Harlean's heart was bigger than any silver screen that projected her image as Jean Harlow. She was one of the most genuinely well-liked stars of her time -- adored by family, friends, fans, co-stars and studio workers alike.
-- MGM Prop man Harry Edwards
And that affection continues on; it's the reason that this website flourishes today.
Ironically, for a person that generated so much affection, Jean's heart was broke often. But it's important to remember that she never gave up on love. And each time she opened her heart, she found happiness...even for a short time.
If you want to know the sadder details, I say read the books. But here, today, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, we take a look at the men who tugged at her heartstrings, and why she cared for them.
Daddy's Little Girl
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Before she was a young bride and long before she was a world-wide sex symbol, Jean Harlow's name was Harlean Carpenter and she was the apple of her father's eye.
Although Mother Jean -- who played a dominant role in her life to say the least -- would try to drive a wedge between them, Jean always loved her dad, Mont Clair Carpenter. And she knew that he loved her. Whatever love and devotion she held for her mother, Jean maintained a sacred, often silent, bond with her dad. It was a quiet, unconditional love, and part of what made her such a caring individual.
Harlean's parents were divorced when she was eleven and she was raised by Mother Jean and her maternal grandfather Skip Harlow. For the rest of her life she would seek the company of older men -- "father figures."
As an adult, what little time she had with Mont was spent on a stolen phone call or when Jean's studio travel plans took her back through her hometown of Kansas City. Touchingly, some of that quality time was spent in Carpenter's office -- he was a dentist and she'd let him check her teeth. If her father couldn't shelter her against Hollywood and her mother's influence, at least he could protect her from cavities!
Child Bride
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Harlean's first husband was Chuck McGrew, a wealthy Chicago heir who was six years her senior. They met and fell in love on a blind date arranged by one of Jean's classmates at Ferry Hall, an all-girl's academy in Illinois, during the fall of 1926. They bonded immediately and eloped a year later -- Chuck was twenty, Harlean a mere sixteen.
Their happy marriage lasted for a few years, until Chuck tried -- unsuccessfully -- to move away from her family to Hollywood. Fate landed her at Centeral Casting's doorstep. On a whim, she began to live the life her mother only dreamed of, for Mother Jean wanted to be a movie star. But it was Harlean who had to goods to become one. Harlean's dream to be a wife and mother as overshadowed by her willingness to please Mother Jean. The two worlds collided and in 1929 she was divorced. By then she had signed on to be "Jean Harlow" the actress, and that persona lost Harlean her first true love.
Brotherly Love
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Jean's most constant co-star was Clark Gable -- they made six films together. On-screen, they ignited. Off-screen, they were the best of friends. "She isn't full of shit," Gable told Ida Lupino. "She's the real thing."
Much has been made of their chemistry. From all accounts, their relationship was one of deep affection and a brotherly-sisterly love. "I've never seen two actors make love so convincingly without being in love," said MGM photographer Clarence Bull.
One of the most bizarre yet friendly foursomes in Hollywood in the mid-1930s was Jean and the love of her life William Powell with Gable and the love of his life (not to mention William Powell's ex-wife) Carole Lombard.
The Widow Was A Lady
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Jean married MGM executive Paul Bern on July 22, 1932 because she felt he was a gentleman. Living with her trampy screen image -- which was the exact opposite of her true personality -- had begun to take a toll on her mentally. Bern was the first man who showed an interest in her as a person, not as a sex symbol. "Paul loves me for me," Jean told columnist Adela Rogers St. Johns. "He's paid me the highest compliment I've ever had."
It was Bern who convinced MGM to cast Jean in the lead of Red-Headed Woman. Her confidence and acting skills soared under his tutelage. She was transforming into a lady who could act. "What Paul Bern did -- and I don't know how he did it -- was encourage Jean Harlow to relax. [He] turned her into a comedienne," notes biographer David Stenn. Bern was also Jean's entre into Hollywood's social circle -- despite the fact that she was a homebody rather than a social-climber. Her idea of a good evening would be reading books and talking with Paul. "He explains things and let's me know I've got a brain," she told a friend.
The marriage ended Labor Day weekend of the same year, when Bern's personal problems led him to commit suicide. It was one of Hollywood's biggest scandals and one of Jean's worst nightmares. In the end, Jean's public still loved her and her career blossomed. Her respect for what Bern meant to her never waivered despite the luridness that surrouned his demise. For the rest of her life, she would never discuss Bern or their marriage -- publicly or privately.
Friends & Lovers
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MGM cameraman and Hollywood pioneer Harold "Hal" Rosson first met a slightly nervous Jean Harlow when he shot her all-important wig tests for Red-Headed Woman. They immediately became friends. Not only did she trust his professional technique, but she found his sense of humor to be comforting. "He refused to act serious, and joked and laughed. That relieved the strain and tension," she later said. They worked together on many studio projects which apparently included an arranged marriage.
Less than a year after Bern's death, Jean became involved with boxer Max Baer, much to the chagrin of his wife who decided to sue him for divorce. To avert another scandal, the studio decided Jean must be married at once. Her choice: Hal Rosson. "Love has always meant friendship to me," she later stated. They eloped to Yuma, Arizona on September 13, 1933 during location shooting for Bombshell.
Rosson had always been infatuated with Jean, but had settled for friendship until her proposal. He was in love and fell for the plan. For her part, Jean seemed to romanticize the union, telling the press, "I know it's trite but I want to go on record that ours is one Hollywood marriage that will last."
It lasted seven months.
Mr. Right?
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"I've found him. I never thought this would happen to me," said Jean of William Powell. The two had met at MGM previous to her divorce from Rosson and had their official first date soon after it was final. Her pet name for him was "Poppy." She loved his intellect and sense of humor. He loved her unpretentiousness and charm.
Like Bern, Powell treated Jean like a person with a brain. And like Rosson, he made her laugh. He taught about saving and investing her money and protected her against her greedy stepfather, the shady Marino Bello. Powell had him investigated and discovered that the Mexican mines he was "investing in," was actually a south-of-the-border mistress. Bello was divorced by Mother Jean shortly thereafter.
Outside a few brief separations, they were together until Jean's death in 1937. Their source of disagreement and separations: Jean wanted to get married and start a family. Powell did not.
LOVE BYTES
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Some of the most oddly appropriate-for-this-article film dialogue comes from Libeled Lady in which Jean plays the long-suffering fiancee of reporter Spencer Tracy. In a cockeyed scheme to save his paper, Tracy arranges for Jean to "marry" William Powell's character. This was ironic in and of itself because at the time, off-screen, Jean would have loved nothing better than to be Mrs. Powell.
Here's some fun clips to sample...
- Here comes the bride (music only)
- Today I get married
- Gold ring
- Today's my wedding day
- Get married and stay married
- Call the preacher
- Just say so
- One girl in a million
- That's love for you
© The Platinum Page Feature Article - February 1998
Source for specific dates and direct quotes - Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow by David Stenn.
Photos and audio samples provided for fun and information only; they remain the property of their original owners.