This Is The Only Color Film Footage Of Jean Harlow

When Jean Harlow died at the age of 26 in 1937 it was a shock to the world. Harlow’s films were big money makers for MGM and she was popular with not just the film crews she worked with but the public as well. Appearing in 44 films, with starring roles in about half of them, Harlow made only one film that was in color: Hell’s Angels (1930).

And Hell’s Angels is not in color, only some sequences including one with Jean Harlow. It is the only surviving footage of Harlow in color.

Producer Howard Hughes took three years to complete the film. Originally filmed as a silent picture, the advent of sound compelled Hughes to re-shoot the entire picture as a talkie. It was one of the most expensive films ever made up to that time costing just under $3 million.

Two things to note if you have ever seen any Jean Harlow film. One,  Harlow’s acting is much more natural here than in most of her other roles. Credit director James Whale with the coaching he did with the inexperienced 18-year-old Harlow to achieve that.

Whether a speech coach later got to Harlow, I don’t know. But later films have her talking with an affected accent and it became an annoying trademark.

The second is more subjective, while she is still very blonde, she is much prettier without the dyed platinum blonde hair.