Clara Bow

Latest News: Taylor Swift Names New Song After Silent Film Star Clara Bow

Clara Bow, the iconic silent film star who stepped away from the limelight at the young age of 28, is once again capturing public attention. On February 6, pop sensation Taylor Swift unveiled the track list for her highly anticipated new album, The Tortured Poets Department, set to release on April 19. The final song on the album is titled “Clara Bow,” a nod to the legendary actress.

Bow, who endured a tumultuous childhood in New York City, rose to prominence in Hollywood during the 1920s, establishing herself as one of the era’s leading ladies and one of the first onscreen sex symbols. She became the quintessential “It Girl” following her performance in the 1927 blockbuster It. Her romantic entanglements, characterized by multiple broken engagements, attracted intense media scrutiny and fueled Hollywood gossip. Unfortunately, the pressures of fame, coupled with her mental health struggles, led Bow to retire from acting in 1933. She later built a family with her husband of over 30 years, actor-turned-politician Rex Bell.

Who Was Clara Bow?

Clara Bow emerged as a prominent figure in the silent film era of the 1920s. She began her acting career as a teenager after winning a beauty contest, which paved the way for her first role in the 1922 film Beyond the Rainbow—though her scenes ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor. She gained significant recognition through her performances in films such as Black Oxen and Wine, but her major breakthrough came with the 1927 hit It, which not only became a box-office sensation but also solidified her status as the “It Girl.” In the same year, she starred in Wings, the inaugural recipient of the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Despite her success, Bow faced numerous personal challenges, including scandals and a mental health breakdown, leading to her retirement from acting in 1933. She lived the remainder of her life away from the public eye, passing away in September 1965 at the age of 60.

Troubling Childhood

Born on July 29, 1905, in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, Clara Bow was the youngest of three siblings, and the only one to survive past childhood. Her early life was marred by adversity; her father, Robert, was abusive and frequently absent, while her mother, Sarah, struggled with severe mental health issues, which eventually escalated to threats against her daughter’s life. The family endured considerable poverty, prompting Bow to seek solace in the cinema, ultimately leading her to drop out of school.

At the age of 16, she entered and won a beauty contest, which provided her with a small role in the 1922 film Beyond the Rainbow. Despite facing setbacks, including the institutionalization and eventual death of her mother, Bow remained determined, continuing to audition at New York studios until she secured a part in Down to the Sea in Ships (1922).

Movies: Becoming the “It Girl”

Clara Bow made her entrance into Hollywood by signing with Preferred Pictures, under the leadership of B.P. Schulberg. She starred in a series of silent films, including Black Oxen (1923), Grit (1924), Wine (1924), The Plastic Age (1925), and Dancing Mothers (1926). After Preferred Pictures went bankrupt, Bow transitioned to Paramount Studios, where she would further solidify her status.

Bow’s rise to fame culminated in 1927 with It, a film adapted from an Elinor Glyn novella. This project was a significant box-office success and earned her the enduring moniker of the “It Girl.” Bow’s magnetic presence and vibrant, alluring performances resonated with the flapper culture of the era, establishing her as a style icon whose look inspired women nationwide.

Although often typecast as a sex symbol, Bow made cinematic history with her co-starring role in Wings (1927), which won the inaugural Oscar for Best Picture. She successfully navigated the transition to sound films, beginning with The Wild Party (1929), followed by notable talkies such as The Saturday Night Kid (1929) and True to the Navy (1930).

Over the course of her career, Bow starred in numerous films. However, the demanding nature of her work, coupled with industry exploitation and personal struggles with mental health, took a toll on her well-being. Her final projects, Call Her Savage and Hoopla, released under Fox Studios, failed to achieve commercial success, leading to her retirement from acting in 1933 at the age of 28.

The Toll of the Spotlight

Despite her vibrant and affable personality, Bow grappled with an overwhelming work schedule, intense media scrutiny, and unresolved traumas from her childhood. Her offscreen romantic life became a source of scandalous gossip, fueled by a pamphlet released by an assistant that detailed her various relationships. Bow was rumored to have multiple partners simultaneously and endured several broken engagements.

In 1931, she experienced a mental breakdown and entered a sanitarium for treatment. After weeks of care, she returned home to Nevada to continue her recovery. Although Bow briefly attempted to resume her acting career, she ultimately chose to leave the spotlight for good.

Later Years

During her recovery, Bow met fellow actor Rex Bell, and they married in 1931. The couple settled on his ranch in Searchlight, Nevada, and welcomed two sons, Rex (known as “Tony”) in 1934 and George in 1938. In the late 1930s, Bow and Bell briefly owned a restaurant in Hollywood’s Plaza Hotel called the “It” Cafe. Bell later ventured into politics, serving as Nevada’s lieutenant governor and running for governor.

In 1947, Bow made a temporary return to public life by voicing the character of Mrs. Hush on the radio game show Truth or Consequences. Nevertheless, she continued to struggle with her mental health, attempting suicide in the mid-1940s and undergoing numerous examinations. Eventually, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Following Bell’s death in 1962 during his gubernatorial campaign, Bow had largely retreated from public life, with her attendance at his funeral marking one of her few public appearances in later years.

Death and Legacy

Clara Bow passed away on September 27, 1965, in Los Angeles, at the age of 60 due to a heart attack.

In the decades since her death, Bow’s groundbreaking contributions to film and popular culture have been the subject of renewed interest. She has been compared to subsequent on-screen sex symbols such as Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and Rita Hayworth. Notable works exploring her life and legacy include David Stenn’s biography, Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild (1988), and the documentary Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl (1999), directed by Hugh M. Neely and narrated by Courtney Love.