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Clara Bow filmography

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1930s studio portrait

Clara Bow (1905–1965) was a 16-year-old living in the New York City borough of Brooklyn when she won the 1921 nationwide "Fame and Fortune Contest" advertised in Motion Picture Magazine. After submitting their autobiography with a completed entry form clipped from the magazine, finalists were given multiple screen tests.[1][2] As the winner, she was cast in a small role in the silent era film Beyond the Rainbow.[3] Although her part was eventually edited out, the contest inspired her to pursue an acting career. She relocated to Los Angeles and in 1923 signed with producer B.P. Schulberg.[3] Over the next seven years, she would make more than 40 silent-era films, the majority of them under contract to Paramount Pictures.[4] Her 1927 starring role in It, about an attractive and charismatic young woman, led the public to label Bow the "It girl".[5]

The 1927 film Wings, in which she co-starred with Charles "Buddy" Rogers, won the first Academy Award for Best Picture in 1929.[6] Paramount initially released it as a silent film, to accommodate smaller regional theaters that were not yet equipped for sound. They would later release a sound version, informally referred to as a "talkie".

Two of her other Paramount films, The Wild Party and The Saturday Night Kid, were also released in both silent and "talkie" formats. Paramount had a special department for the sole purpose of counting and answering every incoming fan letter.[7] Named the film industry's top box office draw, her admirers flooded Paramount every month with an average of 30,000 fan letters.[8] Yet, she dreaded the transition to sound in films.[9] Bow never lost her Brooklyn accent and speech patterns,[10] and was convinced that the new technology would be the end of her career.[11] The studio arranged a special public appearance for her when the "talkie" version of The Wild Party opened at the 4,200-seat[12] Brooklyn Paramount Theater. She addressed the cheering crowd in her hometown neighborhood jargon, "I hope youse all prouda me."[13] Both the audience and the news media gave her rave reviews for her first sound movie.[14]

Bow never completely adapted to the process of making sound pictures, was dissatisfied with her career, and would make only nine more films. She married fellow actor (and future lieutenant governor of Nevada) Rex Bell in 1931, moving to their Walking Box Ranch that spanned part of the Mojave Desert across the Nevada and California state lines. The couple split their time between the ranch and Los Angeles, briefly operating the "It Cafe" on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.[15] She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960.[16] During most of her husband's 1955–1962 tenure as an office holder in Nevada, Bow was confined to her Culver City, California, residence, where she was in declining health requiring around-the-clock nursing care. Rex Bell died in 1962,[17] and Bow followed him in death in 1965.[18]

Theatrical releases

[edit]
Clara Bow publicity photo, possibly for "Hoopla" (1933).
Clara Bow (1921) Brewster Publication's annual nationwide acting contest
Publicity release for Beyond the Rainbow, Clara Bow (upper left corner) and cast (1922)
Clara Bow in the Wings trailer (1927)
Lobby poster for Wings (1927), Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Clara Bow
Lane Chandler and Clara Bow in Red Hair (1928)
Clara Bow on the cover of CINELANDIA magazine (1931)
Feature-length film (silent except where noted) credits of Clara Bow
Title Year Role Studio Notes Ref(s)
Beyond the Rainbow 1922 Virginia Gardener Robertson-Cole Pictures [19]
Down to the Sea in Ships 1922 Dot Morgan Whaling Film Corp [20]
The Pill Pounder 1923 W.W. Hodkinson Corporation Originally lost, a print was found at an auction by filmmaker Gary Huggins in Omaha, Nebraska in 2023. [21]
The Daring Years 1923 Mary Daniel Carson Goodman production Lost film [22]
Enemies of Women 1923 Girl dancing on table Cosmopolitan Productions Uncredited
An incomplete copy exists at the Library of Congress, missing reels 3 and 9 of 11 total 		[23]
Maytime 1923 Alice Tremaine B. P. Schulberg An incomplete copy exists [24]
Black Oxen 1923 Janet Ogelthorpe Frank Lloyd Productions Several incomplete copies exist [25]
This Woman 1924 Aline Sturdevant Warner Bros. [26]
Grit 1924 Orchid McGonigle Film Guild Productions Lost film [27]
Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo 1924 Margot LeBlanc B. P. Schulberg An incomplete copy is preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [28]
Daughters of Pleasure 1924 Lila Millas B.F. Zeidman An incomplete copy is held at the Library of Congress [29]
Wine 1924 Angela Warriner Universal Pictures Lost film [30]
Empty Hearts 1924 Rosalie Banner Pictures Corporation An incomplete copy is preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [31]
Helen's Babies 1924 Alice Mayton Principal Pictures [32]
Black Lightning 1924 Martha Larned Gotham Productions Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [33]
Capital Punishment 1925 Delia Tate B.P. Schulberg Productions [34]
The Adventurous Sex 1925 The Girl Howard Estabrook Productions Lost film [35]
Eve's Lover 1925 Rena D'Arcy Warner Bros. Lost film [36]
The Lawful Cheater 1925 Molly Burns B.P. Schulberg Productions Lost film [37]
The Scarlet West 1925 Miriam First National Pictures Lost film
Trailer survives 		[38]
My Lady's Lips 1925 Lola Lombard B.P. Schulberg Productions Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [39]
Parisian Love 1925 Marie B.P. Schulberg Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [40]
Kiss Me Again 1925 Grizette Warner Bros. Lost film [41]
The Keeper of the Bees 1925 Lolly Cameron Gene Stratton Porter Productions Lost film
Trailer exists 		[42]
The Primrose Path 1925 Marilyn Merrill Embassy Pictures [43]
Free to Love 1925 Marie Anthony B.P. Schulberg Productions [44]
The Best Bad Man 1925 Peggy Swain Fox Film Corporation [45]
The Ancient Mariner 1925 Doris Fox Film Corporation Lost film [46]
My Lady of Whims 1925 Prudence Severn Dallas M. Fitzgerald Productions Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [47]
The Plastic Age 1925 Cynthia Day B.P. Schulberg Productions Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [48]
Shadow of the Law 1926 Mary Brophy Embassy Pictures Lost film [49]
Two Can Play 1926 Dorothy Hammis Encore Pictures Lost film
Fragments exist 		[50]
Dancing Mothers 1926 Kittens Westcourt Paramount Famous Players Lasky [51]
Fascinating Youth 1926 Herself Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film
Trailer exists 		[52]
The Runaway 1926 Cynthia Meade Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film [53]
Mantrap 1926 Alverna Paramount Famous Players–Lasky Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive [54]
Kid Boots 1926 Clara McCoy Paramount Famous Players Lasky [55]
It 1927 Betty Lou Spence Paramount Famous Players–Lasky [56]
Children of Divorce 1927 Kitty Flanders Paramount Famous Players Lasky [57]
Rough House Rosie 1927 Rosie O'Reilly Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film
Trailer exists 		[58]
Wings 1927 Mary Preston Paramount Famous Players–Lasky Won the first Oscar for Outstanding Picture in 1929
released in both silent and sound versions 		[59]
Hula 1927 Hula Calhoun Paramount Famous Players Lasky [60]
Get Your Man 1927 Nancy Worthington Paramount Famous Players Lasky An Incomplete print exists, missing two of its six reels. [61]
Red Hair 1928 Bubbles McCoy Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film
Fragments exist, including the only known color footage of Bow) 		[62]
Ladies of the Mob 1928 Yvonne Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film [63]
The Fleet's In 1928 Peaches Deane Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film [64]
Three Week-Ends 1928 Gladys O'Brien Paramount Famous Players Lasky Lost film
Fragments exist 		[65]
The Wild Party 1929 Stella Ames Paramount Pictures Both sound and silent versions
Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive 		[66]
The Saturday Night Kid 1929 Mayme Paramount Pictures Alternative title: Love 'Em and Leave 'Em
Both sound and silent versions
Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive 		[67]
Dangerous Curves 1929 Pat Delaney Paramount Famous Players Lasky Sound film [68]
Paramount on Parade 1930 Herself Paramount Pictures Sound film
English and Spanish versions (Galas de la Paramount)
Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive 		[69]
Love Among the Millionaires 1930 Pepper Whipple Paramount-Publix Corp Sound film [70]
Her Wedding Night 1930 Norma Martin Paramount-Publix Corp Sound film
Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive 		[71]
True to the Navy 1930 Ruby Nolan Paramount-Publix Corp Sound film [72]
No Limit 1931 Helen "Bunny" O'Day Paramount-Publix Corp Sound film [73]
Kick In 1931 Molly Hewes Paramount-Publix Corp Sound film [74]
Call Her Savage 1932 Nasa Springer Fox Film Corporation Sound film [75]
Hoop-La 1933 Lou Fox Film Corporation Sound film [76]

Miscellaneous

[edit]
Various shorts related to Clara Bow
Title Year Notes Ref(s)
Untitled documentary about the 1920s 1927 Footage of multiple celebrities
Warner Bros. 		[77]
Clara Bow, former It Girl, and husband Rex Bell open the "It Cafe" in Hollywood, California 1937 Hearst vault material
Preserved at UCLA Film and Television Archive 		[15]
Screen Snapshots Series 20, No. 1 1940 Columbia Pictures 20th anniversary show [78]
Screen Snapshots 1860: Howdy, Podner 1949 Short subject – Clara Bow, Rex Bell and other celebrities in Las Vegas [79]
Screen Snapshots Series 35, No. 4 1958 "Ramblin' round Hollywood"
Columbia Pictures 20th anniversary show.
Footage shot by Ken Murray, produced by Ralph Staub. 		[80]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Sarvady, Andrea Cornell (2006). Miller, Frank (ed.). Leading Ladies: The 50 Most Unforgettable Actresses of the Studio Era. TCM film guide. San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-5248-7. OCLC 64744501.
  • Stenn, David (1988). Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-24125-0.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stenn 1988, pp. 16–20.
  2. ^ Borrelli-Persson, Laird (29 July 2017). "Remembering the Original It Girl, Clara Bow, on Her Birthday". Vogue. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Clara Bow". Biography. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Stenn 1988, pp. 62–63, 70–72. 104, 130, 148–149, 232–234.
  5. ^ Stenn 1988, pp. 83–84.
  6. ^ "The 1st Academy Awards (1929) Nominees and Winners". Oscars.org. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  7. ^ Stenn 1988, p. 135.
  8. ^ Stenn 1988, pp. 135, 159.
  9. ^ Stenn 1988, p. 159.
  10. ^ Stenn 1988, p. 157.
  11. ^ Stenn 1988, p. 158.
  12. ^ "Brooklyn Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn, NY – Cinema Treasures". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  13. ^ Stenn 1988, p. 163.
  14. ^ Stenn 1988, pp. 157–160.
  15. ^ a b "Clara Bow, former It Girl, and husband Rex Bell open It Cafe in Hollywood, California". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "Clara Bow". Hollywood Walk of Fame. 25 October 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  17. ^ Stenn 1988, p. 276.
  18. ^ Stenn 1988, pp. 280–281.
  19. ^ "Beyond the Rainbow". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  20. ^ "Down to the Sea in Ships". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  21. ^ "Rediscovered Clara Bow Movie 'The Pill Pounder' to Screen for First Time in 101 Years This April". Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Darling Years". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  23. ^ Sarvady 2006, p. 217.
  24. ^ "Maytime". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  25. ^ "Black Oxen". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  26. ^ "This Woman". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  27. ^ "Grit". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  28. ^ "Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  29. ^ "Daughters of Pleasure". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  30. ^ "Wine". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  31. ^ "Empty Hearts". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  32. ^ "Helen's Babies". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  33. ^ "Black Lightning". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  34. ^ "Capital Punishment". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Adventurous Sex". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  36. ^ "Eve's Lover". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  37. ^ "The Lawful Cheater". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  38. ^ "The Scarlet West". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  39. ^ "My Lady's Lips". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  40. ^ "Parisian Love". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  41. ^ "Kiss Me Again". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  42. ^ "The Keeper of the Bees". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  43. ^ "The Primrose Path". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  44. ^ "Free to Love". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  45. ^ "The Best Bad Man". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  46. ^ "The Ancient Mariner". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  47. ^ "My Lady of Whims". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  48. ^ "The Plastic Age". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  49. ^ "Shadow of the Law". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  50. ^ "Two Can Play". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  51. ^ "Dancing Mothers". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  52. ^ "Fascinating Youth". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  53. ^ "The Runaway". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  54. ^ "Mantrap". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  55. ^ "Kid Boots". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  56. ^ "It". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  57. ^ "Children of Divorce". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  58. ^ "Rough House Rosie". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  59. ^ "Wings – silent version". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020. "Wings – sound version". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  60. ^ "Hula". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  61. ^ "Get Your Man". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  62. ^ "Red Hair". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  63. ^ "Ladies of the Mob". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  64. ^ "The Fleet's In". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  65. ^ "Three Weekends". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  66. ^ "The Wild Party". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  67. ^ "The Saturday Night Kid". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  68. ^ "Dangerous Curves". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  69. ^ "Paramount on Parade". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  70. ^ "Love Among the Millionaires". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  71. ^ "Her Wedding Night". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  72. ^ "True to the Navy". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  73. ^ "No Limit". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  74. ^ "Kick In". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  75. ^ "Call Her Savage". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  76. ^ "Hoop-La". AFI Catalog of Featured Films. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  77. ^ "Documentary about the 1920's". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  78. ^ "Columbia Pictures 20th anniversary show". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  79. ^ "Screen Snapshots 1860: Howdy, Podner (1949)". Letterboxd. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  80. ^ "Columbia Pictures 20th anniversary show". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
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