Bombshell . . .

As I've been writing "Celluloid", I've been watching a lot of movies from the '30's and '40's, and I've beeen reminded how much I love Jean Harlow. I have a passing resemblance to her (extremely passing!), and in college as a makeup class project I did myself up to look like her. Up to then I had never seen any of her films, but afterwards I decided to give her a try, and discovered a gutsy, brassy, funny actress with impeccable timing and a whole lot of moxie. It was love.

My favorite films of hers include "Bombshell"(a cutting satire on the Hollywood machine that still seems relevant today), "Libeled Lady", "Wife vs. Secretary", and "China Seas". I recommend all these films, if you have any interest;)

Harlow died at 26 of renal failure, an illness that went misdiagnosed for days until it was finally too late to save her. William Powell, who had been in love with her for three years but hadn't had the chance to marry her, placed a note in her folded hands with a single gardenia that read: "Good night, my dearest darling". Even dying so young, she left an indelible impression on movie history.

I decided for no good reason (other than boredom, I suppose) to make myself up as Harlow this weekend. It's just a faint resemblance, but it was fun anyway;) Now if only I had a fraction of her moxie . . .