Rating: 
Summary: Marilyn Monroe sparkles brighter than any diamond!
Review: .
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is a Technicolor extravaganza that's chock-a-block full of great music, costumes, comedy, and of course, Marilyn Monroe in the absolute best screen role of her career! "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is the absolute epitome of a Marilyn Monroe movie! The film is a classic of it's genre. It hails from a time when Hollywood made musicals that were entertaining and fun, and didn't rely on special effects or violence to draw an audience. If you can only have one Marilyn Monroe movie in your collection, this is the film to have! Marilyn Monroe positively shimmers and shines brighter than any diamond in her starring role as Lorelei Lee. The Technicolor film process, painstakingly restored on the DVD version of the film, reveals Marilyn in a breathtaking rainbow of colors that never existed in real life. She looks positively spectacular in this film! Marilyn's signature number "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" is a hallucinatory delight of vivid pinks and reds. The colors alone make the number memorable, but then on top of all that, there's Marilyn! She stands surrounded by a chorus line of tuxedo-clad gay men, all of whom obviously adore and worship her. And then there are the chandeliers... made up of women in bondage, strapped upside-down and spinning around. It's bizarre and fabulous all at the same time! Who came up with something like this? Marilyn sings in her sensual, whispery-yet-husky voice, and pulchritudinously fills out every inch of her hot-pink satin gown, while dripping with diamonds from arms, neck, and ears. Yet her fabulous face, surrounded by all these diamonds, still sparkles more brightly than anything Harry Winston ever mounted in a gold or platinum setting. Oh, Jane Russell is good too. (To paraphrase a line in the film.) Her best moments are during her production number of "Ain't There Anyone Here for Love?", in which she's surrounded by dozens of nearly-nude, well-built, hairy-chested male dancers (supposedly the Olympic team), as they flex, pose, strut, and unintentionally flash body parts generally unseen on the movie screens of America in the 1950's! It's nearly [exciting], yet it's still highly entertaining, in an extremely [erotic] way. Russell also has a number in which she dresses up like Marilyn (and looks like a giant drag queen) and performs a reprise of MM's "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" number. This scene helps us to understand why that which Marilyn made look so effortless on the screen hasn't been successfully duplicated or imitated by anyone since. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who wants to experience the absolute best of the old-Hollywood musicals. It's definitely the best example of it's genre. It's positively brilliant! It's actually two films in one: it's a comedy, with perfect timing and great dialog; and it's a musical, with spectacular production numbers and memorable music! Marilyn is at her absolute splendiferous, resplendent, magnificent best in this film. There'll never be anyone like her. [Marvelous] Marilyn!
Rating: 
Summary: "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" Shows Why We Prefer Marilyn
Review: Slick, colorful film adaption of the novel by Anita Loos and the smash Broadway musical about two American showgirls on their way to Paris via a luxury cruise and the various men in their lives. Marilyn Monroe plays Lorelei Lee, a naive (or is she?) blonde with a penchant for diamonds and millionaires. Jane Russell plays her best friend, the brunette Dorothy Shaw, a sassy, street-smart type who is quick with a wise-crack and strictly looking for love. Lorelei is engaged to Gus Esmond, a sheepish, bespectacled millionaire who can provide her with the lifestyle to which she'd like to become accustomed. The plan is that Gus will follow the girls to Europe and marry Lorelei there. However, Gus's father doesn't trust the "blonde bandit" and hires private detective Ernie Malone to tail her while onboard ship. Things get further complicated when Ernie takes a personal interest in Dorothy and starts romancing her while he's supposed to be keeping his eye on Lorelei. Along the way the girls also meet Sir Francis ("Piggy") Beekman, a corny old British aristocratic who owns the second-largest diamond mine in South Africa. "Piggy" becomes enamored with Lorelei and she in turn becomes enamored with his wife's diamond tiara, something she has never seen before ("How do you put it around your neck?"). During an afternoon visit in the girls' cabin, Ernie Malone snaps some seemingly incriminating photos of Lorelei and "Piggy" through the porthole, but Dorothy catches him in the act and realizes that he must be a private detective hired by Mr. Esmond. The girls then scheme together to get the film back, which results in a hilarious mishap with Lorelei getting half-stuck in a porthole and plying Malone with booze at a "cocktail party". After retrieving the film and saving "Piggy" from potential embarrassment, he kisses her hand as a gesture of thankfulness, to which Lorelei retorts, "I always say a kiss on the hand might feel very good, but a diamond tiara lasts forever!" Lorelei then charms the befuddled old fool into giving her his wife's tiara without her knowledge, while at the same time Dorothy confronts Malone and informs him that his cover is blown. It seems that word has already gotten back to Mr. Esmond, however, who subsequently cancels the girls' letter of credit, leaving them without any money in Paris. Things then go from bad to worse when "Piggy's" wife shows up and charges Lorelei with stealing her tiara, but would be willing to forget the whole incident if she would give it back. Lorelei refuses to do so, however, saying that she didn't "steal" it at all, but that it had been to her as a gift from "Piggy". While later entertaining at a Parisian nightclub, Gus arrives at the girls' dressing room door to officially inform Lorelei that they're through. Lorelei then privately admits to Dorothy that she really does love Gus, but is interrupted by the nightclub manager that the authorities have put out a warrant for Lorelei's arrest. Lorelei reluctantly agrees to give back the tiara after some pressing from Dorothy, but finds that the jeweled headpiece has been stolen from her dressing room. Dorothy then impersonates Lorelei in court so that Lorelei can stay behind and charm the estranged Gus into giving her the monetary value of the tiara. Ernie Malone is set to testify in court against Lorelei and Gus's father flies in for the event, but after realizing that it's actually Dorothy on the stand and hearing a confession that she is in love with him, Malone withdraws from the case and comes to the rescue when he figures out that it was "Piggy" who stole the tiara back from Lorelei, thus winning Dorothy's admiration all over again. All ends well in court when "Piggy" arrives with the tiara and it's "legally" placed back into the hands of it's rightful owner. Back aboard ship, Gus again wants to marry Lorelei, but now they must first get the consent of his father, who is adamant that Lorelei is only after his money. Lorelei must then convince Gus's father that she really does love Gus and proceeds to dispense a little home-spun philosophy of her own on love and money ("Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You might not marry a girl just because she's pretty, but, my goodness, doesn't it help?") Gus's father is finally convinced that Lorelei really loves Gus and will make a good wife for him, bringing us to the finale of the film, a double wedding with each couple, Lorelei and Gus, and Dorothy and
Ernie. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is the film that made Marilyn Monroe a superstar and it is the film most associated with her. As one critic noted, it's as if Marilyn would "glow in the dark". Her presence is immediately illuminating and her performance is wry with savvy comedic timing, something that would become one of her trademarks. Not to be outdone, Jane Russell also gives a sly, knowing performance as Marilyn's best pal and makes the most of her screen time. Both ladies also get to show off their impressive vocal skills on the soundtrack. Songs include "Two
Little Girls From Little Rock", "Bye-Bye Baby", "When Love Goes Wrong (Nothing Goes Right)", "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love", and Marilyn's indelible rendition of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend". The image of her in this particular production number, swathed in pink taffeta amid a host of distinguished, tuxedo-clad male suitors, is almost as definitive of Marilyn today as the skirt-blowing scene from "The Seven Year Itch". All in all, this is a wonderful example of the 1950's musical film, complete with lavish sets, lush Technicolor, great songs and the presence of two screen greats who embodied the femininity of the era, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell.
Rating:
Summary: This gentleman prefers the musical numbers above all
Review: When I decided to really get into La Monroe back in 1989, I chose her first starring movie and the one that influenced Madonna's "Material Girl" video. That was Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe's first starring role. The opening number, "Little Girl From Little Rock", is actually a snappy pleasant number featuring both Lorelei and Dorothy in the long red-sequined gowns with slits on the side. In the process, we learn that Lorelei is getting married to Gus Esmond, whose father is rich. How materialistic is Lorelei? Dorothy tells her "you're the only girl in the world who can stand in a stage with a spotlight in her eyes and still see a diamond inside a man's pocket." She's also quite a kisser, as she leaves Gus momentarily paralyzed. While on the boat to Paris with a letter of credit from Gus, both girls have various encounters. Lorelei is turned up to ten, maybe eleven, when she encounters Sir Francis "Piggy" Beatman, who owns the second largest diamond claim in South Africa and whose wife owns a tiara Lorelei really covets. Dorothy falls for Ernie Malone, who as it transpires, is to keep an eye on Lorelei on behalf of Gus's father and to report any hint of scandal. However, on the boat, we see differences between the two girls. Lorelei can't understand Dorothy's focus on good looks instead of money. "Honey, did it occur to you that some people don't care about money?" Dorothy tells her friend. The set designs for the "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" number, with the bright red and black motifs, and the tuxedoed men with candy-cane ties wielding diamonds, the women in pink dresses, and of course La Monroe herself is THE highlight in this film, and worth watching for it alone. In fact, the theme of this song and Madonna's "Material Girl", which copied this number's set design, are very similar. As for the other numbers, the duo's "When Love Goes Wrong Nothing Goes Right" at the cafe, both dressed in blue, comes in third, second being the opening number. I'm ambivalent about Marilyn's performance as Lorelei. I can separate her from the character. While I can't stand her gold-digging attitude, there are some moments of cuteness and wit,
When Gus tells her what a letter of credit is, Lorelei says, "That's wonderful. Be sure and write me everyday. I'll be lonesome." I've gotta admit that Marilyn is simply stunning in this picture. Jane Russell (Dorothy) plays the loyal sidekick with a rapier wit, not as good as Eve Arden, but good enough. She does well in her solo number, "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?" where she dances amid the pituitary cases that form the Olympic relay team.
Other great dialogue comes from the Olympians making a veiled remark on the womens' anatomy. "Hey Steve, suppose the ship got hit by an iceberg. Which one would you save from drowning?" Steve replies, "Those girls couldn't drown." Oooohh, good one, Steve! The initial feature is a brief Movietone newsreel with Monroe and Russell putting their sigs and handprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. As a musical comedy of the 1950's, the peak of the conformist, materialistic America, it serves as a time capsule of attitudes. In Lorelei and Dorothy, we also see the two values of the times embodied. Lorelei prefers men with money while Dorothy's taste is for someone with good looks, answering Malone's question, "how can two girls be so different and be such good friends." Today, this attitude is mostly dated, as hopefully, while it's okay to look for money and/or looks in one's ideal opposite, that isn't everything. I say this due to myself, because I have neither looks or money. I can best sum this up that it comes alive with the snazzy musical numbers, particularly the opening one and of course "Diamonds". Rating: 3.5, rounded to 4.
Rating:
Summary: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"
Review: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" The 1953 musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was produced by Sol C Siegel and directed by Howard Hawks. This color film stars Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell as feisty showgirls Lorelei and Dorothy. These showgirls have one thing on their minds and that is to find love and money. Lorelie (Monroe) uses her naïve innocence and stunning looks to place men under her spell. Dorothy ( Russell ) is up to the same the tricks but is more outspoken, she just loves to play the game. When these two showgirls work together men do not stand a chance Lorelie and Dorothy set sail aboard an upscale cruise ship for France with the intention to find love, money, diamonds, or even better all three. Once onboard they find the men's Olympic team, diamond miners and one bothersome detective. Malone a private investigator sent by Lorelie's future father in-law to make sure she behaves properly throws a kink in Lorelie's plans. The plot thickens when Malone's cover is blown and girls pull out all the stops to retrieve any damaging evidence he might have against Lorelie. Once in France the girls run into more trouble of their own when the law is looking for stolen diamonds. Malone has trouble of his own; he did not plan on falling in love with Dorothy and now must convince her his feelings are genuine. In a short 92 minutes we are entertained by both comedy and music. The soundtrack really adds to the movie as we hear classics like; "Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend," Bye Bye Baby" and "Ain't There Anyone Here for Love" performed. This is a great example of the innocent and subtle comedy of the fifties, I give this movie 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: A Little Too Cheesy
Review: The Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend numbers are fun to watch because they're so famous. A Monroe fan MIGHT like this movie, but it all depends on whether you like musicals or not. Fortunatly, the music becomes less frequent as the movie progresses. There are some funny jokes about the extremities Monroe's character Loreli goes to because of her obsession with wealth. Jane Russell's impression of Monroe is great and very fun to watch. She gets it right, right down to the way Loreli says "I" instead of "me" like in "a girl like I".
Rating:
Summary: GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTY GRABLE
Review: Yes Gentlmen do prefer blondes, and this movie was to star Fox,s top blonde Betty Grable!, but Marilyn was charming the Fox excecs
Grable was on suspension after refusing pick up on south street, Monroe got the job, oh dear Betty you should have been in blondes,Que sera sera
Rating:
Summary: PeRfEcT
Review: This movie is excellent. Its funny and has wonderful songs. I enjoyed it alot. Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russell are fabulous together. I also really liked that little boy who finds Marilyn stuck in a window! He was SO funny!!!
Rating:
Summary: This One's For all the Gold- Hearted Golddiggers
Review: The Women: Two beautiful showgirls on a cruise to France. They are exact opposites in personality, goals, and, most importantly, hair color. One's on the hunt for a rich husband, the other is in search of true love...although money wouldn't hurt. The Men: One's filthy rich and pretty much his father's puppet...and his father is set against showgirls. The other is a detective hired by above mentioned rich father to find dirt on the showgirl his son is so determined to marry. The Story: Romance is in the air, a whole Olympic team is on board, and two beauties are on the prowl...this could get interesting.
Rating:
Summary: This Musical is a Girl's Best Friend
Review: This movie is a classic. From Marilyn's diamonds to Jane's hunka man, this is fabulous. An enternaining movie that you can watch again and again.
Rating:
Summary: "I'm marrying him for YOUR money!"
Review: The Old Moneybags Dad of Marilyn Monroe's fiance sure gets a jolt when she drops that line, but it's all in a day's work for this self-respecting queen of the golddiggers in this delightful movie. Marilyn sails to Paris on an ocean liner accompanied by her best pal and fellow showgirl Jane Russell, who likes men based on looks alone--couldn't give a hoot about dough, which is a bone of contention between her and Marilyn. The difference between the two ladies' approaches to love and men is shown up best in their separate showstoppers. Marilyn, of course, has the very famous "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" where the gray templed guys in tails play a distant second to her rapture for diamond bracelets, while Jane sings a lusty, "Ain't There Anyone Here for Love?" in the ocean liner's workout room which just happens to be totally crammed with a bunch of Olympic jocks in all sorts of interesting poses. It's about men, men, men! Must go over well in the West Village. Complications arise aboard the liner when Marilyn cottons up to diamond mine manager Charles Coburn with the hopes of getting herself his wife's diamond tiara, unaware that Jane's new beau is a private detective for that previously mentioned Moneybags Dad of her fiance. Things go pretty much as you'd expect, but you don't mind that predictability one bit because the gals and everyone else are putting on quite a good show. Gentlemen AND ladies should have no problems preferring this movie over a lot of other things out there--a real stand-out from 20 Century Fox.
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