RECKLESS
US, 1935, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Harlow, William Powell, Franchot Tone, May Robson, Rosalind Russell, Henry Stephenson, Nat Pendleton.
Directed by Victor Fleming.
Reckless was a star vehicle for Jean Harlow who had appeared in films since the late 1920s, not being especially successful at the beginning of her career but gradually making an impact, especially with such films as Red Dust and some teamings with Clark Gable. She was to die in 1937 at the age of 26.
Jean Harlow is impressive in this film, singing and dancing, especially a song, Reckless, by Jerome Kern. She also does comedy, with her sometimes brittle, platinum blonde style. But, at the end of the film, she has the possibility for being dramatic, especially when the public boos her in a stage performance and she speaks to them about her experience, persuading them to give her a chance, and their finally applauding.
The film was based on a story by David O. Selznick, using the name Oliver Jeffries. Harlow was reluctant to make the film because it involved the suicide of her screen husband. This seems to be close to her own life experience and the suicide of her producer husband, Paul Berns. She was persuaded to do the role by her costar, William Powell.
Powell was a very successful star at MGM at this period, making many films a year, beginning the Thin Man franchise. Franchot Tone was making his impact at MGM, Mutiny on the Bounty this same year.
Of interest is the number of MGM contract actors who have appearances, some very brief, in this film: Rosalind Russell, Mickey Rooney, Allen Jones, Margaret Dumont.
The story is conventional enough, a Broadway star and her recklessness, a wealthy admirer and his marrying her, the marriage failing, his remembering his past girlfriend, his drinking and depression, suicide. But, there is the older friend who can be a support. May Robson appears as her frequently crusty self as the star’s grandmother.
The film was directed by Victor Fleming who had directed Harlow in Red Dust and was to win an Oscar for Gone with the Wind.
1. A Jean Harlow vehicle? Her career at this stage? Soon to end? A screen presence, the platinum blonde, singing and dancing, her tough comic style, romantic lead? The ending and her capacity for serious performance?
2. Her being unwilling to make the film, the cause of her husband’s suicide in real life? Being persuaded to do the film by William Powell? A rejoinder to the public about her own life?
3. MGM film, 1935, comic and serious? The cast? The title, the Jerome kern song? Black and white photography? Comic touches?
4. The cast, the glimpses of contract players like Mickey Rooney, Rosalind Russell, Allan Jones, Margaret Dumont? The focus on Ned, as a sports agent, his staff? Grandmother and her demands on him? Mona in jail, getting her out, and putting her back in after the performance? Going to the theatre, the booked-out performance, the charity, Bob and his presence, the sole member of the audience? His watching, his background, his past girlfriend, as being a fan of Mona?
5. Ned as older than Mona, liking her, helping her, at the performance, discussions with Bob and the fan club, the sign?
6. Ned and the aftermath of the wedding, Bob drinking, going to the apartment with Mona, the suicide? Suspicions and Ned’s standing by Mona, asking grandmother for the money, putting on the show, supporting her during her speech, his proposal?
7. Mona as a character, the performer on Broadway, love for her grandmother, careless driving, jail, the encounter with Bob, the performance, going back to jail, with Ned, with Bob, his father, the proposal, the marriage, love? Her trying to help him? The social, her being pregnant? In the apartment, Bob and the confrontation, shooting himself? The birth of the baby? With Bob’s father, not wanting the money, wanting to care for the baby? The agent offering her a show as long as it exported her situation? The media and the hostile response to her? The public? Ned and his putting on the show? The finale, the audience her singing, her continuing to sing, her speech, heartfelt, the applause, Bob’s father and Jo?
8. Bob’s character, rich, depressed, the show, the fan club, discussions with Ned, the social life, his wooing Mona, the marriage, his father’s disapproval, depression, Jo and his not marrying her? The past? Drinking at the reception, the underlying anger, the confrontation in the apartment, shooting himself?
9. Jo, the past, Bob not marrying her, friendship with Mona, nice, the wedding, the new life, the final applause?
10. Bob’s father, harsh, at the reception, disliking Mona, the meeting and the settlement, the final applause?
11. Grandmother, a hard case, humour, love for Mona, the money for the show?
12. The film’s comment on the public, fickle? The boos, bitter, judgmental, the appeal to their better selves, the final applause?
13. The title’s meaning? Referring to which character? Or each?
