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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Posters :

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For her 26th birthday (1952), while she was celebrating it at the Bel Air Hotel, where she lived at that time, Marilyn learned that she had get the such desired part of Lorelei Lee.

Darryl Zanuck, head of the studio, had prefered her to Betty Grable, after having heard a non commercialized extract of her voluptuous voice singing "Do It Again" for the Marines at Camp Pendleton, during the same year.

The other reason - and not the least - why Marilyn supplanted Betty Grable, though more experienced than her, was that Marilyn's contract was written in such a way that she cost 10 times less than Betty Grable, and even her partner in the movie, Jane Russell, because this one wasn't under contract.

The original work of Anita Loos, which was inspired by H. L. Mencken's life, was published in 6 monthly episodes in Harper's Bazaar magazine, under the title of "Gentlemen Still Prefer Blondes".

Anita Loos wrote 3 screenplays of Jean Harlow's movies.

The book inspired a movie in 1928 with Ruth Taylor and Alice White, then in 1950, a successful musical in Broadway, with Carol Channing, who was for a moment competing for the movie version.

It was Marilyn's first part in a musical. She sang as a duo with Jane Russell "Two Little Girls From Little Rock" of Jule Styne and Leo Robin,"When Love Goes Wrong" of Hoagy Carmichael and Harold Adamson, and "Bye, Bye, Baby" of Jule Styne and Leo Robin.

But the real downbeat of the movie was her solo when she sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" of Jule Styne and Leo Robin. She first had to wear an extremely low-cut dress, but the production changed its mind (maybe for fear of the censure), and Marilyn made a stunning appearance in a gorgeous pink bustier dress with a big knot and long gloves, among a group of dancers in tuxedo. This act (directed by choregrapher Jack Cole) has remained the most famous of Marilyn's musicals.

In one of the acts, cut during the film editing, and known as the "Four French Dances", Marilyn and Jane Russell appeared with hats in shape of Eiffel Tower; they can briefly been seen with such costumes, at the beginning of the movie, when Gus met the young ladies for the first time.

As ususal, the shooting was difficult.

Jane Russell told how Marilyn was terrified, but, instead their rivalry on the screen, the two actresses made friends on the set. The musical director Lionel Newman would later talk about Marilyn's perfectionism during the recording of the songs.

Director Howard Hawkes was less full of praise about her insistence to do the shootings again, even when he was himself totally pleased about her job.

For instance, he was totally satisfied of the first take of "Bye, Bye, Baby", but Marilyn asked to do it again 10 times.

Thanks to her interpretation of the character of Lorelei Lee, she received the prize of "Best Actress" in March 1954 by Photoplay magazine, and the one, less known, of "Diamonds Best Friend" by the Jewelry Academy
(Awards).

Shooting

"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" :

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Black and yellow leotard

"Four French Dances" (scène coupée au montage) :

with Jane Russell :

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with other actors :

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alone :

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Purple top :

with Charles Coburn :

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with Jane Russell :

with other actors :

alone :

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off set :

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Green top :

with Charles Coburn :

with Howard Hawks :

with Jane Russell :

alone :

Bathrobe :

with Jane Russell :

alone :

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with other actors :

off-set

Wedding gown :

with Jane Russell :

alone

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with other actors :

Grey dress :

with Jane Russell :

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with other actors :

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alone :

Gold lamé dress :

with Charles Coburn :

Orange dress :

with George Winslow :

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with Howard Hughes :

with Jane Russell :

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alone :

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Plum dress :

with George Winslow :

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with Howard Hawkes :

with Jane Russell :

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with other actors:

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alone :

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off set :

Red spangled dress :

"Two Little Girls From Little Rock" :

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;

with Jane Russell

with other actors

alone

others

;

Red and black dress :

with Charles Coburn :

with other actors :

;

alone :

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off set :

Blue suit :

"When Love Goes Wrong" :

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with Jane Russell :

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with other actors :

off set :

Blue dress :

Off set :

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Publicity pictures

Black leotard :

with Jane Russell

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alone seule

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Black and yellow leotard :

with Jane Russell

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alone

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Bathrobe :

Gold lamé dress :

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Black and red dress :

Orange dress :

with Jane Russell

alone

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Pink dress :

Red spangled dress :

with Jane Russell

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with other actors

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-,,

alone

Hairdressing

Purple top

Grey dress

Lamé dress

Orange dress

Fitting

Black négligé

Purple top

Green top

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Black and yellow leotard

Bathrobe

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Wedding gown

Grey dress

-,;

Black and red dress

Gold lamé dress :

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Black dress, thin straps

Orange dress

Pink dress

Plum dress

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Red spangled dress

Blue suit

Black suit, fur stole

Costume designed but non used in the movie :

Jane Russell's costumes :

Screenplay :

CREDIT

Twentieth Century-Fox (Technicolor)

Runtime : 91 mn

Release date : July 15, 1953 .

Director : Howard Hawks

Producer : Sol C. Siegel

Screenplay : Charles Lederer, based on a musical by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos, and on a novel by Anita Loos published by episodes.

Director of photography : Harry J. Wild

Music : Lionel Newman, Leo Robin, Jule Styne

Costumes : William Travilla

Film editing : Hugh S. Flower.

CAST

Jane Russell - Dorothy Shaw

Marilyn Monroe - Lorelei Lee

Charles Coburn - Sir Francis Beekman

Elliott Reid - Ernie Malone

Tommy Noonan - Gus Esmond

George Winslow - Henry Spofford III

Marcel Dalio - Magistrate

Taylor Holmes - Esmond Sr

Norma Varden - Lady Beekman

Howard Wendell - Watson

Steven Geray - Hotel Manager

Leo Mostovoy - Phillipe

Alex Frazer - Pritchard

Harry Carey Jr - Winslow

William Cabanne - Sims

George Chakiris - dancer

Jack Chete - Owner

John Close - Coach

George Davis - Taxi driver

Matt Mattox - dancer

TECHNICAL CREW

Claude E. Carpenter - set designer

Jack Cole - choregrapher

Eliot Daniel - vocal director

Leonard Doss - color consultant

Earle H. Hagen - orchestrator

Paul Helmick - assistant director

Roger Heman - sound

Ray Kellogg - special effects

Charles LeMaire - wardrobe director

Bernard Mayers - orchestrator

Ben Nye - make-up

Herbert W. Spencer - orchestrator

E. Clayton Ward - son

Lyle R. Wheeler - art director

Joseph C. Wright - art director.

SCREENPLAY

Two bar girls, Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell), take the boat to Paris, where Lorelei is going to marry her rich fiancé, Gus Esmond (Tommy Noonan).

Their doings on board are watched by a priovate detective, Malone (Elliott Reid), hired by Gus's father, who is convinced that Lorelei is interested in his son only for the money.

Things are getting worst when Dorothy fells in love with Malone. Malone takes Lorelei in picture in the arms of a diamond merchant, Sir Francis Beekman (Charles Coburn), who was explaining to her how a python chokes a goat. Insensible to a handsome men group, Dorothy and Lorelei plot to get the compromising picture back.
They succeed, after having given a sedative to Malone.

Sir Beekman, relieved to know that the picture would not be compromising for anayone (and especially him), offers the diamonds tiara of his wife to Lorelei, by recognition.

At their arrival in Paris, the two young women learn that Gus's father, convinced that his suspicions are justified, has cut them the supplies. They quickly remedy the situation bu working in a night-club.

Lady Beekman (Norma Varden) declares the theft of her tiara and Lorelei becomes the suspect number 1. Dorothy helps her friend to muddle through by wearing a blonde wig to face the judge instead of her. Meanwhile, Lorelei tries to convince Gus that she truly loves him.

Malone finds out that Sir Beekman has get the tiara back and solves the problem by bringing it to the court. Dorothy, disguised in Lorelei, thanks Malone by showing him her affection. Lorelei regains Gus's love and his father approval. So, all's well that ends well : with a spectacular double wedding.

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