DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Platinum Blonde remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Platinum Blonde from 1931 is absolutely worth a look today if you're into old Hollywood, especially pre-Code stuff with snappy dialogue and some real personality. People who dig a good screwball comedy, even before "screwball" was really a thing, will probably get a kick out of this. But if you can't stand black-and-white films or anything that moves a little slower than a TikTok feed, you're going to have a tough time. It's not for everyone, for sure.
You really watch this for Jean Harlow. Her energy, that *look*. She practically invented a whole vibe with this movie, and she owns every single scene she's in. 💁♀️
Robert Williams plays Stew, the reporter, and he's... fine. He tries, bless his heart, to keep up with Harlow's firecracker pace. It's just a shame he passed away so young, you wonder what else he could have done.
The plot kicks off when Stew, a newspaper man, is sent to get a story on Ann Schuyler, a socialite. He ends up falling for her, kinda. It happens really fast.
They get married, *boom*, just like that. Then the movie really gets going, showing off the huge gap between their two worlds. Ann's family lives in this sprawling mansion, all marble and servants, while Stew's family is pretty modest.
Stew tries to play polo or whatever those rich folks do, he looks completely out of place. It’s funny because he’s so clearly uncomfortable.
Ann tries to make breakfast for Stew and his family. The kitchen scene, with her just *not getting it* and making a huge mess, feels very real in its awkwardness. It’s a good visual gag.
The way her friends talk, all hoity-toity. It makes you kinda root for Stew to just punch someone.
Then there's Loretta Young as Gallagher, Stew's colleague and, well, *friend*. She's the sensible one, always there for Stew, and you can see a different kind of spark between them. It’s obvious who he *should* be with, honestly.
The dialogue is quick, machine-gun fire sometimes. You gotta pay attention or you'll miss a jab. It feels very much like a pre-Code film, not afraid to be a bit sassy.
That whole bit where the newspaper guys come up with the "Platinum Blonde" nickname for Ann. It's kinda meta, right? *The movie itself* named her. Pretty neat.
There's a scene where Ann is just surrounded by furs, and it looks so over-the-top. You just know those were expensive.
The butler, Dexter (Claud Allister), is actually quite good. He has this subtle exasperation with everything. A nice little background detail.
One shot of a dinner party feels strangely quiet for how many people are supposed to be there. Like they forgot to tell half the extras to talk. 🤷♀️
The movie doesn't drag things out. It gets to the point with its love triangle and who ends up with who. It’s a quick, fun ride, and it doesn't try to be anything more than that.
It just ends, and you're left thinking about Harlow's laugh. For its time, and even now, it’s a pretty sharp romantic comedy. It shows that money doesn't always buy happiness, or maybe, just that you need the *right kind* of happiness. Still worth digging up.
IMDb —
1925
Community
Log in to comment.
