Reckless

"Reckless" 1935 directed by Victor Fleming story by Oliver Jeffries screenplay written by P.J. Wolfson, back row, L to R: Louise Henry, Nat Pendleton, Mae Madison, Ted Healy and front row, L to R: Leon Ames, Rosalind Russell, William Powell, Jean Harlow, Franchot Tone.

Melodramatic musical with Harlow miscast as a Broadway singer-dancer named Mona Leslie. Harlow was dubbed by Virginia Verrill in this film, who also later dubbed Harlow in "Suzy", and her dancing was also 'dubbed' by someone else's feet. The story includes her husband committing suicide which bore a strong similarity to her second husband Paul Bern's death in 1932 after two months of marriage, but studio executives stated the story was inspired by the story of Libby Holman and her husband, Zachary Smith Reynolds, millionaire aviator and heir to the R.J. Reynolds estate, who killed himself on July 6, 1932. Producer David O. Selznick originally had cast Joan Crawford, who was a dancer and who had a warm contralto voice, but she declined the role and Selznick felt it would be good to cash in on the real-life romance between Harlow and Powell. Critics were disappointed with the story despite top-notch sets and supporting players including May Robson, Allan Jones, Nina Mae McKinney, Henry Stephenson, and Allan 'Farina' Hoskins. "Reckless" reportedly lost $125,000. MGM later cast Harlow and Powell in the hit comedy, "Libeled Lady".