and Brandie definitely does it justice.
Tara Hanks
Tara Hanks’ “American Bombshells: Marilyn and Jean Harlow” makes a great assessment of the careers of both bombshells. As Clara Bow, the first ‘It Girl’, said after Monroe’s death, ‘A sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.’
David Benard
From France we have David Benard with a very beautifully presented post for the Harlow’s centenary. (Joyeux Anniversaire, Baby!)
I’ll Take the Snap Out of Your Garters!
Another newcomer, I’ll Take the Snap Out of Your Garters, (how brilliant of a blog title is that?!?) enters the blogathon today with a fitting tribute.
Silence is Platinum
Jessica at Silence is Platinum offers a very personal account of what makes Harlow so special.
Clarosureaux
Kevin at Clarosureaux is back today, this time taking on the Harlow classic Bombshell (Hollywood historians take special note of his post– he needs your help!)
Carole & Co.
Vincent from Carole & Co. returns with a tribute to Harlow – even bestowing his Lombard avatar with Harlow’s image for the occasion! (Awww, thanks Vincent!)
Edward Copeland on Film
One of the more comprehensive entries to date is Josh’s “Centennial Tribute” to Jean over at Edward Copeland on Film.
11 East 14th Street
Of equal depth is Gene from 11 East 14th Street with “My Search for Jean Harlow”—a fascinating in depth look into the woman who became the legend.
Noir and Chick Flicks
And finally, into the fray comes Dawn at Noir and Chick Flicks who has prepared a terrific review one of the less discussed of Harlow’s films, Suzy.
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(Apologies if I missed anyone on today’s update– you will absolutely make it for tomorrow’s edition!)
The Kitty Packard Pictorial 
I was delighted to put a Harlow avatar up for this centennial entry. Usually, I rotate seven different Lombard avatars (depending upon the day of the week), with additional ones for multiple entries during a day or holiday-related Lombard avatars (adding a Santa cap for Christmas or a witch’s hat for Halloween). This may be the first entry (aside, perhaps, from the very early ones back in 2007) that I’ve used a non-Lombard avatar — but since Carole and Jean were good friends, it seemed only fitting; I know Lombard would approve.
And congratulations on securing the more than 30 blogs that have taken part. All of you have done a splendid job.
http://dcairns.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/punchy-2/
The show’s well and truly on the road — I have a lot of catching up to do here!
Thanks for the mention! It was my pleasure to do this for Jean. ^_^
One thing: Amy’s blog is actually called “It’ll Take the Snap Out of Your Garters!”
KP:
I’m working on a follow-up to my first post, with a little deeper look at Harlow’s performance as “Red” in RHW, and the intensity of the scenes with gal-pal Una Merkel, stuff that I’d never picked up on until analyzing the way these two actresses played off of each other. I think it was Harlow’s first real break-out-dramatic performance . . . OK, I’m giving away too much! Later . . .
(OH, btw, my blog title is “11 East 14th Street,” those NYC addresses are easy to mix up! Thanks,
Gene.
Thanks for hosting the blogathon, Kitty. Yesterday I wished my sister Kat a happy birthday and asked if she knew who else was celebrating a natal anniversary and she replied, “Yes, Jean Harlow.” (Okay, my other sister told her about seeing it on my blog but for one brief moment there I was convinced she had been boning up on classic movies.)