Directed by Howard Hawks, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a sparkling, Technicolor musical comedy that solidified Marilyn Monroe as a global icon. While it’s often remembered for its glamorous aesthetic, the film is a surprisingly sharp and witty look at female friendship and the “business” of romance in the 1950s.
The Plot Synopsis
Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell) are two best friends and lounge singers from Little Rock, Arkansas, who have very different philosophies on men. Lorelei believes that “love is fine, but a diamond ring lasts forever,” while the sardonic Dorothy prefers men who are “good-looking and have no money.”
Lorelei is engaged to the wealthy but timid Gus Esmond (Elliott Reid). When Gus’s suspicious father forbids him from traveling to France with Lorelei, the two women decide to board a luxury liner and sail to Paris alone. Unbeknownst to them, Gus’s father has hired a private investigator, Ernie Malone (Charles Coburn), to follow Lorelei and find proof that she is nothing more than a gold-digging flirt.
As the ship crosses the Atlantic, a comedy of errors ensues. Lorelei finds herself charmed by a wealthy diamond-mine owner, while Dorothy begins an unexpected romance with the detective who is secretly spying on them. Between high-fashion musical numbers and elaborate misunderstandings, the two women must use their wits to protect Lorelei’s reputation and ensure they both find the “sparkle” they’re looking for before they reach the French shore.
Key Cast and Crew
| Role | Name |
| Director | Howard Hawks |
| Lorelei Lee | Marilyn Monroe |
| Dorothy Shaw | Jane Russell |
| Ernie Malone | Elliott Reid |
| Sir Francis “Piggy” Beekman | Charles Coburn |
| Gus Esmond | Tommy Noonan |
| Choreographer | Jack Cole |
