Today we are going to throw it back to the original blonde bombshell, the one that Marilyn Monroe modeled herself off of. From her hot curves to her platinum blonde hair, we are going to celebrate Throwback Thursday with a fond look at Jean Harlow and her 1930s fun bags.
Jean Harlow was born Harlean Harlow Carpenter in Kansas City, Missouri, but she was destined for greater things. She got her release starring in Hal Roach shorts. Harlow knew that sex appeal was her secret and showed up to an audition with Clara Bow for 1929's The Saturday Night Kid wearing a black crochet dress and no bra. Reportedly, former "It Girl" Clara said to the producers,"Who's gonna see me next to her?" Bow had a point.
She was a staple of pre-Hayes Code Hollywood and had her breakthrough skintillating role in Howard Hugh's 1930 epic film, Hell's Angels. There is actually some color footage that survived in an 8-minute sequence that has since been restored and can be watched in this clip here. Harlow has a very lowcut gown throughout it!
She became known as The Platinum Blonde and The Blonde Bombshell due to her iconic hair and her starring role in the 1931 film Platinum Blonde. She touched up her hair every single Sunday, using a mix of chemicals her hairdresser concocted to come up with that heavenly hue. She stood at only 5'1" and flaunted her hourglass figure in tight dresses that showed off every inch of her body. She showed off a little more leg and a peek at one of her breasts in Red-Headed Woman.
She was the talk of the town and even had the power to turn down roles in movies that went on to become classics like King Kong and Freaks. That didn't bother her for a minute because her movies were absolute sensations and her steamy roles were skinsations. Take, for instance, her topless scene in 1935's China Seas! This is a rarity for a movie in the 1930s, but here is her bare bosom as clear as day.
Jean unfortunately passed away very young. Unfortunately, Jean suffered from bad kidneys and failing health that she simply never got taken care of. She died in 1937 at the very young age of 26, far too soon. She died ofcerebral edema after being hospitalized for uremic poisoning.Some hypothesizethat the chemicals in her signature hairadded to her illnesses, but she was also drinking heavily which likely contributed to her many health problems (and possibly distracted from some of them). Still, her chemical-laden hair didn't stop other actresses from modeling themselves after her. Marilyn cited Jean as her direct influence and dyed her natural brown locks to what would become her own signature platinum blonde. It's obvious to see Jean's influences all over Hollywood.
Her final film, Saratoga, which co-starred Clarke Gable was a smash hit after her death and her bombshell figure has never been forgotten. #TBT to the original platinum queen!
