March 3, 2006 -- Special thanks to Jean Harlow Historian Dennis Lee Cleven for generously allowing The Platinum Page to share with fans his research findings regarding her early work, many productions which no longer exist in film form today.
"These are all the films Jean Harlow appeared in prior to being put under contract to Caddo Company by Howard Hughes," notes Dennis. "Ben Lyon took credit for discovering Jean Harlow but it was really James Hall who already knew her from working with her in "The Saturday Night Kid."
Photo Source: George Eastman House/Nikolas Muray Collection
The Rare & Lost Films of Jean Harlow
by Dennis Lee Cleven © 2006
1. Honor Bound (Fox, 1928)
This film exists. David Stenn wrote that he viewed the film in the Czech Republic but there was no sight of Jean Harlow. She became the proverbial face on the cutting room floor!
2. Moran of the Marines (Paramount, 1928)
LOST FILM.
Jean Harlow (enhanced scan) in scene from Moran of the Marines
Photo Source: Platinum Girl: The Life and Legends of Jean Harlow, by Eve Golden. Abbeville Press, NY: 1991
3. Chasing Husbands (Hal Roach Studios, 1928)
LOST FILM. NOTE: the photos of bathing beauties that are fairly common are publicity shots for this film.
4. Fugitives (Fox, 1929)
LOST FILM. I cannot find any photos of Jean Harlow from this film.
5. Why Be Good? (First National, 1929)
Found and preserved with musical score extant. I have a beautiful costume shot of Jean which I found at the Academy Library. I also have two scene stills.
6. The Unkissed Man (Hal Roach Studios, 1929)
Extant and preserved at The George Eastman House. I have two stills from this film which is erroneously referred to as a Laurel & Hardy film which it is not.
7. Why is a Plumber? (Hal Roach Studios, 1929)
LOST FILM which is very sad since Jean had second billing after Edgar Kennedy! I have 2 photos from this film.
8. Liberty (Hal Roach Studios, 1929)
The first of the three Laurel & Hardy films Jean appeared in. It is extant and on VHS and DVD
9. Thundering Toupees (Hal Roach Studios, 1929)
LOST FILM. I have not been able to locate any photos from this film.
10. Close Harmony (Paramount, 1929)
A musical preserved extant at UCLA. I have a costume shot which I suspect may be from this film but I have not verified this.
11. Double Whoopee (Hal Roach Studios, 1929)
Extant and very easy to find on VHS and DVD
Stan Laurel, Jean Harlow and Oliver Hardy in Double Whoopee ~ Photo Source: The Films of Jean Harlow. Bonaza Books, NY: 1965
12. Bacon Grabbers (Hal Roach Studios, 1929)
Extant and available on VHS and DVD
13. Masquerade (Fox, 1929)
LOST FILM. I have one scene still of Jean and another extra from this film.
14. This Thing Called Love (Pathe, 1929)
LOST FILM. I have not located any photos of Jean from this film.
15. City Lights (United Artists, 1931)
Jean worked on this film in 1929 and appears in scene stills but she does not appear in the finished film. Once again, she became the face on the cutting room floor!
Jean Harlow (enhanced scan) in scene from City Lights
Photo Source: The Films of Jean Harlow. Bonaza Books, NY: 1965
16. New York Nights (United Artists, 1929)
Extant. I have a video of this film. Jean is very visible in the party scene. I believe that the film was cut for TV airing. I have four photos of her from the film.
17. The Love Parade (Paramount, 1929)
Extant. Jean does not appear with Jeannette MacDonald or Maurice Chevalier so I do not have any photos of her from the film. She is very visible in this film.
18. The Saturday Night Kid (Paramount, 1929)
Extant and Jean's first bits of dialogue were in this film. I have photos of her from this film. Housed at UCLA. Not on DVD!
Clara Bow, Jean Harlow and Jean Arthur in scene from The Saturday Night Kid
Photo Source: The Films of Jean Harlow. Bonaza Books, NY: 1965
19. Weak But Willing (Al Christie Comedies, 1929)
LOST FILM! I have a portrait of Jean from this film and another appears in "The Life Story of Jean Harlow" by Louella Parsons.