Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (film)
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is a 1953 musical comedy film that became a significant hit in the 1950s, renowned for its humor, musical numbers, and the performances of its leads, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. The film follows the adventures of Lorelei Lee, a gold-digger portrayed by Monroe, and her friend Dorothy Shaw, played by Russell, as they embark on a luxury cruise to Paris. While Dorothy enjoys flirting with men, she remains protective of Lorelei, who is focused on marrying for love and wealth.
The film is particularly celebrated for Monroe's iconic performance, especially her rendition of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," where she dazzles in a memorable pink dress. Directed by Howard Hawks, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" features sharp dialogue and balances themes of sex and humor without compromising the dignity of its female characters. The film played a pivotal role in elevating Monroe's career, earning her the Photoplay best-actress award for her work in both this film and "How to Marry a Millionaire" in the same year. The film remains a classic of its genre, reflecting the cultural dynamics of its time.
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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (film)
Identification Film about a woman who wants to marry for diamonds
Date Released in 1953
Director Howard Hawks
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes featured the first scene ever filmed in CinemaScope as well as an outstanding performance by Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee, which made her famous.
Key Figures
Howard Hawks (1896-1977), film director
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a female buddy film, was one of the most popular, funny, and sexy musicals of the 1950’s and featured outstanding performances by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell as showgirls looking for husbands. It was a box-office hit largely because of Monroe and Russell’s sexy, wicked comic timing and for its over-the-top song-and-dance numbers. Monroe made history as she danced sensuously in a dazzling, vivid pink strapless dress while singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.”
Gold digger Lorelei Lee and her companion Dorothy Shaw (played by Russell), set off for a luxury cruise to Paris, France. Dorothy flirts with the men on the ship, singing and dancing with the male Olympic team, yet remains protective of the naïve Lorelei, who is planning to marry for love and for diamonds. Hawks, who was one of the most outstanding directors of the 1950’s, gave this film snappy dialogue with the perfect balance of sex and humor, although he made certain that the women never lost respect as they romped their way toward marriage.
Impact
This film was a turning point in the career of Marilyn Monroe, who won Photoplay’s best-actress-of-the-year award for both Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953).
Bibliography
Beauchamp, Cari, and Mary Anita Loos, eds. Anita Loos Rediscovered: Film Treatments and Fiction by Anita Loos, Creator of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003. Chronicles the career of screenwriter, novelist, and playwright Anita Loos and explores the 1953 film version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Loos, Anita. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady. New York: W. W. Norton, 1998. The original book from the 1920’s that inspired the movie.