Platinum Blonde - 1931

Ace reporter Stew Smith is assigned to cover a breach of promise suit being filed by chorus girl Gloria Golden against Michael Schuyler, member of the wealthy, socially prominent Schuyler family. Stew tricks Mrs. Schuyler into admitting Gloria was paid off, although Michael's letters to her have not yet been recovered. Michael's beautiful sister Ann then tries to charm Stew, but he nevertheless uses their telephone to call in the story to Conroy, his editor. That night Stew discusses the case with his best pal, fellow reporter Gallagher, who is secretly in love with Stew even though he treats her like one of the guys. The next day, Stew goes to see Ann, to whom he gives Michael's letters, which he stole from Gloria while he was interviewing her. Ann apologizes for her rudeness, and they begin seeing each other. A month later, Stew and Ann elope, prompting Conroy to rib Stew about being "Mr. Schuyler." The Schuyler family is furious about the marriage, but Ann assures them she will quickly tame Stew. When Stew arrives, the newlyweds discuss where they will live, and Stew reluctantly agrees to move into the mansion upon Ann's insistence. Later, at a party for the Spanish ambassador, Stew is bored with the stuffed shirts until he sees Gallagher, who is filling in for the newspaper's society editor. Stew and Gallagher's reunion is interrupted by rival reporter Bingy Baker, who offers Stew a job writing a column for Bingy's paper, on the condition that he sign it "by Ann Schuyler's husband." Bingy adds insult to injury by calling Stew a "Cinderella Man," and is rewarded with a punch in the nose. The next day, the incident is on the front page of Bingy's newspaper, much to the dismay of Mrs. Schuyler. As time passes, Stew wearies of the party life, and Ann wearies of him. One night, after waiting impatiently for Stew to get ready for the mayor's reception, Ann goes to get him, but leaves without him when Stew tells her he can no longer tolerate her friends. After a few hours, Stew becomes bored and asks Gallagher for help with the play he is writing. She asks her friend Hank to chaperone, and he brings the whole gang to the Schuyler mansion. While the party reaches uproarious levels downstairs, Stew and Gallagher work on the play, which she tells him to write from his own experience. When Ann returns, she orders Stew to throw everyone out of her house immediately, but Stew can take no more and packs his bags to leave with Gallagher. Later, at Stew's apartment, he and Gallagher are working on the play when Dexter Grayson, the Schuylers' lawyer, arrives to offer him a financial settlement for the divorce. Stew wants no part of the Schuyler fortune and punches Grayson, then writes the incident into his play. Gallagher asks about the play's ending, and Stew tells her that his character will not return to his wife but will instead marry the character Gallagher suggested, because he has been in love with her all along without knowing it.

Cast of The Platinum Blonde

Loretta Young Gallagher

Robert Williams Stew Smith

Jean Harlow Anne Schuyler

Halliwell Hobbes Smythe, The Butler

Reginald Owen Dexter Grayson

Edmund Breese Conroy, The Editor

Don Dillaway Michael Schuyler (as Donald Dillaway)

Walter Catlett Binji Baker

Claud Allister Dawson, The Valet

Louise Closser Hale Mrs. Schuyler