Platinum Blonde (1931)
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100% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
60% of users liked it
(1,015 ratings)
A rather bleak comedy-drama from Frank Capra, Platinum Blonde basically starts where Capra's later and much more buoyant It Happened One Night (1934) ends: the marriage between a brash newspaperman and a society dame. But where the latter comedy was enhanced by the director's patented… More A rather bleak comedy-drama from Frank Capra, Platinum Blonde basically starts where Capra's later and much more buoyant It Happened One Night (1934) ends: the marriage between a brash newspaperman and a society dame. But where the latter comedy was enhanced by the director's patented optimism, Platinum Blonde, produced at the height of the Great Depression, expresses no faith in a common ground between the classes. Star reporter Stew Smith (Robert Williams) falls in love with the sister (Jean Harlow) of his latest victim (Donald Dillaway). They marry despite the misgivings of Ann Schuyler's blue-nosed mother (Louise Closser Hale) and Stew's cynical colleagues ("Ann Schuyler's in the blue book. You're not even in the phone book!"). Unable to stand life in a gilded cage for long, Stew upsets the Schuyler mansion by inviting his friends to a wild and woolly party. Returning home unexpected in the middle of the drunken revelry, Ann lays down the law and Stew bolts -- right into the arms of girl reporter Gallagher (Loretta Young), whom he has loved all along without realizing it. Jean Harlow is surprisingly realistic as the callous society girl but Robert Williams' wisecracking reporter comes across as rather grating. An up-and-coming comic lead, Williams died after an operation for appendicitis on November 3, 1931, less than a month after Platinum Blonde had premiered to mostly positive reviews. Ironically, Loretta Young, who received top billing, had demanded to star in this film when it was still known as "Gallagher," the name of her character. Harlow, needless to stay, stole the limelight completely and Capra changed the title much to Young's chagrin. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Directed By
- Frank Capra
- Written By
- Harry Chandlee, Douglas W. Churchill
- Genres
- Romance, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Oct 31, 1931 Limited
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Depression-era seduction
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Still, with all its usual Capra faults, it holds up as a slightly above average breezy newspaper comedy.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Vastly appealing early Capra with bits that resurface in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
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Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Early Capra screwball comedy… appealing to Depression audiences both as escapist entertainment and as satire of the idle rich and celebration of the hardworking poor.
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Cast
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Loretta Young
as Gallagher
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Robert Williams
as Stew Smith
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Jean Harlow
as Anne Schuyler
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Louise Closser Hale
as Mrs. Schuyler
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Donald Dilloway
as Michael Schuyler
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Walter Catlett
as Bingy Baker
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Reginald Owen
as Dexter Grayson
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Edmund Breese
as Conroy The Editor
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Claud Allister
as Dawson The Valet
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Wilson Benge
as Butler
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Eddy Chandler
as Reporter
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Rychard Cramer
as Speakeasy Proprietor
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William "Wild Bill" Elliott
as Dinner Guest
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Halliwell Hobbes
as Smythe The Butler
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Olaf Hytten
as Radcliffe
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Charles Jordan
as Reporter
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Tom London
as Reporter
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Hal Price
as Reporter
- Dick Pritchard
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Harry Semels
as Waiter
- Don Dillaway
