Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Star of the Month - Marilyn Monroe

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1952 musical comedy starring Marilyn Monroe as a blonde fortune hunter and Jane Russell as her flirty sidekick.

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell write their names
in cement...

The film is directed by Howard Hawks, and co-stars Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, Taylor Holmes and Norma Varden. Keep your eyes open during the song "Bye Bye Baby" to see George Chakiris in the chorus.

...The finished product

Diamond-obssessed gold digging showgirl Lorelei Lee takes to the sea with her friend Dorothy Shaw. On the voyage she meets Sir Frances Beekman, wealthy diamond mogul whose wife happens to own a diamond tiara. To cut a long story short, the tiara is stolen with Lorelei becoming prime suspect.



The film is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, and includes three songs from the show: "Just Two Little Girls From Little Rock", "Bye, Bye Baby" and the immortal "Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend". Two new songs were written for the film: "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?" and "When Love Goes Wrong, Nothing Goes Right".


At the premiere of 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' Marilyn and Jane pressed their hands and footprints into cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre.




The film received great reviews and grossed more than double its production costs. It was followed by a sequel in 1955, "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes", again starring Jane Russell - but sadly no Marilyn.

Diamonds are a girls best friend

Marilyn as Lorelei sings "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"

The film is memorable for Marilyn's sequence in a pink dress singing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend". The sequence has been recreated by many, most notably Madonna in her music video for "Material Girl" and Kylie Minogue's live performance at the Fox Studios Opening in Sydney.




YouTube videos for each of these performances are available below:


Marilyn Monroe - "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"

Madonna - "Material Girl"

Kylie Minogue - Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

Other inspiration

Jane Russell's sequence "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love" inspired Kylie Minogue's 'Whatever Kylie Wants Kylie Gets' sequence in her 2005 Showgirl Tour.


Jane Russell - "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?"

Kylie Minogue - "Red Blooded Woman/Where The Wild Roses Grow" (live from Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour, 2005)

Other musical highlights

Song: "Bye Bye Baby" - Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe

Song: "When Love Goes Wrong, Nothing Goes Right" - Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn and Jane in a deleted scene from the film

Did you know...

• Marilyn Monroe replaced Betty Gable, who was originally meant to star as Lorelei
• Marilyn Monroe was payed a salary of only $18,000, while Jane Russell was paid more than $100,000

Closing remarks

Of all of Marilyn's films, this is my favourite! I have seen the film at least 20 times, and every time I watch it, I enjoy it more and more. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys musicals, or just a good laugh.

ANNOUNCEMENT: JUNE 2012 STAR OF THE MONTH - MARILYN MONROE

For my first ever Star of the Month, I have chosen my all time favourite movie star, sex symbol and pop culture icon... Marilyn Monroe. 

Glamourous... dazzling... legendary... there is and always will be one Marilyn Monroe.
 Born Norma Jean Baker on 1 June 1926 (she would have turned 86 yesterday had she still been alive), Marilyn went on to become one of the most remembered of all movie stars - still notorious now, fifty years after her death.  


The image of Marilyn's white dress blowing up in the wind from The Seven Year Itch is still one of the most iconic and recognisable images, almost 60 years after the film was released. 


The charm of Marilyn Monroe has babbled film enthusiasts for decades, as she was definitely not the most talented actress in Hollywood. I often find I attribute my fondness to Marilyn Monroe in the same as my fondness to Kylie Minogue. Although Kylie is not the best singer, she has something which captivates people. In the same way, although Marilyn was not the best actress she has something which captivates people.


Despite her dumb blonde personal Marilyn was intelligent and had a high IQ.  She was not just a blonde bimbo who starred in musicals and comedies. She had a number of dramatic roles which proved she could act. This can be seen in  films such as Don't Bother to Know (1951), Niagara (1953), Bus Stop (1956) and The Misfits (1961).


Aside from being able to share with you all my thoughts on Marilyn's classic films, I am genuinely excited about yet again going through my Marilyn film collection. Throughout the next 4 weeks I will do my best to watch the following films, which I've categorised into 5 films themes.

From Norma Jean to Marilyn... Early work

• The Asphalt Jungle (1949)
• As Young as You Feel (1951)
• Let's Make it Legal (1951)
• Love Nest (1951)

Breakthrough performances

• Don't Bother to Know (1951)
• We're Not Married (1952)
• Monkey Business (1952)
• Clash by Night (1952)

International success... the 20th Century Fox era

• Niagara (1953)
• How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
• The Seven Year Itch (1955)
• River of No Return (1954)
• Bus Stop (1956)

Musical Marilyn

• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1952)
• There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
• Some Like it Hot (1959)
• Let's Make Love (1960)

Beyond the legend... Final films

• The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
• The Misfits (1961)
• Something's Got To Give (1962)