One of the great icons of 1930s Hollywood film, Jean Harlow died a tragically early death in 1937 at age 26. Taking a film-by-film look at Harlow's work and her own impressions of her costars and directors, this retrospective traces her growth as an actress and how her often tumultuous life informed her performances.

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Harlean Carpenter: The Early Life of Jean Harlow Jean Harlow: The Early Film Appearances Jean Becomes a Leading Actress, 1930 Hell’s Angels The Films of Jean Harlow, 1931 The Secret Six Iron Man The Public Enemy Goldie Platinum Blonde The Films of Jean Harlow, 1932 Three Wise Girls The Beast of the City Red Headed Woman Red Dust The Films of Jean Harlow, 1933–34 Hold Your Man Dinner at Eight Bombshell The Girl from Missouri The Films of Jean Harlow, 1935 Reckless China Seas The Films of Jean Harlow, 1936 Riffraff Wife vs. Secretary Suzy Libeled Lady The Films of Jean Harlow, 1937 Personal Property Saratoga Afterword: The Jean Harlow Legacy Notes Bibliography Index