ThiefHott Too much of everything

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

DaisyPraver I mean, I'm not one to pine for days gone by, but Jean Harlow, people. Jean. Harlow. Her name is cooler than anyone alive.

Antonius Block Rom-com, 1931 style. Robert Williams plays a newspaper reporter who falls for a rich socialite (Jean Harlow) and the two get married, against her mother's objections. The relationship is ill-matched, him resenting being treated as a 'bird in a gilded cage', as he and others put it, and she disliking his crude ways and partying friends. Meanwhile, the gal pal played by Loretta Young carries a torch for him all along. You know how it's going to end, but it's charming nevertheless, has a script full of funny touches, and is well cast all around. Williams is smooth and wonderful, and reminds one of Spencer Tracey. Characteristic to the time, he settles a few disagreements with his fists, but it's as good-natured a way as Capra can make it. He also a couple of very nice romantic scenes with Harlow – the first, talking and then kissing behind the window of a beautiful garden waterfall, and the second, playfully making up and singing a song debating whether he should wear garters or not. It's absolutely tragic that Williams would die at the age of 37 three days after the film's premier, and that Harlow would die six years later at the age of 26.

cstotlar-1 This is a Capra film that falls rather uneasily between two stools. There was the Capra of silent films and the era of slapstick, visual humor. Harry Langdon comes to mind. And then there is Capra in full form with his (self-described) "Capracorn" that we know so well from "Mr. Smith" and "Wonderful Life" to name only a few of his successes. Time didn't treat him quite so well later in life and the formulas that once served so well seemed to fizzle. "Platinum Blonde" has several germs found in later films but as yet undeveloped. Loretta Young's character had tremendous potential and Jean Harlow's character was not quite ready to fly yet with the later screwball comedies. Stew was the Star and that about summons things up. It's a curious film that would undoubtedly appeal to people specifically interested in Capra's development but I wasn't overwhelmed or even very much impressed.Curtis Stotlar

Michael_Elliott Platinum Blonde (1931)*** (out of 4)Romantic-drama centered on a blue collar reporter (Robert Williams) who marries a society girl (Jean Harlow) even though his heart might be with an old friend (Loretta Young). It's been reported many times else where but I'll write it again, Williams would end up dying three days after the release of the film and one can't help but wonder what he would have done in his career had his life not taken such a sad turn. With Capra, Harlow and Young listed in the credits, there's no doubt that this film belongs to Williams. His performance was clearly very influential as the sleepy eyed reporter bit would be played many times in the future and one can't help but see the influence that started here. As far as the film goes, I don't think it was as good as its reputation but it's still a pretty good movie for the time. What will certainly draw most people to the movie is its stars Young and Harlow and both are them are quite good in the film. Harlow's role is pretty underwritten but her sex appeal still shines through. Young is as glamorous as ever but once again the film belongs to Williams. The film's one major flaw is that it's just way too predictable with nothing fresh every really happening. We all know the formula it's going to take and how it's going to end but the movie is still worth watching due to the three leads.