A wonderfully cheesy, tacky film from 1965. A "bio" of 1930s screen siren Jean Harlow. From Joseph E. Levine, it capitilized on Ms. Bakers fame in THE CARPETBAGGERS. With a wonderful opening sequence, the film then many times forgets it takes place in the 1930s, and has some hair and wardrobe from the 1960s. What it also has is Angela Lansbury as Mama Jean, and Leslie Nielson as a studio head.
Film opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway a few months after another HARLOW "bio" that starred Carol Lynley opened at the Paramount on Broadway. Both films were pulled from release quickly. If you can get your hands on a copy, its worth it just to watch, for the camp, as you really wont learn anything about Jean Harlow.
One of my all time favorite BAD films...cheesy is not the word. So bad, it's funny at times. A must see just for the Awful acting. I am sure LANSBURY would like to forget she was ever in this. Although, she is rather good and classes up this trash. It had very little to do with her real life. Oh, it's available on Amazon.
one of my favorite scenes, the dinner/bedroom seduction scene. The dialogue, "Because Im me, Jean Harlow, not one of your trophies on the wall!" Then she punches all the control buttons, bedroom gadgets go crazy and she runs out of the room into the night. All that to get out of a contract. Priceless!
Found some clips online. Wow, I need to see this. I only know Baker really from Baby Doll, as well as Giant and Star 80 (though Wiki says she was in Kindergarten Cop, I think I've blocked that film from my memory aside from the "It's not a tooomer" line).
I too have the soundtrack and it is a trip to listen to, very 60s jazz. LONELY GIRL is the films theme song. I also have the soundtrack to the Carol Lynley HARLOW. That one contains more of the old Hollywood type score, as well as some original pieces written in the 1920s-30s style.
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
If I recall, Carroll Baker was a product of the Actors Studio, she appeared in 3 not so long running plays on Broadway, and early on did some decent,edgy films. The above mentioned BABY DOLL,and also SOMETHING WILD, GIANT and HOW THE WEST WAS WON. Her marriage to Jack Garfein gave her a daughter, actress Blanche Baker.Her association with Joseph E. Levine gave her some of the "racy" films she made in the 1960s. Oh and then there was ANDY WARHOLS BAD, which was actually quite interesting.
But I shall always remember her for HARLOW, and as Rena Marlowe swinging on that chandelier in THE CARPETBAGGERS.