Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

You don't need to be a Marilyn fan to enjoy this wonderful film.

A great light hearted comedy that pairs up Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in their prime.

The performances are outstanding- Marilyn's precision comic timing along with Jane's dead-pan delivery make for an unforgettable comedy team.

At a time where men were leading the field for comedy pairings along comes Russell and Monroe and a better combination there is not!

The musical numbers are terrific especially Bye-Bye Baby and the classic Diamonds are Girls Best Friend.

The supporting roles are also well cast with the Charles Coburn as the Multimillionaire "Piggy" who has eyes only for Diamonds and Marilyn and the wonderful late Tommy Noonan as Marilyn's nerdish and gullible love interest Gus Edmond.

If you look beyond the surface which makes this film at first appear to be a seemingly stereotypical tale of young helpless women looking for rich husbands you will actually see a story of two strong and self-sufficient women looking for what they want in life, going out to get it and not settling for less!

But let's not make this any deeper than we need to... this is a FUN FILM... not meant to change the world but just to entertain you for a few hours-- AND THAT IT DOES!

High ranks from young and old... Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is great family entertainment.

Now, might I close with an Anita Loos quote about Marilyn Monroe in GPB:

"I did not write the role Lorelei Lee as Marilyn performed it in the film, but I sure as hell wish I had!"

Fmovies: "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is a much loved and incredibly popular film from a Golden age of Hollywood which saw such screen icons as Marilyn Monroe become household names across America, and indeed, the world. This film represents Monroe's big breakout role and is movie that made her a worldwide icon of the big screen and secured her place in Hollywood's Most Exclusive of Halls of Fame. Even looking at the film now, so many years after it's release, it's easy to see why. Everything about this film sparkles - and that's not just because it's in colour. Script, Acting and the Musical aspects are all outstanding contributors to the movie's success. Obviously some of the dialogue is dated by now, but that's hardly the film's fault when you consider how much the world has changed since it's release. No, the film still sparkles, that's for sure. And there's one big, platinum-blonde reason why this is - Marilyn Monroe. Her comic timing in this movie is simply outstanding, while it's true she does have some of the film's best lines it's also the case that she truly makes the most of them - her character is a joy from start to end. Praise too must be awarder to her co-star Jane Russell, who has equally commandeering comic skills and who hit a career high in this movie.

Baisically, this film is a classic from it's era and is highly recommended. I'm currently studying Media and also Cinema and so this was a very worthwhile film to watch to learn more about it's era and I really enjoyed it. Memorable moments include, of course, the iconic performance of "Diamonds are a girl's Best Friend" courtesy of Monroe (It inspired Madonna's music video "Material Girl" - which is basically a carbon copy of the entire scene in this movie), the classic line "I Just Love Finding New Places to Wear Diamonds!" and so much more. I've also become really interested in the life and work of Marilyn Monroe as a result of seeing the movie. A must see if you're interested in Classic Hollywood or Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is the most Iconic Sex Symbol of the Golden Age of the Movie Age, and ultimately of the 20th Century. In "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) one can easily see how this thought has been brought down upon young Marilyn. The film is not only enjoyable, but contains many great memorable songs, and of course, Marilyn Monroe.

Jane Russell on the other hand, brings a more mascular, homey feeling into the film, in which most audiences can easily relate too. This factor I also found very appealing.

The Choreography within the film is extraordinary, and most the piece are done as if it were clockwork!

Yours, julianallees 12th August, 2008 8:04pm

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes fmovies. With Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, filmed in 1953, directed by Howard Hawks is a pleasant musical heyday of Hollywood, with two very beautiful and graceful actresses who performed spontaneous and very well prepared roles that show how a beautiful woman can conquer any man with flirtatious glances and movements, while these within the materialistic philosophy of the time, as a film critique, show how money is the best arm to let her fall in love particularly if some jewels (diamonds) are included. Cheerful and jovial music, sensual dances, simple and innocent humor. Ninety minutes of diversion from a simple script that captivates and entertains the viewer. A beautiful Marilyn, innocent, naive and with great force as an actress and Jane Russell as his charming companion and contrast of her personality and intelligence. Nice film

As a demonstration of Hawks' versatility, this picture stands out. It's anything but a faithful adaptation of the Anita Loos story, but in Hawks skilled hands, it's as delightful and silly as his best screwball comedies, and an evocative example of the sexpot exploitation prominent in it's day. Monroe and Russell complement each other nicely as glamour babes beyond belief. The flamboyant musical numbers are deliriously fetishistic and there are some particularly hilarious bits involving a hoarse-voiced little boy and a dirty old man. Sensationally staged and provocatively primitive.

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are so terrific in their musical comedy roles that they make the men (Elliot Reid and Tommy Noonan) look even more pallid than they are. But let's fact it. Nobody's watching them anyway when the spotlight is on Monroe and Russell as just "two little girls from Little Rock".

Fox knew what to do with the two lovelies when they cast them as the gold diggers aboard a ship bound for France with nothing on their minds but the pursuit of men with money. Jane has a wonderful song-and-dance routine with Olympic hopefuls in "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?" and Marilyn gets to do a now-classic routine with "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend". Charles Coburn has some amusing moments as an old-timer with a yen for Marilyn who has a yen for his wife's tiara. "I just love finding new places to wear diamonds", she says in that sweetly innocent Monroe voice. And Russell tops everything off with an imitation of Monroe in a courtroom that's guaranteed to draw chuckles.

It's all done up in vivid technicolor. The girls wear eye-popping costumes and look ultra glamorous together (exact opposites), and the songs aren't bad either. Pure escapist entertainment of the '50s kind with enough humorous moments to keep you entertained by the silly shenanigans. Fans of Monroe and Russell will love this one.

One of the funniest moments: Monroe stuck in a ship's porthole while a little boy holds a blanket around her as she makes small talk with Charles Coburn.