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At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

OK. Back in 1932 Red-Headed Woman, starring "Blonde Bombshell" Jean Harlow (her hair now dyed red in order to match the apparent raciness of her character), may have thrilled the naive movie-going audience to pieces with its somewhat spicy sexual innuendo (which is now painfully dated) - But, today, 80 years later, this decidedly irksome "adult" drama pretty much amounted to being a frickin' bore when it came to the genre of Hollywood Chick Flicks.For the most part, I found actress Jean Harlow (clearly a light-weight actress) to be grossly miscast in her role as Lillian "Red" Andrews, an over-the-top, gold-digging, home-wrecking tramp (sans the heart of gold).From my perspective, Harlow managed to chew up way too much scenery (left, right & center) for her own good and the good of her character.Even at its fairly short, 80-minute running time, Red-Headed Woman seemed to drag on with its trivial nonsense forever. And with each new conquest facing the Lillian Andrews character (who was always dressed to the absolute nines), she got more and more annoying and absurd until, of course, she finally became a laughable parody of herself.As the viewer, I could only wish the worst for this nasty, despicable character - But, alas, Lillian (who only found herself temporarily daunted by a few minor set-backs) repeatedly managed to triumph, again and again, in her ruthless scheme to snag herself one millionaire husband after another.I honestly have to admit that after potential-husband #2 was callously ditched by "Red", this ridiculous crusade of hers became utterly preposterous beyond words.All-in-all - Red-Headed Woman may have worked its apparent charm on its audience back in the days of early talkies - But, in these modern-times of ours, it was basically just a pile of empty-headed crap of the highest order.

"Red Headed Woman" released in 1932 by MGM, is all about Jean Harlow. Harlow came to MGM under the guide of Irving Thalberg, the boy wonder of the studio. Louis B. Mayer, a conservative man, initially wanted nothing to do with Harlow. He felt her image was that of a bimbo, but Thalberg held considerable power at the studio, and he made Harlow a star. In this film, one of several she made that year, Harlow plays a tough gal from the wrong side of the tracks. Her goal is to be rich, and she will use her "assets" to do so. Harlow sets out to seduce her boss (Chester Morris) who is very serious-minded and very married. Next thing you know, he's divorcing his wife and is now with Harlow. Not satisfied with this conquest, Harlow sets her sights on New York and shamelessly seduces a very rich (and yes, married) businessman (Henry Stephenson). It all gets quite complicated, with more men and eventually her husband getting wise to her games. But Harlow is a wonder here, with her tough talk and great accent, she rules the film. Matters such as marital infidelity and sex are not disguised, as this was two years before the code of 1930 would clamp down on the movie industry. In fact, this film was one of several which outraged the moralists and eventually lead to the 1934 censorship rules. Anyway, see the film for Harlow. Some good supporting performances, including Una Merkel as Harlow's wise-cracking friend, and Lewis Stone, playing Chester Morris' father.

Boy, don't ever show this movie to a feminist. While I don't think it qualifies as 'misogynist'- it does have two strong female characters, however wicked one of them is, the movie has a brazen sexuality which familiarity with old Hollywood films wouldn't really lead you to think would be present in a 1932 film, but then again this was pre-code. Plus, the whole movie is about a wicked seductress who preys on the natural weaknesses of men, and by the time our protagonist beats her up after she 'asks for it' any extreme feminists watching would probably be preparing banners demanding the film be erased from archives and campaign for 'womyn''s rights more fervently than ever.On the other hand, they might think Jean Harlow's character in the film is an example of a great, strong womyn. Take everything I've said so far with a grain of salt, I'm just having a bit of fun. Back to the film. It's really quite good. Not very good, not great, but quite good. It's a (very) darkly humorous movie with some fun pre-code naughtiness and a sort of sexuality American movies wouldn't really have for quite some time to come after the pre-code era.I suppose some of it is supposed to work as drama, but it's hard to feel sorry for anyone other than the male lead's wife who has her home wrecked by Harlow's character. It's pretty good comedy though, fairly well-written and while the whole movie is sleazy relative to the time period it was made in and modern audiences' preconceived notions about Hollywood films at the time (or at least those that have no experience with the pre-code films), it's all done with a sort of overall class which works in the movie's favor. It's well-directed and a good production too. I don't agree with most that Jean Harlow is even remotely attractive, nor that she's really even all that good here (some of the more comic bits she really doesn't pull off), but the film is pretty good entertainment, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in pre-code Hollywood or if it's on TCM late one night or something and you've got nothing better to do.

Now I was too young to see Miss Harlow in this riotous comedy in 1932,I was all of 4 years old.I finally did see it when I was a teen at the MOMA in NYC. I am sure I liked it, I saw it again last night as part of a double bill with Waterloo Bridge (1931). it was part of the Forbidden Hollywod collection from NETFLIX.It is still a very funny albeit very very stupid, using todays films as a guideline.This was one Jean Harlow's first films, What an comic she was, It was & still is a shame that she left us in 1937 at only 26 years old. We lost a bright comet then. She is great as a gold-digger who uses men as her playthings.Chester Morris was her co-star,He already was a veteran actor and was a much better one than many believe. When his contract at MGM was over he went to Monogram & made the Boston Blackie , private eye series of films,. They did nothing to help his career,Jack Conway directed & Anitra Loos wrote a witty screenplay based on a novel.Also appearing are Una Merkel, May Robson & Lewis Stone.Slickly produce by Irving Thalberg (no title credit)Rating: *** (out of 4) 82 POINTS (OUT OF 1) IMDb 7 (out of 10)