Clara Bow - Stealer of the Show

So far, I haven't ran into perfect Clara Bow movie. Infact, I'm not sure if there is one. "Mantrap" made the top of the list because it is, for now, best made combination of an interesting story and Bow's qualities that made me love her in the first place. In this movie she's so fun, playful, lively and most beautiful than ever. Whatever she does - dances, flirts or even argues - she's simply adorable. Don't believe me? Well, take a look for yourself:





I had two problems with this movie - men! I couldn't believe she didn't got at least one decent man, they both were insanely dull. My favorite part of the movie took place in the wilderness - I loved everything that occured there (even gain fondness for one of the weirdos!).

Oh, Clara, that sweetest flirt ever!

This is the cutest movie ever, period! Picture Clara Bow (already adorable just by herself), given all these extra cute attachments - pooch dog she's always carrying around, hula dance outfit, dish made of pineapple, tiniest hat ever, oh, I'm smiling already!

To tell the truth, "Hula" isn't deep or complex movie at all, but it is just what I want to see when it comes to Miss Bow. I just loved her character here, and it is, thankfully, almost always on screen - whether in expressive close-ups, skinny dipping or hula dancing - what a treat for fans! She's at the top of playfulness and flirtness here, combined with very childish behavior. Again of course, she's often jealous and determined to do anything to 'get her man' - I had a great time watching her does so.

Being important for Clara Bow, as a landmark of her career, "It" has huge values for me too, since it introduced me with this wonderful actress. Vivacious, fun and sexy working class girl with a hint of rebelion for imposed common norms almost immediately got me love her and prompted me to discover her world both off and on screen.

My favorite parts of this movie includes scenes in which Clara is seducing her boss (what a surprise!) and her dressing up for a dream date, while her roommate is helping her remade her dress in order to look more appealing. Yeah, like she would need that!

The very first Oscar winner was a double treat for me because it has my two favorite classic stars. Neither one of them had a lead role, especially not Gary Cooper. Actually, if you look away just for a second, you probably won't witness his first credited role. I still enjoy those moments they were on screen much more than in the movie itself. Even limited screen time didn't prevent Clara to shine and to steal the focus from lead guys.

I must note - this input happens much after I actually watched the movie. Not really fair, but I'll try to point out the essentials. So, as I remember, this movie was, dispite weak ratings, kinda fun to watch! It depicts college life in the 1920s and I think it's maybe first of the kind to watch, so it was quite fun to see what it looked like almost a century ago. And I was surprised - a lot of stuff that I can recognize in 90s college movies!
So here, Clara is a party girl who only apears here and there, with the image of 'bad girl'. How surprising...
Also, this is like nth movie with her match up with Donald Keith. What's up with that??

There is one big problem in this movie: Not enough Clara! In those precious moments we get to see her, she looks more lovable than ever:



This exact picture is taken during the most memorable scene in movie, when Clara's love interest is trying to make her jealous...in the funnies way I've ever seen.

I liked her introduction with Eddie Cantor, scenes at the swimming pool and some parts towards the end. Cantor might not be my favorite choice for Bow, but he's not bad however, the two of them together have some sweet and goofy quality I didn't mind seeing.

Clara Bow was such a professional. She exit Hollywood sparkling, and someone not familiar with her personal life would never guess what problems she was struggling with - scandals, presures and simply tiredness of all-time attention. I though her performance was just as good as enthusiastic early ones. My favorite scene is one at the lake, of course!

In the sea of unintersting and bland leading guys that followed Bow through her career, Buddy Rogers stands out as one of the rare cases of suitable pair for her. They're both youthful, cute and simply a nice match.

"Get Your Man" has familiar story (somewhat like "It"), but it miss some footage, which stand in a way of getting the full impression of the picture. Clara has the usual quality and the first minutes of the movie are pure delight.

After discovering there was another movie besides "It" that starred both Clara Bow AND Gary Cooper called "Children of divorce" I went crazy searching for it all through the net. I learned soon that there were no available copy of it to see. Oh the dissapointment! I went on with my life, coping with the fact that I'll be forever deprived to see my fave stars together once again, until one day I heard that restored version of film is now out there, and furthermore - a dear friend has offered to send me a copy to see as soon as he has it! Oh, the thrill!

I knew right away that it's going to be something kinda soapy, but the payoff of the film suprised me still. NOT good. It's not such a dull watch, but again I primely appreciated it on superficial level. Clara Bow is in her cutest, vivaciuous self - 1927 was definitely her year, while young Cooper, handsome as always didn't have much time to show his acting abilities. I found suprising that new-to-me actress, Esther Ralston, manages to got my sympathies next to the two i'm always rambling about. It says something.

Clara has supporting role in this movie. BIG flaw. As the title implies, main character is actually her mother, woman tired of sitting around in the house while her husband and daugher are on parties, so she decides to hit the parties as well.

So here, Clara is a flapper girl with the cutest name ever - Kittens! And it suites her. If only she had more screen time...



And I missed her indeed.

Yes, she stops by from time to time, gets all perky, cute, make all other characters pale next to her and than disappears.

Most interesting part of the movie is, stangely, the most annoying one. So see, Clara likes the guy, (who is lame by the way, AGAIN), gets all romantic and flirty for him, and he doesn't even notice her. What the hell? How's that even possible?!

Somehow descending line of the movie prevented me from liking it more. The beginning is very much amusing. Clara is popular girl at college who likes to party and spends time having fun conversations with other girls in dorm. I loved how she was describing her encounter with her soon-to-be boyfriend, her voice and way of talking.

Her and other girls sneaking into party in same costumes is brief, but most interesting part of the movie. From that moment movie more or less went downhill since the happenings at the college got more dramatic tone, and I thought that something lighter would be more suitable and entertaining.

Before "Call Her Savage", I've only seen her silent comedies, where she usually played flirty flappers (which I love so much!). This was the first 30's and talkie Bow movie I saw and it made me aware of her acting evolution. She transisted from carefree, fun-loving flapper girl to sophisticated and suave young woman. Her visual transformaton is most obvious proof:



This is also Clara's only drama I've seen. I think she handled the genre well, but the story didn't really pleased me. To much weird and depressing stuff going on. But, I'll certainly won't forget Clara's fighting variations - kicking her rival, whiping her lover...even wrestling a dog.

I don't have special feelings for this movie, perhaps there are other characters I didn't find very interesting, but still there's some stuff I like! First, there is a amazing introduction to her character, where I loved both the title card and the glorious shot that follows it:




Next, there is a memorable dancing scene in which she wears, how daring, almost entirely see-through dress. The rest of her outfit I also quite cool. And, yes, that's about all that this movie offers.



Ugh, again this guy. Could they give her more bland leading man? Just look at him, always spoils the fun!

I did not liked the story. Right now, I don't think I could remember what it was about. I know it's ridiculous, crowded and confusing. And it has Donald Keith again!

Clara Bow played vindictive girl from the streets. She has some funny moment and interesting changes of appearance, like that blonde wig. And that's it.