“When ‘The Wild Party Girl’ , the original ‘IT’ Queen takes the boys for a ride, What Pep! What Fun!”
Sound film (also released in a silent version) — 62 mins.
Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. / Dir. A. Edward Sutherland
Production: July 27 or 29, 1929 (David Stenn’s Bombshell lists July 27, but AFI cites July 29) — August 19, 1929
Release date: October 25, 1929
Survival/release status: Extant; available to watch online. While the film has been restored, there is no legitimate physical release as of 2026, despite entering the public domain. Fingers crossed!
Cast: Clara Bow (Mayme), James Hall (Bill), Jean Arthur (Janie), Edna May Oliver (Miss Streeter), Charles Sellon (Lem Woodruff), Ethel Wales (Lily Woodruff), Hyman Meyer (Ginsberg), Eddie Dunn (Jim), Jean Harlow (Hazel), Leone Lane (Pearl), Alice Adair (Girl).
Summary (from AFI): Mayme, a salesgirl in Ginsberg’s department store, is in love with Bill, another clerk; but when he is promoted to floorwalker and Mayme’s sister, Janie, is made treasurer of the benefit pageant, Mayme loses Bill to her sister. Janie, however, has been losing racing bets placed with Lem Woodruff, proprietor of the boardinghouse where she and Mayme live; and to make up her losses, she places the pageant money on a winning horse, but inadvertently the bet is placed on another horse. She confesses her predicament to Mayme, who wins back the money by shooting craps with Lem. Janie blames her sister for the loss until Mayme shows up with the money and vents her righteous wrath on her hypocritical sister. Bill returns to Mayme, and Janie finds happiness with Jim, a fellow boarder.
Trivia:
- Harlow’s first named and credited role on film. This bit part quickly led to bigger opportunities; she met costar James Hall on the set, who would later introduce her to Howard Hughes to suggest her for the role of Helen in Hell’s Angels. Clara Bow requested Harlow be removed from the picture after becoming jealous of her in a tight-fitted gown; however, she cooled quickly, offering Harlow an Edith Head costume that was too small for Bow to wear. Bow, taking a liking to Harlow, requested that publicity pictures be taken of them together; Harlow was forever thankful.
Stills and ad art:
Harlow Heaven 