GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Fox, 1953, Color, 91 minutes, ***½
Released July, 1953

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell sizzle, sing and dance as a couple of gold diggers out to land rich husbands.

This Technicolor film fable follows the exploits of two gorgeous women aboard a luxury ocean liner. One (Marilyn) loves diamonds and the other (Russell) loves men. On the ship with them are an elderly diamond mine owner (Charles Coburn), a team of handsome and muscular Olympic athletes, a fascinating but very young millionaire (George Winslow) and a nasty private eye. Packed with 40 minutes of production numbers, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes includes the legendary "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."

Produced by: Sol C. Siegel
Directed by: Howard Hawks
Assistant Director: Paul Helsnick
Screen Play by: Charles Lederer
Based on the Musical Comedy by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos
Music and Lyrics by: Jule Styne and Leo Robin
Presented on the Stage by Herman Levin and Oliver Smith
Music and Lyrics: "When Love Goes Wrong" and "Anyone Here for Love" by Hoagy Carmichael and Harold Adamson
Choreography by: Jack Cole
Music Direction: Lionel Newman
Vocal Direction: Eliot Daniel
Orchestration: Herbert Spencer, Earl Hagen, Bernard Mayers
Art Direction: Lyle Wheeler, Joseph C. Wright
Set Decorations: Claude Carpenter
Wardrobe Direction: Charles Le Maire
Costumes Designed by: Travilla
Makeup Artist: Ben Nye
Sound: E. Clayton Ward, Roger Heman
Director of Photography: Harry J. Wild
Special Photographic Effects: Ray Kellogg
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultant: Leonard Doss
Film Editor: Hugh S. Fowler

Cast: Jane Russell [Dorothy], Marilyn Monroe [Lorelei], Charles Coburn [Sir Francis Beekman], Elliott Reid [Malone], Tommy Noonan [Gus Esmond], George "Foghorn" Winslow [Henry Spofford III], Marcel Dalio [Magistrate], Taylor Holmes [Gus Esmond, Sr.], Norma Varden [Lady Beekman], Howard Wendell [Watson], Steven Geray [Hotel Manager], Henri Letondal [Grotier], Leo Mostovoy [Phillipe], Alex Frazer [Pritchard], Harry Carey Jr. [Winslow], George Davis [Cab Driver], Alphonse Martell [Headwaiter], James Moultrie, Freddie Moultrie [Boy Dancers], Jean De Briac, George Dee, Peter Camlin [Gendarmes], Jean Del Val [Ship's Captain], Ray Montgomery [Peters], Alvy Moore [Anderson], Robert Nichols [Evans], Charles Tannen [Ed], Jimmy Young [Stevens], Charles de Ravenne [Purser], John Close [Coach], William Cabanne [Sims], Philip Sylvestre [Steward], Jack Chefe [Proprietor], Alfred Paix [Pierre], Max Willenz [Court Clerk], Rolfe Sedan [Waiter], Robert Foulk, Ralph Peters [Passport Officials], Harry Seymour [Captain of Waiters]

Musical Program: [0:00] A Little Girl from Little Rock (opening sung and danced by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell before titles); [0:01] Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (instrumental arrangement with short excerpt sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:03] A Little Girl from Little Rock (continued by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell after titles); [0:13] Bye Bye Baby (sung by Jane Russell and Chorus, then sung by Marilyn Monroe to Tommy Noonan, joined by Chorus); [0:21] Ain't There Anyone Here for Love (sung by Jane Russell, danced by Russell and gymnasts); [1:03] When Love Goes Wrong (Nothin' Goes Right) (sung and danced by Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe and Chorus); [1:08] Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (sung by Marilyn Monroe, danced by Monroe and Chorus); [1:21] Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (sung and danced by Jane Russell); [1:30] A Little Girl from Little Rock (excerpt sung by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell); [1:31] Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (sung by Chorus)