13 Comments
User's avatar
Jeffrey Sakson's avatar

He was also great as Ziegfeld

Expand full comment
Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Thanks, Jeff! I was counting on you to add more William Powell movies to my must-watch list.

Expand full comment
Anders's avatar

Good story well written, thanks

Expand full comment
Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Thank you, Anders! Appreciate the kind note.

Expand full comment
Jules's avatar

I love your tchotchkes - that little green art deco plate is a doozie 💛

Fascinating article - dripping with history, and lovely to learn more about William Powell. I just checked whether he ever worked with Bette D. at Warners'. They starred in "Fashions of 1934" together.

I'm just watching a bit of "The Kennel Murder Case". Powell was so suave. Makes me want to watch more of his movies. (Also Eugene Pallette is in this one - loved him in "The Bride Came COD" with Bette). What a poignant life story - I had no idea about Jean Harlow's tragic death.

I do hope that LA's amazing history can be preserved. It's a pity about the rooms in the Hollywood Tower, but it's something that it was preserved to some degree. Perhaps one day some rich movie buff historian will pour some money into restoring it to its former glory.

I so enjoyed this Hilary. Thank you 😊

Expand full comment
Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Thank you, Jules! I appreciate your support of my tchotchkes. Jared’s dad googled that platter and found one for sale for $150! I paid $10. Jared is whistling a different tune now. Lol. Poor Jean Harlow. If I’d had more room, I would’ve written about her previous husband’s horrible death which was likely a suicide, her controlling stage mom, and her thieving stepdad. William Powell actually figured out that the stepfather had been stealing all of Harlow’s money and dumping it into phony investments. Powell exposed the guy as a charlatan and Jean’s mom divorced him. I’ll let you know what else I discover in his biography. ☺️I’m adding the movies you mentioned to my must watch list.

Expand full comment
Jules's avatar

Amazing! Great when that happens. I know nothing but it looked like a classy piece to me! 💫

Dear me, sounds like poor Jean had a terrible time. No wonder WP was so distraught at the funeral. He looked so thin in the photo, clearly broken-hearted. 😔

Expand full comment
Companion loaf's avatar

Oh I loved this piece! And I can see why you are friends with Ray and Eric. I have such great memories of watching Nick & Nora and Asta. I still want a dog like Asta. So glamorous. I had no idea Jean Harlow died so young. PS my sister has a friend who named her daughter Loy after Myrna Loy.

Expand full comment
Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Aww. Thank you, Sarah! I blame the Saharan heat for the typos. 😀 I love that your friend named her daughter after Myrna Loy. Loy was an incredible on and off screen. Ray & Eric and I definitely love all things old. Hope we can all hang out again soon. ❤️

Expand full comment
Companion loaf's avatar

Oh I’d love that! ❤️

Expand full comment
Companion loaf's avatar

PS stay cool or at least good lucky trying!

Expand full comment
Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Thank you for the Restack, @Alisa Kennedy Jones!! ❤️

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Sep 6
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Hiya Brad! Thanks for reading. I haven't seen that movie and I'm not sure you've convinced me that I should. Lol. When I was looking up the stage plays that Powell had performed it, I thought "Within in the Law" sounded really good and I wished someone would stage it.

Expand full comment