Platinum Blonde (film)
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| Plantinum Blonde | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
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| Directed by | Frank Capra |
| Produced by | Harry Cohn |
| Written by | Jo Swerling |
| Starring | Loretta Young Robert Williams Jean Harlow |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 31, 1931 |
| Running time | 90 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Plantinum Blonde is a 1931 romantic comedy motion picture starring Jean Harlow, Loretta Young and Robert Williams. The film was written by Jo Swerling and directed by Frank Capra.
The film is noted for featuring the last screen appearance of actor Robert Williams, who died of peritonitis just three days after the film's October 31 release.
[edit] Plot
Stewart "Stew" Smith (Williams), ace reporter for the Post, is assigned to write about the settlement of a breach of promise lawsuit brought against playboy Michael Schuyler (Donald Dillaway) by chorus girl Gloria Golden. At the Schuylers' house to get a statement, Stew finds his rival, Bingy Baker (Walter Catlett), a reporter from The Daily Tribune, is also after the story.
Bingy is let in first and taken aside by Dexter Grayson (Reginald Owen), the Schuylers' lawyer, who hands him a "statement", actually a $50 bribe not to write anything. Stew follows, but rejects the bribe. Anne (Harlow), Michael's sister, tries sweet-talking Stew, who seems convinced. He then calls his editor anyway with the scoop, appalling the Schuylers.
Soon Stew returns to the house to bring back a copy of Conrad he had taken from the Schuylers' library. The butler, Smythe (Halliwell Hobbes), tries to make him leave, but Anne sees him and dismisses Smythe. Stew surprises Anne with six love letters Michael had sent Gloria, who intended to use them to blackmail the Schuylers for more money. Anne offers Stew a $5,000 reward check, which he refuses. She asks why he went ahead with the scoop but obtained and returned the love notes. Stew explains that one thing was news, the other, blackmail.
During lunch, Stew reveals he is writing a play. The next day, Anne wonders if she can change him into a gentleman. Grayson cautions that it was difficult getting rid of a baseball player, presumably one of her former boyfriends whom she had tried to make over. But Anne admires Stew's intelligence and spirit, and says he's different.
She invites him to a party at the house and they fall in love, soon eloping. Stew's wedding is scooped by the rival Daily Tribune, enraging his editor, Conroy (Edmund Breese). Stew's fellow newsmen, however, crowd about him in congratulation. Upset, Stew's friend Gallagher (Loretta Young), a sob sister columnist secretly pining for him, goes to Joe's speakeasy. Stew and Conroy soon follow, and Conroy taunts Stew as a "rich wife's magnolia" and "a bird in a gilded cage." Despite his bravado, Stew is upset by the implication he is no longer his own man, vowing to have Anne live with him, not him with her.
Especially horrified by the marriage is Anne's mother, Mrs. Schuyler (Louise Closser Hale), an imperious, high-strung dowager. Grayson also is not pleased, but Michael takes it in stride, telling Stew he's not as bad as everyone thinks.
Soon Anne cajoles Stew into moving to the mansion and tries to make him over, buying him garters (he had proudly sported his droopy socks as a mark of independence). One morning, Stew awakes to find Dawson (Claud Allister), a valet hired by Anne. Dawson's ministrations increasingly annoy Stew, who kicks him out after seeing a caged canary by the window, a reminder that he too is a bird in a gilded cage.
The Schuylers hold a reception for the ambassador from Spain. Gallagher is covering the event for the society page, and catches up with Stew. Anne sees them together and treats Gallagher icily. Stew rushes after Gallagher to apologize for Anne's behavior. Just then, Bingy arrives, telling Stew the Tribune will give him a column if he signs it "Anne Schuyler's husband." Insulted, Stew punches Bingy when he calls him Cinderella Man.
The next morning, Mrs. Schuyler is aghast to find Stew's brawl has made the front page. Stew has begun to chafe under the Schuylers' rules and finds high society tedious. He refuses to attend yet another reception and Anne leaves him at home. Extremely bored, Stew asks Smythe what he does for fun. Smythe says he putters, or tidies things up. Stew wonders if he could be a good putterer. Smythe replies that one's mind must be at ease and observes that Stew is "an eagle in a cage."
Wrestling with his play, Stew invites Gallagher over to help him. He says she can invite a friend, Hank (Eddy Chandler) from Joe's. Gallagher and Hank soon arrive, but with Joe and several patrons in tow. Even Bingy shows up to apologize. A raucous party ensues. Meanwhile, Stew and Gallagher ponder the plot and direction of the play, deciding to base it on Stew's marriage to Anne.
Anne, Mrs. Schyler, and Grayson return as the party is in full swing. Finding Gallagher with Stew, Anne scolds Stew, who apologizes for letting the party get out of control but protests that he too can invite friends to "my house." Anne replies, "Your house?" and Stew realizes that he is indeed not his own man.
He quickly returns with Gallagher to his own apartment. Along the way, he gives a homeless man his expensive garters. As Stew is working on his play, Grayson stops by to say Anne will pay him alimony. Offended, Stew punches Grayson (earlier, Stew had warned Grayson that his twentieth insult would earn him a "sock to the nose").
Stew tells Gallagher the play could end with the protagonist divorcing his rich wife and marrying O'Brien (i.e., Gallagher), whom he'd always loved but never realized it. Overwhelmed, Gallagher hugs Stew, who comforts her.
[edit] External links
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