How a 1927 silent film invented the modern concept of the It Girl
In short: Before social media influencers, there was the It Girl. This 1927 silent film starring Clara Bow didn't just break box-office records; it defined a magnetic, indefinable quality that captivated the Jazz Age. Discover how a simple shopgirl's story became a cultural phenomenon that still echoes in our lexicon today.
The 1927 film It, directed by Clarence G. Badger, transformed Clara Bow into a cinematic legend and the definitive Jazz Baby of her era. Based on a novella by Elinor Glyn, the movie centers on Betty Lou Spence, a working-class shopgirl who captures the attention of her wealthy employer, Cyrus Waltham Jr. Through a series of romantic misunderstandings, yachting mishaps, and a dramatic rescue at sea, the narrative explores class divides and the irresistible allure of its protagonist. While the film was a massive commercial success, its legacy lies primarily in its branding of the 'It' quality—a magnetic force that draws others in, regardless of physical beauty.
The concept of 'It' was a deliberate marketing masterstroke. Paramount Pictures paid Glyn $50,000 for the rights to her idea, which she defined in a Cosmopolitan serial as a mental and physical magnetism that wins over anyone. Interestingly, the film version diverged significantly from Glyn’s original story. While the source material featured an upper-class male character with this magnetic trait, producers shifted the focus to a female lead to better suit Bow’s persona. This adaptation process, involving screenwriters Hope Loring, Louis D. Lighton, and George Marion Jr., highlights how the film functioned as an early 'concept movie,' even integrating product placement for Cosmopolitan magazine.
For decades, the film was feared lost until a nitrate print was unearthed in Prague during the 1960s. Its cultural significance was formally recognized in 2001 when the Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry. The film, which features early appearances by actors like Gary Cooper, entered the public domain on January 1, 2023. Today, the term 'It girl' remains a staple of our cultural vocabulary, tracing its lineage directly back to this silent-era hit that proved a magnetic personality could be the most powerful force on screen.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: It (1927 film)
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