Bombshell

The Life & Death of Jean Harlow

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by David Stenn

Type

Biographies

Subject

Actress > Jean Harlow

Keywords

Jean Harlow, actress

Publishing date

2000

Publisher

Lightning Bug

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 368 pages
6 x 9 inches (15.5 x 23 cm)

ISBN-10
ISBN-13

0-9672822-2-5
978-0-9672822-2-0

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Book Presentation:
"HARLOW." Her name epitomizes an era, a decade of Depression in which harsh reality created a demand for lush film fantasy and no Hollywood star was as luscious or fantastic as Jean Harlow. She was M-G-M's most bankable asset, a blonde bombshell whose bleached hair, voluptuous body, and bawdy humor inspired a fervent cult following that remains to this day.
Despite Harlow's blinding fame, the events of her life have been obscured by a fifty-year haze of secrets, lies, and silence. Until the publication of this book. After years of research, critically acclaimed biographer David Stenn unearthed the truth behind the improbable rise of this tow-headed tomboy from Kansas City, her huge success, and her tragic fall.
After fifty-six years, David Stenn persuaded Harlow's family, friends, colleagues, and employers to break their silence and provide previously sealed legal, financial, and medical records, which solved the mystery of her death. His account is confirmed by scores of exclusive interviews with eyewitness sources, including Harlow's nurses during the last days of her life.
Exhaustively researched and compulsively readable, Bombshell stands as the definitive Harlow biography. This edition contains a new UNSEEN SCENES section of never-before-seen photos of deleted scenes from Harlow's biggest hits. This book is a must-have not only for every Harlow fan, but anyone interested in a truly riveting story.

Press Reviews:
From Publishers Weekly : Jean Harlow (1911-1937) reigned as Hollywood's original platinum blonde sex symbol in the years before her death from kidney failure at age 26. With this crisply written, well-documented biography, Stenn ( Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild ) seeks to reveal the woman behind the screen goddess and to resolve the controversies surrounding both her death and that of her second husband, studio executive Paul Bern. Stenn's psychological portrait of Harlow focuses on her domineering mother and on the actress's unfulfilled desire for a stable family life. His account of Bern's 1932 death by gunshot wound is convincing: he agrees with the official verdict of suicide, while giving credence to reports of Bern's sexual dysfunction and bigamy. Stenn's narrative of Harlow's own death is level-headed; while he explores the impact of her alcoholism on her life, he refrains from speculating on the cause of her drinking. This skillful biography leaves one wishing only that Stenn had discussed more fully Harlow's place in film and cultural history. Photos. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:
This is a scholarly yet magnetically readable study of one of the silver screen's legendary stars. Stenn's admirable research has uncovered many new documents and startling facts about Harlow from those who knew her, and his analysis of this information provides the account with lasting value. Stenn tells an incredible story, highlighting Harlow's manipulative family, tragic marriages, "name" friendships and liaisons, studio intrigues, and, finally, addictions, obsessions, and mysterious and untimely death. In the end, we realize that Harlow was the star in her own life's tragedy. Although Stenn portrays her in an unabashedly sympathetic light, he is not afraid to confront unsavory events head-on or to offer keen insight into conflicting perspectives. Of special interest to circulating libraries, particularly since Stenn acted as a consultant for Turner Broadcasting's recent television documentary on Harlow. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/93.- Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See the complete filmography of Jean Harlow on the website: IMDB ...