Dear Reader #204

Dear Reader,

Yesterday, we published Operation Butterfly, book eleven in my Eve’s War Heroines of SOE series. I’m pleased to say that the book is doing well on Amazon’s genre charts.

Clara Bow’s forty-third movie was Red Hair produced between December 13, 1927 and January 9, 1928, and released on March 10, 1928. Clara played Bubbles McCoy. Sadly, the film is now considered lost. The opening sequence was filmed in two-strip Technicolor, and that sequence survives.

For the movie, Clara’s hair was bleached then dyed with henna to make it redder than ever. 

Red Hair was a success. Indeed, in terms of box office the only movies that could compete with a new Clara Bow movie were previous Clara Bow movies.

At this juncture, Clara parted company with producer B.P. Schulberg, the man who had boosted or blighted her career, depending on your point of view.

An incident during the making of Red Hair affected the lives of every female star. Clara was ‘different’ in many respects, including the fact that she menstruated twice a month. She was scheduled to shoot a swimming scene (producers and directors loved placing Clara in water), but she informed the assistant director, Fred Fleck, that she couldn’t. Shooting had to be suspended. Fleck informed Schulberg and Schulberg fired him. 

Word reached Clara and she played hell. She said the delay in shooting was not Fleck’s fault and that if Schulberg was going to fire anyone he should fire her. Schulberg reinstated Fleck and, of course, he did not fire Clara. 

This incident was typical of the way Clara stood up for the people around her. However, from that moment on every assistant director was informed of the menstrual cycle of every major star.

Favourite Movie Quote of the 20th Century Poll

Result: 29% v 71%

Result: 52% v 48%

Result: 42% v 58%

Result: 79% v 21%

Result: 66% v 34%

Result: 14% v 86%

Result: 26% v 74%

Result: 46% v 54%

Result: 15% v 85%

You can read more on my Timeline https://hannah-howe.com/timeline/2023-july-24-30/

Social media https://toot.wales/@HannahHowe

As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx

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