Movies - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a novel written by Anita Loos that was published in 1925, a Broadway play produced in 1926, a Broadway musical produced in 1949, which Loos also wrote the book for, and two motion pictures. The silent movie was released in 1928, and Loos also wrote the subtitles, and the sound movie was released in 1953.

The 1953 20th Century Fox movie is a musical comedy/romance starring Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, with Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, Taylor Holmes, and Norma Varden.

Directed by Howard Hawks, the story was adapted by Charles Lederer.

It has songs by Harold Adamson, Hoagy Carmichael, Leo Robin and Jule Styne.

The movie is packed with comedic gags and musical numbers. Jane Russell's down-to-earth, sharp wit has been generally noted, but overall it is Monroe's self-ironic turn as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee that the film is remembered by. Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is considered an iconic performance.

In the movie, Dorothy Shaw (played by Russell) and Lorelei Lee (played by Monroe) are showgirls and best friends, "just two little girls from Little Rock." Lorelei is a fun-loving, hip-grinding, rich-husband-seeking bombshell. Mostly all she thinks about is marrying someone rich. She is engaged to one young man, Gus Esmond (played by Noonan), who is willing to do anything for her. But his rich father, Mr. Esmond, Sr. (played by Holmes), looks down his nose and does not approve of her.

Plans are made for Lorelei to sail to France, where she and Gus will be married when he arrives. Mr. Esmond sends a private detective named Ernie Malone (played by Reid) along to get the goods on Lorelei. Dorothy and Lorelei board the ship bound for Paris and Lorelei finds herself entangled in a series of screwball mishaps.

The detective falls in love with Dorothy while spying on Lorelei with distaste. He tries to warn Dorothy about her friend, but she tells him, "Now listen, Malone, let's get something straight. Nobody talks about Lorelei but me." In the meantime, Lorelei meets Sir Francis "Piggy" Beekman (played by character actor Coburn) and he gives her a diamond tiara. Malone sends a bad report to Esmond, who stops the wedding and cuts Lorelei off financially. Dorothy and Malone have a falling out when she discovers his real identity and the trouble he is causing Lorelei.

Stuck in Paris without any money or a place to live, Lorelei and Dorothy get a job entertaining. Beekman cannot tell his wife, Lady Beekman (played by Varden), the truth about the tiara and it is reported stolen. Malone is convinced that Lorelei is a jewel thief. Beekman steals back the tiara and when Lorelei is questioned she no longer has it. It is discovered in Beekman's bag by Malone and all is resolved in the end.

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Movies - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

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