Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Year: 1953
Director: Howard Hawks
Country: US
Language: English

Directed by Howard Hawks, a director who has crafted a tremendous amount of American feature films, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a remarkable little picture that focuses on the theme of love vs. money. The wacky hijinks resulting from miscommunication and characters who would normally be villainous reminds me a little of Bringing Up Baby, rather than Hawkes other Marilyn vehicles. At times it may make women out to be gold diggers but it has a fairly sweet heart. 

Showgirls Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell) travel to Paris, pursued by a private detective hired by the suspicious father of Lorelei's fiancé, as well as a rich, enamored old man and many other doting admirers.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is the film in which Marilyn Monroe gives her penultimate performance: the legendary "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" sequence. Even today, after scores of parodies and tributes, this number captivates. Not since Rita Hayworth's "Put the Blame on Mame" in "Gilda" was there such an intoxicatingly sexy marriage between star, song and persona. She's a snappy, playful, alluring, seductive star who easily steals the show, even with another star like Jane Russel on the same screen. 

The costumes are breathtaking, fairly risque for 1953. The set-pieces and cinematography are fairly dream-like, surely the technicolor (which was pretty much a mandatory for a Monroe picture) added to the film's sense of whimsy and wonder. Though the script is a bit weak (some of the comedy comes off as desperate for a laugh) this pure escapist entertainment of the '50s is enough to keep you glued to the seat.

While it's probably Monroe's most iconic film next to The Seven Year Itch, I wouldn't claim it to be my favourite of her or Howard Hawks' filmography. Regardless it's very beautifully made and has moments that will be remembered for all time. Despite the characters being obviously shallow, it's difficult to not love them at the end of the run-time.