Other reviewers have noted how closely this story comes to Jean Harlow's real life. Not so much the nightlife as her personal life with a highly dysfunctional family. I also was surprised, as were a couple of other reviewers, at Hollywood's seeming transparency in the making of this film. If nothing else, "Bombshell" is a scathing exposé of the hype and hoopla that the movie studios used to promote their stars. They even manufactured gossip and scandals to make the news and keep the stars in the limelight. But the limelight began to sour from some scandals, and the movie industry began to back away from and even cover up such publicity - that was no longer to the public's liking.
"Bombshell" is a good movie in showing such a crazy life as Jean Harlow apparently had. She plays Lola Burns in this movie. Harlow was a very good actress who had a markedly different stage persona than all other leading ladies of her day and for decades thereafter. She had a toughness and briskness in her manner. She seldom played a refined woman. In the few scenes in this or other films where she shows gentleness, kindness or softness, it's a real stretch because of that persona. Still, she is very good in this film.
The movie has a nice list of top movie names of the day - Pat O'Brien, Franchot Tone, Frank Morgan, Una Merkel, Lee Tracy. But the movie is mostly about her, and Space Hanlon, played by Tracy. Tracy was an nearly film leading man known for his fast-talking, high-energy roles. The IMDb Web site biography on Tracy nails the guy and his persona. It reads, in part, "this actor with a voracious appetite for high living was a representation of the racy and race-paced style of Hollywood."
It doesn't take long for one to thoroughly dislike Space Hanlon (a credit to the script and Tracy's acting); but after a while this film strikes one as awfully noisy. And, it goes on a bit too long. The cleverness in the film is in the manipulation and management of the press that Hanlon demonstrates. It is peppered with some witty lines here and there, but I think, far too few for a comedy.
Some of the best lines in the movie are telltale about Hollywood - the industry, the life, and the culture. Here are some of my favorites.
Pat O'Brien as Jim Brogan says to Lola, "Say listen, you can't raise a family and make five or six pictures a year."
Tracy's Hanlon says to the press, "Well, listen. Don't you know that Lola Burns can't have a baby?" Some reporters, "No? No? Why?" Hanson, "It's not in her contract."
Hanlon and Burns are talking. Hanlon, "Listen, you can't adopt a baby." Lola, "As if you or anybody else could stop me." Hanlon, "Yeah, but that isn't your line. The fans don't want to see the 'IF' girl surrounded by an aura of motherhood leaning over a cradle, sterilizing bottles. I dubbed you the Hollywood Bombshell, and that's the way they like you. Men! Scrapes! Dazzling clothes! A gorgeous personality. Not pattin' babies on the back to bring up bubbles." Lola, "There's a lot of other people in this business have happy healthy babies."
Later, Hanlon says, "OK, baby, you win. But I'll tell you one thing. The house with your family is about as a fine a place to bring up a baby as an alligator farm."
"Bombshell" is a good movie in showing such a crazy life as Jean Harlow apparently had. She plays Lola Burns in this movie. Harlow was a very good actress who had a markedly different stage persona than all other leading ladies of her day and for decades thereafter. She had a toughness and briskness in her manner. She seldom played a refined woman. In the few scenes in this or other films where she shows gentleness, kindness or softness, it's a real stretch because of that persona. Still, she is very good in this film.
The movie has a nice list of top movie names of the day - Pat O'Brien, Franchot Tone, Frank Morgan, Una Merkel, Lee Tracy. But the movie is mostly about her, and Space Hanlon, played by Tracy. Tracy was an nearly film leading man known for his fast-talking, high-energy roles. The IMDb Web site biography on Tracy nails the guy and his persona. It reads, in part, "this actor with a voracious appetite for high living was a representation of the racy and race-paced style of Hollywood."
It doesn't take long for one to thoroughly dislike Space Hanlon (a credit to the script and Tracy's acting); but after a while this film strikes one as awfully noisy. And, it goes on a bit too long. The cleverness in the film is in the manipulation and management of the press that Hanlon demonstrates. It is peppered with some witty lines here and there, but I think, far too few for a comedy.
Some of the best lines in the movie are telltale about Hollywood - the industry, the life, and the culture. Here are some of my favorites.
Pat O'Brien as Jim Brogan says to Lola, "Say listen, you can't raise a family and make five or six pictures a year."
Tracy's Hanlon says to the press, "Well, listen. Don't you know that Lola Burns can't have a baby?" Some reporters, "No? No? Why?" Hanson, "It's not in her contract."
Hanlon and Burns are talking. Hanlon, "Listen, you can't adopt a baby." Lola, "As if you or anybody else could stop me." Hanlon, "Yeah, but that isn't your line. The fans don't want to see the 'IF' girl surrounded by an aura of motherhood leaning over a cradle, sterilizing bottles. I dubbed you the Hollywood Bombshell, and that's the way they like you. Men! Scrapes! Dazzling clothes! A gorgeous personality. Not pattin' babies on the back to bring up bubbles." Lola, "There's a lot of other people in this business have happy healthy babies."
Later, Hanlon says, "OK, baby, you win. But I'll tell you one thing. The house with your family is about as a fine a place to bring up a baby as an alligator farm."