'' 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 that has been copied by blonde bombshells ranging from
Madonna to
Anna Nicole Smith .
Dorothy Shaw (Russell) and Lorelei Lee (Monroe) are
Showgirls and best friends, "just two little girls from
Little Rock ." Superficially, Lorelei appears to be the more vacuous of the two -- her life's dream is to marry someone rich and she will use almost any means to achieve her goal. Her persuasive powers have ensured that she is engaged to Gus Esmond (Noonan), who is willing to do anything for her ... and has the means to BUY anything for her. His father, Mr. Esmond, Sr. (Holmes), however, does not approve of Lorelei and thinks she's just a scheming gold digger.
Plans are made for Lorelei to sail to
France , where she and Gus will be married once he arrives. Mr. Esmond sends private
Detective Ernie Malone (played by Reid) along to spy on Lorelei. Dorothy and Lorelei board the ship bound for
Paris and Lorelei finds herself entangled in a series of screwball mishaps.
Malone falls in love with Dorothy while he's spying on Lorelei. 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) who 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 (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.
Many film scholars now regard ''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' as a feminist text and well ahead of its time. The positive depiction of the friendship between Lorelei and Dorothy, which ultimately overrides the romantic sub-plots, and the somewhat cynical messages about love and romance in the film's narrative gives this argument some persuasion.
