Year: 1927
Director: Clarence Badger
Country: US
Language: English
By 1927 Clara Bow's career was reaching new heights after years of toiling in supporting roles that kept her in relative obscurity. The previous year she starred in the hit Mantrap, which would lead to being in the first "Best Picture" Academy Award winner Wings. This film It was made in the hope that it would cement her legacy as Hollywood's "It" girl at the time. The film isn't pefect, but it would prove great for Bow.
A salesgirl (Clara Bow) with plenty of "it" (sex appeal) pursues a handsome playboy (Antonio Moreno).
This movie has become synonymous with her career and movie star image. So much so, that even today she is remembered primarily as 'The It Girl'. She was the last sex icon of the silent era and represented the best of the Flapper/Jazz age. Based on Elinor Glyn’s story the film is a fun lighthearted quintessential comedy that is filled to the brim with rom-com goodness which unfortunately has become cliche with overuse in Cinema.
Paramount paid Glyn a fortune for the rights to It and then promptly chucked out most of the story. Unfortunately this means the writing suffers from lack of originality, as the plot is usual for studio romantic comedies of this era. If you've seen any two shopgirl flicks from this era then you've pretty much seen them all. Director Clarence Badger put all his cards on his star Clara Bow. Thankfully her performance alone is enough to make this picture memorable.
Thanks to Clara Bow, who may have been the most enigmatic actress of the silent era, It is an easily digestable film that not only deserves to be viewed positively, but ought to be viewed more than once. A time capsule of past relationships, you owe it to yourself to watch this one.
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