Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
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Two very different showgirls navigate the complexities of wealth, romance, and friendship while traveling to France.
The story
Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw are American showgirls and best friends with opposing views on romance: Lorelei seeks financial wealth and diamonds, while Dorothy prefers attractive, fit men regardless of their money. Lorelei plans to wed her fiancé, Gus Esmond Jr., in France, but is forbidden from traveling with him by his strict father. Before she leaves, Gus provides a letter of credit and warns her to behave. During their Atlantic crossing, Lorelei meets a wealthy diamond mine owner, while Dorothy finds herself drawn to a private detective hired by Gus's father to spy on Lorelei.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw are American showgirls and best friends with opposing views on romance: Lorelei seeks financial wealth and diamonds, while Dorothy prefers attractive, fit men regardless of their money. Lorelei plans to wed her fiancé, Gus Esmond Jr., in France, but is forbidden from traveling with him by his strict father, Esmond Sr. During their Atlantic crossing, Lorelei meets a wealthy diamond mine owner, Sir Francis "Piggy" Beekman, while Dorothy is pursued by a private detective, Ernie Malone, hired by Esmond Sr. to spy on Lorelei. After a series of comedic mishaps involving a stolen tiara and incriminating photos, the women arrive in France only to find Lorelei's letter of credit canceled. They find work as showgirls in a Paris revue. When Gus appears, Lorelei rebuffs him before performing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." Dorothy eventually impersonates Lorelei to avoid arrest for the missing tiara, discovering that Piggy actually has it. Finally, Lorelei convinces Esmond Sr. to allow her marriage by reasoning that a woman marrying a rich man is a desirable consideration, leading to a double wedding for both women and their respective grooms.
- First release year
- 1953
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; French
- Directors
- Howard Hawks
- Writers
- Charles Lederer · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jane Russell · Dorothy Shaw; Marilyn Monroe · Lorelei Lee; Charles Coburn; Elliott Reid; Tommy Noonan; George Winslow; Taylor Holmes; Norma Varden
- Genres
- musical comedy; romantic comedy; buddy comedy; feminist; satirical; sex comedy
- Themes
- female friendship; solidarity; gender and class; social satire
- Tone and mood
- racy; lightweight; sexy; delightfully entertaining
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; comedy; romance; satire; buddy film
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1949 stage musical of the same name, based on the 1925 novel by Anita Loos
- Content notes
- sex comedy
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with Monroe and Russell being praised for their performances. It is noted for its depiction of female friendship and as a cheeky social satire.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.8/10 · scale: 10 · review count: 88
- Production trivia
- Marilyn Monroe's rendition of 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' and her pink dress are considered iconic.; The film was the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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