Howard Hawks discovered one of the great female screen teams in bubbly gold digger Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) and wry, unapologetically man-hungry Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell) in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), a musical take on the Jazz Age novel by screenwriting great Anita Loos.
Lorelei and Dorothy are showgirls and best friends on a luxury liner to Paris for their next gig, where a private detective (Elliot Reid) has been dispatched by the millionaire father of Lorelei’s fiancé (Tommy Noonan) to catch her in a compromising position and stop the impending nuptials. It’s a set-up for plenty of compromising situations and Hawks plays the broad sexual humor for what is surely a male audience. But while he photographs them like cover girls, he never, ever allows them to play second fiddle to the men. These two little girls from Little Rock are thoroughly loyal to each other and always in charge.
Director: Howard Hawks
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn, Tommy Noonan, Elliot Reid, George Winslow, Norma Varden
Genre: Musical Comedy
Language: English
Run Time: 91 m
Rating: 14A
Based on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Intimate Diary of a Professional Lady (1925); a comic novel written by American author Anita Loos.
Review by Bill Thompson
If I had to use one word to describe Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, it would be, breezy. There isn’t any depth whatsoever to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but for as long as it lasts it’s a fun ride. The movie flies by and is equal parts charming, witty, and funny. It takes full advantage of the sexuality of the women it features and it also puts to use the sexuality of some very weird Olympians. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes doesn’t let any of its assets go to waste because it knows those are its strongest point. I don’t think there is a moment when either Jane Russell or Marilyn Monroe aren’t on screen, and since they imbue the film with a riveting pulse that is a good thing.
One sequence that did strike me as a bit odd was the Miss Russell number with the scantily clad male Olympic athletes. It was a fine song and it was fun to listen to, but there was a heavy hint of homoeroticism underneath that song and in the mannerisms and dancing style employed by the men. I didn’t mind it, it wasn’t a bad thing, but it was a bit peculiar to see in a 1953 mainstream Hollywood movie. Outside of that all the songs clicked, the performances worked with the songs and the entire concoction mixed together for a fun romp.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes isn’t deep worldly film making, but it is a snappy and fun exercise in the medium of film. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes strikes that nice balance between a musical that isn’t serious enough and a musical that takes itself too seriously. The performances from Misses Russell and Monroe are top notch and watching them play off each other is worth a gander on its own. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes delivers a fun and convivial musical and a fine addition to the resume of Miss Monroe.