Red-Headed Woman

Moviecut—Red-Headed Woman

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source: Red-Headed Woman

Red-Headed Woman

This pre-Code movie presents Jean Harlow with dyed tresses in another man-snatching role to go alongside her others. Lil Andrews is amoral and set on taking rich men for what she can get, starting with her boss (played by chisel jawed Chester Morris), and moving on upward. Given this was 1932, and only two years later things were about to change, the Production Code would be implemented, and films would become a lot more sanitised, 'Red Headed Woman' is rather daring and leaves little to the imagination. There's a lot of spicy innuendo and some direct references to sex which would be unthinkable a few years later. Una Merkel shines as Lil's pal Sally, who follows her everywhere and views everything. And Charles Boyer is memorable in a little supporting role. This film can be found as part of the DVD set 'Forbidden Hollywood, part 1'.

I was captivated watching this, not only is Harlow's acting superb, but its blatant overt sexuality jumps right off the screen. She's a shameless * and home wrecker, always just on the edge of losing control of her emotions and physical desires, with a fate-be-damned attitude toward it all. The storyline was indeed shocking for its time, in fact, films like this one, right along with Barabara Stanwyck's NIGHT NURSE and BABY FACE show the reasons the Hayes Code came to exist in the first place. This was way over the top, in-your-face immorality, something that Mae West only alluded to in her work in a comic fashion. It's on my list of "best of" features in the pre-Hayes code era. Watch this one if you want to be shocked and astounded! Simply a great film!

Jean Harlow as a home-wrecker of the worst kind delivers her first great performance in Red-Headed Woman.All the men in her lives are pushovers easily manipulated by the films central character. Made before censorship came into effect in Hollywood, this movie is able to shock viewers even today.The greatest entertainment value of this movie is how naughty all the principal characters are.Sex is out in the open and immorality is the name of the game. Harlow seduces and wins Chester Morris.The sucker has not a chance and which man has when a beautiful woman pursues you.Henry Stephenson is quite good as the moral hypocritical businessman. Nice to see him play such a part. Even a young Charles Boyer has a small important part in his Hollywood bow.The ending is really the biggest surprise.

Terrific pre-code film starring Jean Harlow as the "red-headed woman" - a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who uses her sex appeal to seduce rich men in an attempt to improve her social standing (plus get ahold of their dough!). With her eye on her wealthy, handsome, happily married boss (not to mention his photo pinned to her garter) she aggressively pursues him, as he does his very best to try and hold her off and keep his marriage intact. But even when she gets him, she can't stop trying to get someone better (well, you know - richer, that is). I love this film and I think Jean Harlow gives one of her best performances here as she whines, baby talks, swings her hips, and uses her charms to get the man she wants. Una Merkel is appealing, as usual, as her sidekick/gal pal, constantly feigning shock over the sorted schemes of her red-headed friend. I highly recommend seeing this one.

Wonderful pre-code movie that races along with its amoral story as Jean Harlow chases about eating up men in her search for riches. Barely pausing this wild romp is as uncompromising as it is fast and funny. Harlow is at her best, in out of and almost out of her shimmering costumes and she is ably backed by an excellent cast who all seem to be enjoying themselves. I am indebted to another IMDb reviewer who points out that at the time of original release the States were in depression and the coal bosses and their 'society' entourage, getting rich and doing very little, would have been a welcome target for Harlow's exploits. An interesting and revealing extra dimension that makes me like it even more because I always had a slight feeling of sympathy for the duped guys and now I can happily share the joke, very much at their expense. Brave film making and one cannot but wonder where things may have gone had the code not clamped down.