Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Based on the novel and play by Anita Loos
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, and are at the top for their careers at the time of the film. Marilyn's most noteable scene is in which she preforms "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." That scene now the most famous of the film and the often emulated. Jane Russell as Dorothy gives a wonderful and believeable impression of Monroe's character Lorelei in the film, and a stunning voice in "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love." Many people don't know that Marilyn used a voice double for the high notes in "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." Betty Grable was slated for the lead as Lorelei Lee, but when "Niagra" opened Marilyn was chosen as a more potent lead for less money.
Plot:
Lorelei Lee a dumb blonde, and Dorothy Shaw a sassy brunette, are nightclub singers and dancers from Little Rock. Lorelei an infamous gold-digger lures Gus Esmond, the famous heir to a button empire, to fall in love and marry her. Gus's father disapproves highly of the marriage and distrusts Lorelei, but somehow is convinced into sending the girls (Lorelei and Dorothy) on a vacation to Europe. Lorelei and Dorothy are forced to manage the trip without Gus, because his father forces him to stay for an important "Button Conference," about a new invention called the zipper, which could cause the demise of the button industry. As the girls board the cruise liner, “Ile de France,” for Europe they discover that they have some interesting passengers aboard, including Detective Malone that is watching Lorelei’s every move for Esmond. As Lorelei begins an innocent friendship with a rich diamond mine tycoon, Sir Francis Beekman, who also has a very beautiful diamond tiara that Lorelei wants. Meanwhile Dorothy is spending a great amount of time and falling in love with Detective Malone. As Malone vigilantly watches Lorelei, he captures a suggestive photo of her and Sir Beekman. Now Lorelei and Dorothy have to find their way out of trouble, and discover if true love will prevail over all.
General Information:
Release: July 15, 1953
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Musical/Comedy/Romance
Duration: 92 minutes
Film: Three Strip Technicolor
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox
Director: Howard Hawks
Assistant Director: Paul Helmick
Producer: Sol C. Siegel
Sound: Roger Herman Sr. and E. Clayton Ward
Original Music: Harold Adamson, Hoagy Carmichael, Leo Robin, and Jule Styne
Non-Original Music: Eliot Daniel and Lionel Newman
Voice Double for Ms. Monroe: Marni Nixon
Cinematography: Harry J. Wild
Editing: Hugh S. Fowler
Art Direction: Lyle R. Wheeler and Joseph C. Wright
Set Decoration: Claude Carpenter
Choreographer: Jack Cole
Costume Design: Travilla
Makeup: Ben Nye
Cast:
Jane Russell: Dorothy Shaw
Marilyn Monroe: Lorelei Lee
Charles Coburn: Sir Francis Beekman ("Piggy")
Elliott Reid: Detective Ernie Malone
Tommy Noonan (I): 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
Henri Letondal: Grotier, the Prosecutor
Leo Mostovoy: Ship's Captain
Alex Frazer: Pritchard
http://www.thecinemalaser.com/dvd2/reviews/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-dvd.htm
http://glamournet.com/legends/Marilyn/movies/gentlemen.html
http://www.imdb.com/Title?0045810
http://www.jlbmovies.com/GentlemenPreferBlondes.shtml
http://crazy4cinema.com/Review/FilmsG/f_gentlemen_blondes.html
http://www.nodanw.com/shows_g/gentlemen_prefer_blondes.htm