Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow [Paperback]

David Stenn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

"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.

Editorial 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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Lightning Bug Press; 2nd edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967282225
• ISBN-13: 978-0967282220
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,874,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE DEFINITIVE HARLOW BIOGRAPHY, October 27, 2000

By 

anonymous (san francisco, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow (Paperback)

David Stenn's book is a meticulously researched, superbly written biography that answers the questions that inevitably pop up when we encounter Jean Harlow's image on screen -- and simultaneously contemplate her early death: Who was she? What was she really like? Was she happy? Why did she die at 26 years old? Stenn provides the answers, some of which are quite sad, all of which are true. He is also an artist with a real feel for Harlow's achievement as an artist. This is not the standard Hollywood biography, which lists one movie and then another. Stenn provides the sweep of the brief but extraordinary life of this young woman who was easily one of the most likable and adorable human beings of the twentieth century.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Not "Over" This Book - It's That Magnificent, March 14, 2006

By 

Katherine Graham "Katherine Graham" (Sparta, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow (Hardcover)

I read the paperback edition of this book at least 2 years ago. And I was stunned to learn absolutely unknown facts about the following: Jean Harlow's outstanding acting ability; her hilarious sense of humor; how beloved she was by everyone (except Joan Crawford...) including Clark Gable and virtually every guy on the set from cameramen to gaffers; she was so endearing and kind to everyone that she was called "Baby"...in the most heartrending and respectful way; she was tiny - barely 4 feet 11 inches tall and despite her incredible beauty did not take it seriously; she tried desperately to please everyone and above all perhaps she was the most loyal friend anyone could have. The end was so heartbreaking, it still makes my eyes brim.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Bio of Jean Harlow, February 9, 2002

By 

Gail K. Powers "Abra" (Harbor Country, Mi,N. Naples, FL, Chicago area) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow (Paperback)

For any fan of Jean Harlow, this is the book to buy. David Stenn's exhaustive research paid off as this is a very objective and fair book about a subject who has now been dead for over 60 years. Fortunately for the author and his readers, when Mr. Stenn did his research many friends and acquaintances of Jean Harlow's were still with us and lucid enough to provide good information about the life and career of Harlow.
This book is very easy to read and chronicles a short life which was probably as interesting as any character Jean Harlow played in the movies. The anecdotes provided made me feel as though I knew Harlow personally and the end result was that I walked away from this book really caring about the subject and finding that I also really liked her a lot as a person. I have also found that I appreciate her artistry even more each time I watch one of her movies.