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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Sony
EAN: 9780767834278
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
ISBN: 0767834275
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: November 04, 2003
Running Time: 89 minutes
Sales Rank: 26180
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: October 31, 1931
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
In the film that began her legendary career Jean Harlow stars in this romantic comedy directed by Academy Award® winner Frank Capra (Best Director: It Happened One Night 1935; Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1937; You Can't Take It With You 1939). Written to showcase her talent looks and charm PLATINUM BLONDE is a glorious spoof of the newspaper business in New York City during the Depression; Ann Schuyler (Harlow) a wealthy socialite meets reporter 'Stew' Smith (Robert Williams) and the two fall madly in love. The comedy begins as she tries to transform him from a ruffian newsman into a convincing gentleman. 'Stew' who is quick with wisecracks is slow to realize the dangers of being a kept man. At first he likes the idle life of the rich but there's trouble in paradise. Soon this 'Cinderella Man' turns the social register upside down with his mocking repartee. To his rescue is Gallagher (Loretta Young) a sympathetic friend and co-worker at the newspaper. She comforts and consoles Stew and in classic Capra style helps him right into Harlow's own arms.System Requirements:Running Time 88 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 043396037595 Manufacturer No: 03759
Amazon.com essential video:
This Frank Capra comedy from 1931 helped define the screwball-comedy genre that became so popular with films like It Happened One Night and The Awful Truth. In this witty romp, Jean Harlow plays an upper-crust socialite who bullies her reporter husband (Robert Williams) into conforming to her highfalutin ways. The husband chafes at the confinement of high society, though, and yearns for a creative outlet. He decides to write a play and collaborates with a fellow reporter (Loretta Young); the results are unexpectedly hilarious, especially when Young shows up at the mansion with a gaggle of boozehound reporters in tow. With snappy, ribald dialogue (allowable in those pre-Hays Code days), Capra keeps the gags flying fast and furious, taking special delight in having Williams's journalist pals rib him endlessly over his kept-man status. Platinum Blonde was a great success at the time of its release during the class-conscious Depression; for better or worse, its star Harlow was identified with the tag 'platinum blonde' until her untimely death. --Jerry Renshaw
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Platinum Blond
A very amusing tale of role reversal. A wealthy woman involved with an "average joe" who still wants the
independence to live his life without the yoke of high society's false "airs."
Rating:  - A Senseless Jibe; but Jean Harlow is beautiful and Loretta Young is adorable
This is not the best work of director Frank Capra who is known for one of the greatest classics ever made in Hollywood, "It's a Wonderful Life." Nevertheless this movie is played out to the desire of Columbia studios to promote Jean Harlow. No one ever complains about the casting, but the theme of the movie, set in depression era (1931) is lame. Jean Harlow plays the only daughter of upper-class socialite, Ann Schuyler who marries a shrewd newspaper reporter Stew (Robert Williams), and then tries to control his life in the confinements of her palatial home as a house husband, but without success. He invites his friends to his home to party, and his female friend Gallagher (Loretta Young) with whom he collaborates to write a play. At the end, Ann and Stew get separated and he later marries Gallagher. This is somewhat an unrealistic story, and a very strange way to poke at the wealthy for the ills of depression era. However Jean Harlow is stunning and offers a great performance as a spoiled wealthy girl. Loretta Young, one of her performances early in the career, is sweet and adorable as she always is. The untimely and sad deaths of Jean Harlow (at the age of 26) due to Influenza and kidney failure, and Robert Williams due to Peritonitis (died three days after the release of the movie) leaves this movie as a tribute to the work of these young artists.
1. It's a Wonderful Life (60th Anniversary Edition)
2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Rating: - Cinderella Man and The Platinum Blonde
Platinum Blonde remains a fine example of an early screwball comedy about very different people trying to coexist with each under stressful situations with plenty of silly lines and good laughs on the side. The script is certainly not the best you'll ever find but the actors do a superlative job with what they are given. The direction by Frank Capra reflects forethought and the camera angles help dramatize scenes in the movie as the plot unfolds.
The story starts with newspaper reporter Stew Smith, played by the very talented Robert Williams, going to get a story on a rich society scandal. He gets it; but he also gets the heart of the daughter of the wealthy Schuyler family, Anne, played by the beautiful Jean Harlow. Stew and Anne become romantically involved and the problems begin right along with the romance. Stew comes from a working class background and he wants to support his wife; but Anne has very different plans for him. This constant tug of war for control of their relationship dominates the rest of the movie plot.
In addition, look for Loretta Young playing Gallagher. Gallagher and Stew are friends; but to make matters even more complicated Gallagher wants more from Stew than friendship. Anne's mother and the family attorney spice up the plot even further with their histrionics about the tragedy of Anne's "funeral" relationship with Stew. Wow!
Will Anne and Stew stay together? Will Anne's family ultimately accept and love Stew as one of their own? ... Read More
Rating:  - Give it a Few Tries
Platinum Blonde is the story of a newspaper reporter (Robert Williams), one of the best. His job is to investigate a scandal with one of the best known families, the Schuylers. He's so clever, he gets them to admit to a story against their will, but in the process is captured by the eye of beautiful daugher Anne (Jean Harlow). Although he scoops them, he also helps them out of the mess and makes his way into the family by eloping with Anne. This hurts his pal Gallagher (Loretta Young) who has loved him for years, but he's in his own world. He doesn't quite realize what he's getting himself into as a poor man wedding a rich family. Cracks from his friends ensue and day by day his wife does all that she can to change him.
Unfortunately, people have high expectations for this film, and it doesn't necessarily measure up. First of all, this is not typical Capra. There are not heartfelt messages of hope at the end. The characters do not signify what the average man strives to be or the pitfalls he faces. Secondly, Harlow does not play a seductress here; in fact, she's quite classy. Last, Williams is an unknown, and alongside an all star cast, he's the leading man. This can be startling because we have never seen him before and are therefore less likely to like him right off. The first time I saw this film, I was incredibly disappointed and what upset me even more was that this was Harlow's first DVD release. Although the title became her nickname, this is an awful way to experience typical ... Read More
Rating: - The Best Actor You've Never Seen
Robert Williams doesn't even get any billing n the DVD cover or on other promotions of this film, but he IS the star of the film....and he is outstanding.
Williams could have been a major star, a very well-known actor, had he not died four days after this picture was released with a ruptured appendix. The man simply puts on an acting clinic here. I wonder if young aspiring actors are ever shown this film and told to study Williams? If is wasn't for this film, I assume nobody would ever know about this guy.
Anyway, the movie is really dated but its interesting thanks to some great dialog, mainly, once again, by Williams. Jean Harlow gets the billing but a young Loretta Young has the real beauty and charm here. Too bad her role was so minor and bland. She looked absolutely gorgeous.
The storyline is one of Hollywood's favorite themes: the average Joe beating up on the snobby rich people. Harlow's "mother" in here (Louise Closser Hale) plays that snob role perfectly.
Even though I just gave it only three stars, there are lots of laughs in this film and it was a lot better than I thought it would be. Watching Williams' acting performance is worth the price of the disc, and then some.
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