Watch Bombshell
- Passed
- 1933
- 1 hr 36 min
-
7.1 (3,249)
Bombshell is a 1933 pre-code film that tells the story of Lola Burns (played by Jean Harlow), a glamorous and successful Hollywood actress who struggles to balance her personal life with her demanding career. The film also stars Lee Tracy as smooth-talking publicist Space Hanlon, who helps Lola navigate the complex world of Hollywood publicity, and Frank Morgan as studio boss P.L. O'Hara.
The film opens with Lola's dramatic entrance on a movie set, where she is surrounded by fans and paparazzi. Lola is the biggest star in Hollywood, and everyone wants a piece of her. However, as soon as the cameras stop rolling, Lola's life is anything but glamorous. She is constantly mobbed by fans, followed by paparazzi, and manipulated by the men in her life.
Lola's personal life is especially complicated. She is engaged to wealthy playboy Gifford Middleton (played by Franchot Tone), but she really loves movie projectionist Mac (played by Pat O'Brien). However, she is also being courted by Hollywood leading man and womanizer Lancelot "Lanny" Powell (played by William Powell), who promises to make her a big star in Europe.
As Lola navigates her complicated love life, she relies on Space Hanlon to help her manage her public image. Space is a smooth-talking publicist who knows the ins and outs of the Hollywood publicity machine. He helps Lola navigate press conferences, interviews, and photo shoots, and he even writes her autobiography for her.
However, Space's job becomes increasingly difficult as Lola's personal life gets more complicated. Gifford is jealous of Mac, and Lanny's advances become more aggressive. Meanwhile, Lola's sister, who works as a secretary at the studio, is being courted by the studio boss, P.L. O'Hara. As all of these relationships become intertwined, Space finds himself juggling multiple scandals and trying to keep Lola's career afloat.
The film is notable for its portrayal of Hollywood in the 1930s. It satirizes the studio system, the publicity machine, and the gender roles that prevailed in Hollywood at the time. Harlow's character Lola is a standout, as she breaks the mold of the traditional Hollywood heroine. She is independent, outspoken, and sexually liberated, and she refuses to let the men in her life control her.
The film also features some iconic scenes, including Lola's famous swimwear fashion show, in which she models a series of increasingly outrageous swimsuits. The scene is a testament to Harlow's sex appeal and her willingness to push the boundaries of acceptable on-screen behavior.
Overall, Bombshell is a classic Hollywood film that still resonates today. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of 1930s Hollywood, with all its glamour, scandal, and manipulation. It also features outstanding performances from the talented cast, especially Jean Harlow, who shines in the lead role. If you're a fan of classic Hollywood films, Bombshell is not to be missed.
Bombshell is a 1933 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 81.