Product Details

• Actors: Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, Una Merkel, Joseph Calleia, Victor Kilian
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630260513X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,739 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Take off your clothes and stay awhile.", March 29, 2008

By 

Samantha Glasser "Maliejandra" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Riff Raff [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Dutch (Spencer Tracy) works on the waterfront but doesn't like the way the men there are treated. He does his best to make the boss (Joseph Calleia) look bad, but can't quite make a strong impact. He has his eye on Hattie (Jean Harlow) who is being courted by the boss, but Hattie only has eyes for Dutch. Despite their differences, they marry, but Dutch just can't think of his wife over his own opinions and destroys their marriage for revenge.

Also appearing are Una Merkel as Hattie's older sister who has two children. One is played by the energetic Mickey Rooney and the other by the adorable Juanita Quigley.

The casting works to a certain degree but the two redheaded leads do not have enough chemistry to make the film work quite as well as it should have. A lot of the plot is based on their romance but it is hardly steamy. Instead, the relationship between Hattie and her sister is more interesting and the two girls play their hearts out. They contrast each other well with Harlow as the more upscale sister and Merkel as the homely housewife but they are more similar than they appear. Hattie wants to work for her husband and eventual child and doesn't care about money. Her sister encourages her to stick with her boss because she feels money can bring Hattie all the things she missed out on herself.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Harlow & Tracy!, January 23, 2000

By 

Marie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riff Raff [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a wonderful old thirties gem with Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy, who exude some real chemistry! Some typically corny 30's plot elements - girl takes the "fall" for the man she loves - but that's what makes it great!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jean Harlow Shines in A Overlooked Role, April 18, 2003

By 

Tee (LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riff Raff [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Movie buffs know and love the Jean Harlow of the glossy sex comedy classics she made at MGM - DINNER AT EIGHT, LIBELED LADY, BOMBSHELL, etc. but Jean was also a wonderful little dramatic actress capable of giving moving, heartfelt performances like in this little gem. Jean is just terrific as a dreamy cannery worker who dreams of a better life but has pinned her hopes on her boorish beau, Spencer Tracy. Rest assured, Jeannie can give as good as she gets though when that "gas bag" as she calls him turns his temper her way. This earthy little picture looks far more like a Warner Bros. effort than the MGM product it was although MGM made it more of a comedy than Warners would have. The wonderful Una Merkel has one of her best "best friend" roles as Jean's more practical sister. Harlow and Tracy made a terrific screen duo, I think only Katharine Hepburn had more chemistry when teamed with Tracy of all his many leading ladies. This movie is no RED DUST or REDHEADED WOMAN as a classic Harlow work but I would definately put it at the top of her lesser MGM movies over such better known pictures as WIFE VS. SECRETARY or SARATOGA.