A few months after Bern's death, Jean was back at the studio. The film, Red Dust, in which she played a smart-talking prostitute on the run from the law, would contain one of her best performances. This was her second pairing with Clark Gable. They were good friends and something of that camaraderie showed in their six screen performances together.
Though Jean was still haunted by Bern's death, she slowly became her old self on the set. She always dragged out her record player between takes and blasted jazz music. The crew adored her.
In 1933, Jean began a close friendship with cameraman Harold Rosson. He was also older than Jean, but the sixteen year difference made no difference to her. They married on September 18, 1933.
That year Jean played a spoiled trophy wife in Dinner at Eight and stole the movie from some of the best actors in the business. She was so proud of her work that when the last scene was completed, she ran to her dressing room and burst into tears. Her co-star, legendary actress Marie Dressler liked Jean so much that she wanted to do another movie with her. Unfortunately, she died soon after.
Jean still had her concerns about the quality of the roles she received. When she expressed frustration about the scripts she was offered and her still relatively low salary, Bello convinced her to go on strike. Studio executives were furious with him for interfering.
While she was on strike, Jean decided to write a novel that she could turn into a script for herself. She enlisted screenwriter Tony Beacon to help her get Today is Tonight on paper. The novel would eventually be published post-humously in 1965.
Jean did not have to stay on strike for long. Exhibitors demanded more Harlow movies, so studio executives were forced to write Jean a new contract.
Marriage with Harold Rossen had done nothing to lessen Mother Jean's influence over her daughter. Frustrated by his lack of control, Rossen was increasingly cruel to Jean. They divorced May 5, 1934. Now, at the age of twenty-three, Jean had been divorced three times.
In 1935, Jean's luck in love changed. She met William Powell, another man who was much older than Jean, but she worshipped him. Powell loved Jean, but he was reluctant to marry her. He had once been married to Carole Lombard and he didn't want to live in the shadow of another sex symbol.
 |
 |
 |
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to K Cruver's Classic Actresses topic, please visit the Discussions page.