Jazzy number from 1930

[SatchmoSings]

Hard to believe she's already had such a big career and she's only 25 in this clip.

[21vikija]

she could be a wonderful comedian actress in sound movies

[TheReg1978]

yeah she kept looking up at the microphone.. I want to find some of her flicks.  I don't know where I could..

[villageguy13]

the best actress in film never made to sound. A real tragedy.

[scotnick59]

she had a fine speaking voice!

[rjworks13]

Wow... love this vintage clip. I had no idea Clara Bow did talkies. She's such a charmer in this number! She really did have colorful on-screen presence.

[Dreetjuhh74]

I love her facial expresions,.A legacy from her silent years.

[maymay9910]

if only the navy had her today i'd so freekin join in a heart beat! :)

[edwardconway27]

I love Clara Bow, I wish I live in 1920s! :(

[tescocadaver]

She is gorgeous

[rbf100]

For an actress that was ill at ease with the microphone this number is quite an amazing performance.

[philidor3]

She looks truly sensational and her talent for acting, was out of this world, at least in the eyes of the moviegoers in the "heydays". I think this clip really proofs that her confidence as a sound-star wasn't a issue. Already in the twenties she stated that as a mother she would have no business with Hollywood. She made her last film, Hoopla in 1933 and gave birth to her first son in 1934. She ate Hollywood. When she was through, she spitted it out.

[MrsWilliamTheBloody]

AHHHHH. I LOVE CLARA BOW. SHE'S SO WONDERFUL AND SILLY.

[marius478]

So nice to hear her voice; so very pretty, so very vivacious.

[godluvsmormons]

people think this was an "innocent" time and that people did not know about sex like we do today... bullocks... they were as perverse as people are today, they just knew the art of subtlety more than we do today.

[bfreezeik101]

it sucks there all dead

[bobotoby]

@bfreezeik101 - the word is they're, it's a contraction of "they are" there is for "over there" and their is for showing belonging.

[odysseetheater]

she was such a hot girl ! and what a kind of humor !! wonderful love this ...eva

[melkitcedek2]

The video from Breton2Robert called: Colorful And Irresistible Clara Bow. Its very good and colorful

[Whirrrlpool]

"cloiks"?

[RetroVideoFan]

In response to supremes70sstyle's earlier comment: You're absolutely right, about Paramount rushing Clara into sound pictures right away. In fact, they only gave her two weeks to prepare for her first sound film. Very unfair. I also disagree with what the majority of film historians say about her voice not suitable for a talkie. I'd say it is plenty suitable, and it fits her screen image perfectly, and her singing voice is actually pretty good, better than I expected to hear. 10 out of 10 stars

[SirCyrano]

God, she looks sensational with long hair. It's so sad that she didn't have the confidence to pursue her career in the sound era. I think she would have been great in screwball comedies.

[philidor3]

@SirCyrano Yeah, she looks truly sensational and her talent for acting, was out of this world, at least in the eyes of the moviegoers in the "heydays". I think this clip really proofs that her confidence as a sound-star wasn't a issue. Already in the twenties she stated that as a mother she would have no business with Hollywood. She made her last film, Hoopla in 1933 and gave birth to her first son in 1934. She ate Hollywood. When she was through, she spitted it out.

[GuinevereN]

@SirCyrano I agree. I would have loved to see her in those great 1930's comedies. She had such a voice, too!

[skot66]

what a doll!

[gretaritaingrid]

thanks for posting!

[supremes70sstyle]

as far as the eye thing goes: you are both right. clara rolled her eyes quite a bit when flirting, but she was also afraid of the mic. she had very good reason: paramount RUSHED her into talkies with no preparation (garbo was given one full year), & they had her SING as well, which was she not trained in any way to do!!!

[Rouben19]

Had Clara Remained at this weight, she would have been a lot more comfortable, her figure is perfect here, she could gain and lose like Judy Garland but only 1 film did she look ill and that was Saturday night Kid

[zitalee2]

clara bow doesn't look like the "it" type. i don't know she just looks too innocent

[Overfiend002]

hey eyes are always darting up. Was that because of the microphone?

[perfectjazz78]

No it is a "flirtatious" gesture

[DerBesteJohnny]

no, i think shes doing too often. its surely because of the microphone...

[heavyboxes]

You can read on wikipedia where it talks about her transition into the era of "talkies" and how she was very nervous at first but quickly transitioned. She had a nervous problem of staring at the microphone up above, since sound was something she never dealt with before.

At the time, people ragged on the sound of her voice, but I think it's actually kind of amazing. Her singing is good too.

[moonshiny74]

@perfectjazz78 Actually, it was because of the mic. It was a nervous habit she developed when the talkies took over.

[xplodinggrrrl]

@perfectjazz78 actually- it was more likely because of the mic than her being flirtatious. she was petrified of the microphone and that its what ultimately sent her into a nervous breakdown and ended her career- that and Hollywood being so nasty to her.

[Siristaromen]

@perfectjazz78 Which required a lot of trainings. X)

[carmendeee]

@Overfiend002 On wikipedia it says "Bow began experiencing microphone fright on the sets of her sound films. A visibly nervous Bow had to do a number of retakes in The Wild Party because her eyes kept wandering up to the microphone overhead"

[xplodinggrrrl]

@Overfiend002 most likely. she was petrified of the mic.

[Lerkamelen]

Clara. I love you.

[jjjjjons]

was having a beer and music night and came accross this clip.Such a long time ago.Sat and watched it all.Enjoyed thks.

[BornToLate]

Clara had a Brooklyn accent but that is not what killed her career. Scandals also hurt her. Clara was the original jazz baby and her unconventional screen behavior and antics set the screen on fire. I think "Hoopla' her last film in 1933 failed because she was overweight even though only 26. The biggest female stars in the 20s failed in the 30s except Garbo. Gish, Colleen Moore, Talmadge, and the biggest, Swanson, is remembered for the washed up silent screen role "Sunset Boulevard."

[waynebrasler]

Clara Bow was the "It" girl and boy did she have it! A terrific talent but a sad life and eventually she said phooey to it all. She was, obviously, very bright and very talented. And she is amazingly contemporary looking here!

[philidor3]

I didn't know who Clara Bow was at all. By accident I saw a clip like this,on the Tube. I was stunned. I never saw an actor with abilities like hers.

[caraqueno]

Clara Bow made the transition to talkies and was a huge star through 1932. The combination of really poor handling of her career by her boss, B. P. Schulberg, in some sloppy films, the damage caused to her and her image from the scandal involving her private secretary, and the nervous breakdown she suffered after the trial took their toll on her health and emotional well-being. She was offered comebacks but, after 1933, she wanted nothing more from the film industry.

[Impalamark64]

Wow, she's spectacular! Talent, personality, and of course, beauty!

[laitetmiel]

This is from "Paramount on Parade", but it was so popular they made a movie of it, which was "True to the Navy"

[78timothy]

Regaarding your commnt about "True to the Navy", they actually took this scene for a dance number and copied it step-for -step.

[kingfish196]

Is this from "True To The Navy" or is it the scene that C.B. did from the movie in the promotional picture "Paramount On Parade"?

[safeandclearalright]

do u think luka magnotta is the new clara bo?

[panamintjoe]

Clara! Whatta Babe!

[SirCyrano]

Wow, this is a major revelation -- thanks for finding and posting it. The old story was that Clara Bow didn't have a presentable speaking voice, let alone a singing voice. Wrong on both counts! Can't understand why she didn't survive the transition to talkies. She still had "it" by the bushel!

[dhsaaf]

From what I understand, It was really more because SHE didn't feel comfortable or like making talkies, that she got out of Movies when she did. Great in front of a camera but very self-conscious in front of a microphone. Although it's sure hard to tell, in this Clip from Paramount on Parade

[richardbrompton]

Most of the Ships that She sings about went down on Dec. 7th 1941

[jthomasbaseball]

my god, clara was so beautiful, I,m so in love with a woman that's been gone for 50 years...am I crazy?

[DuduTheFlapper]

No , you have great taste !

[hebneh]

I don't think I've ever heard Clara Bow sing, and she's really pretty good. Her speaking voice is fine also.

Notice that this song is a lighthearted and cute depiction of a woman admitting her promiscuity. See, if you just present it the right way, you can get away with a lot of things.

[wellohmeeeeeee]

Yes...and it is HER voice, as a few lines in you can clearly hear her Brooklyn accent, which the studios tried to get rid of.

There should be a film made of her life.

Come on Hollywood .

[1singlet]

big smile, from here!

[Rouben19]

Clara was so popular that release of this film ( an all star review) was held up until she returned from an Illness it took around 11 months to get this one all put togeather

[miataman7]

If they put her on Americas Most Talented she would probably get kicked off ,not for being truly talented but because these judges do not know crap from clay !

[skot66]

women were better then

[ManilaSyndicate]

"women were better then"

True, certainly seemed to have more character.

[1singlet]

Apparently. Truth is, people haven't changed for a very long time. But, culture changes, somewhat. My great-grandparents were "pioneer stock" and straight as an arrow.

[hwbanger]

So much for the theory that she didn't have a voice for talkies .