Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (film)
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| Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | |
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 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Howard Hawks |
| Produced by | Sol C. Siegel |
| Written by | Anita Loos (novel and play) Joseph Fields (play) Charles Lederer |
| Starring | Jane Russell Marilyn Monroe |
| Music by | Hoagy Carmichael Eliot Daniel Lionel Newman |
| Cinematography | Harry J. Wild |
| Editing by | Hugh S. Fowler |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | July 18, 1953 (USA) |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English French |
| Followed by | Gentlemen Marry Brunettes |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1953 film adaptation of the 1949 stage musical, released by 20th Century Fox, directed by Howard Hawks and starring Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, with Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, Taylor Holmes, and Norma Varden in supporting roles. The screenplay by Charles Lederer is augmented by the music of songwriting teams Hoagy Carmichael & Harold Adamson and Jule Styne & Leo Robin. The songs by Styne and Robin are from the Broadway show, while the songs by Carmichael and Adamson were written especially for the film.
The movie is filled with comedic gags and musical numbers. While Russell's down-to-earth, sharp wit has been noted by most critics, it is Monroe's turn as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee for which the film is often remembered.[1] Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is considered an iconic performance that has been copied by the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Anna Nicole Smith.
The story line first appeared in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady, a 1925 novel by Anita Loos. It was adapted for the stage in 1926, and then a 1928 silent movie, starring Ruth Taylor, Alice White, Ford Sterling, and Mack Swain, which, as of now, is apparently lost. John C. Wilson directed the Broadway musical with Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee that served as the basis for this screen version.
Loos wrote a sequel to her novel entitled But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, with further adventures of Lorelei and Dorothy. The 1955 Gentlemen Marry Brunettes used only the book's name and starred Russell and Jeanne Crain playing characters who were the daughters of Dorothy Shaw.
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[edit] Plot
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Dorothy Shaw and Lorelei Lee are showgirls and best friends. Lorelei is engaged to Gus Esmond, who is willing to do and buy anything for her. His father does not approve of her. Lorelei and Gus are planning to sail to France and get married, but Esmond Sr. stops his son. Lorelei wants to go to France anyway and Dorothy accompanies her. Gus warns Lorelei that she has to behave because if his father hears of bad behavior, they will never be allowed to marry. Esmond Sr. has hired a private detective, Ernie Malone to spy on Lorelei. Malone ends up falling in love with Dorothy. Lorelei meets Sir Francis "Piggy" Beekman who owns a diamond mine. Lorelei uses her charm to entice him.
Lorelei invites him over to the cabin. Unknown to them, Malone is spying through the window and takes pictures of them flirting. Dorothy sees him. She tells Lorelei that Malone has the pictures and the two come up with a scheme to get the film. They invite him to their cabin for drinks and turn the heat up. Lorelei mixes him a strong drink and puts sleeping pills in it. They find the film in his trouser pocket. Piggy is relieved that his wife won't see the pictures. Lorelei suggests to him that as a thank you, he should give her his wife's tiara, persuading him with her charms. Malone has been audiotaping them. In Paris, the women spend everything they have. When they arrive at the hotel, they find out that Lady Beekman doesn't know the truth about the tiara. Considering Lorelei a thief, Gus has stopped her line of credit.
Without money or a place to live, Lorelei and Dorothy get jobs as nightclub singers. Beekman somehow steals back the tiara. When the police come after Lorelei, she is persuaded by Dorothy to return it, but she finds it missing. Gus has come to see the show and Dorothy tells Lorelei that she has to get the money for the tiara from him. In the meantime, she allows the police to arrest her saying that she is Lorelei. At the court, she pretends to be Lorelei. The insurance man has poor sight and only remembers Lorelei's blond hair, unable to recognize that Dorothy is wearing a wig. Dorothy puts on a show in the middle of the courtroom, annoying the judge.
Malone and Esmond Sr. arrive at the airport and see Piggy, who tells Malone to tell Lorelei that he is sorry for what he did. Malone agrees to tell her, and leaves. They arrive at the court to testify against Lorelei, but Dorothy is on the stand and tells Malone that she is in love with him but will never forgive him if he does anything to hurt Lorelei. Malone refuses to testify against her. He realizes who has the tiara and tracks it down to Beekman who is still at the airport. He brings the tiara to the court. Lorelei tells the elder Esmond, "I don't want to marry your son for his money, I want to marry him for your money." She gets his permission to marry his son. The two girls proceed to have a double wedding. Dorothy marries Malone and Lorelei marries Gus.
[edit] Cast
- Jane Russell as Dorothy Shaw
- Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee
- Charles Coburn as Sir Francis "Piggy" Beekman
- Elliott Reid as Ernie Malone
- Tommy Noonan as Gus Esmond
- Taylor Holmes as Mr. Esmond Sr.
- Norma Varden as Lady Beekman
[edit] Reception
At the time of its release, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was both a critical and commercial success, with Monroe receiving the best reviews of her career to date.[1]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Internet Movie Database.
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Allmovie.
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Rotten Tomatoes.
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