Both of these Jean Harlow biopics were aptly named "Harlow" and released within barely a month of each other in 1965. Baker's was released by Paramount, while Lynley's was released by the lesser-known Magna Distribution. Which film was better, and/or who do you think gave the better performance?
Lynley version news to me. Will get back to you.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 14, 2025 3:22 AM |
There is apparently an ENTIRE book dedicated to the rivalry between these two films by Tom Lisanti. I may have to purchase it.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 14, 2025 4:08 AM |
Baker looked a lot like Harlow in the original makeup tests, but the way she was done up in the film was quite a different look
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 15, 2025 2:07 AM |
R3, despite hair & makeup tests to make Baker look like Harlow, for some reason, the producers settled on a late '50s - early '60s bombshell look.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 15, 2025 2:15 AM |
Replies 3 & 4:
Films often ignore the era they are supposed to be set in and substitute styles from when they were made:
Singing in the Rain's female costumes have an early-1950s influence.
In 1946's The Razor's Edge, I think what is supposed to be the early 1930s part of the film, Gene Tierney is wearing a coat with huge 1940s shoulder pads.
Auntie Mame set in the late 1920s-late 1930s, Rosalind Russell's costume for her 'intimate family dinner' is clearly late 1950s.
In Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, one of the extras is appropriately clothed but her makeup is glaringly wrong early 1960s.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 15, 2025 8:51 AM |
Carol Lynley's "Harlow" was filmed on a shoestring budget, in black & white and on Electronovision (shot on videotape, then transferred onto film), which gave it a dark and grainy quality when projected onto a big screen. It was a quickie production, taking only 8 days to shoot. Judy Garland was originally cast as Harlow's mother, but when she realized that this was to be a slapdash production, she backed out and was replaced with Ginger Rogers.
Carroll Baker's "Harlow" was given the typical Joseph E. Levine big-budget, high-gloss treatment, but it wasn't enough to keep the movie from flopping. Despite Baker's stellar acting chops, she is bogged down by a frustratingly weak script, tawdry storyline, and lack of historical accuracy.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 16, 2025 12:56 AM |
The Lisanti book is very good.
And the credits sequence for the Baker version is great.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 16, 2025 2:03 AM |
Nelson Riddle's score for the Lynley version has some tracks up on YouTube.
Really good score - and Lynley sporting the ratty wig on the LP Cover.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | July 16, 2025 2:11 AM |