Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
91%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Anchored by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell’s sparkling magnetism, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a delightfully entertaining 1950s musical.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is the perfect movie for anyone who loves a good laugh and some catchy tunes. Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are a dynamic duo that will have you singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” for days. The film is a hilarious farce that pokes fun at the idea of women using their looks to get ahead, and the musical numbers are gorgeously garish and over-the-top. Plus, who doesn’t love a bevy of beefy but oblivious bodybuilders? If you’re looking for a fun and lighthearted movie to watch, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a must-see!
Production Company(ies)
Constantin Film Norddeutscher Rundfunk Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MGM Studio Borehamwood London, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Approved
Year of Release
1953
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 31m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 1953 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 30, 2006
Genre(s)
Comedy/Musical
Keyword(s)
starring Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, George Winslow, directed by Howard Hawks, written by Joseph Fields, Anita Loos, Charles Lederer, comedy, musical, box office success, budget, reviewed by David Stratton, Richard Brody, David Fear, Nick Pinkerton, Christian Blauvelt, produced by Sol C Siegel, MPAA rating, 20th Century Fox, Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, Lorelei Lee, Gus Esmond, Dorothy Shaw, Ernie Malone, Sir Francis “Piggy” Beekman, private detective, cruise, showgirl, wealthy, marriage, disapproval, friendship, color, Technicolor, animal magnetism, dialogue, musical numbers, sequin-studded dresses, glittering backdrops, Novocane in her Lipstick, comedic duo, entertainment, plot changes, endlessly delightful, comedic, silly, snarkily witty, understated, dated premise, funny, entertaining, flawlessly restrained, steals the picture, singing double act, top horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, renewed and cancelled TV shows, horror movies ranked by Tomatometer, anticipated movies and TV shows
Worldwide gross: $648
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Marilyn Monroe – Lorelei Lee
Charles Coburn – Sir Francis “Piggy” Beekman
Elliott Reid – Ernie Malone
Tommy Noonan – Gus Esmond
George Winslow – Henry Spofford III
Director(s)
Howard Hawks
Writer(s)
Joseph Fields, Anita Loos, Charles Lederer
Producer(s)
Sol C. Siegel
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (1)
I cycled home somewhat overwhelmed by the music and colour and sexiness of the film I’d just unexpectedly seen. I’ve seen it many times since and, with all its flaws, I love every minute of it.
April 4, 2020
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Howard Hawks adds sly sexual insinuation to the blatantly sexual antics of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in this scintillating 1953 adaptation of the stage musical based on Anita Loos’s novel.
January 25, 2016
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
You won’t find a more elegant take on ’50s va-va-voom vulgarity or a more joyous paean to the cheesecake self-empowerment of two little girls from Little Rock.
August 4, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
David Fear
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
There’s more warmth in [Russell’s] fondly bemused looks at Monroe, whose friendship is a front-row ticket to the best show in town.
August 3, 2010
Nick Pinkerton
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
If there’s a single film that could shatter Laura Mulvey’s theory of the “male gaze” it’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
August 1, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Christian Blauvelt
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
If camp comedy capering (don’t call it a social satire!) isn’t your thing, it’s worth the ticket to see Monroe’s iconic and flawlessly choreographed performance of Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (TM): a perfect four minutes of film.
February 26, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
David Jenkins
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s a delightful, hilarious farce, with great musical numbers (Monroe’s iconic “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” and Russell’s “Isn’t Anyone Here For Love,” sung to a bevy of beefy but oblivious bodybuilders) and gorgeously garish color…
July 5, 2022
Sean Axmaker
Stream on Demand
You must see it!
July 13, 2021
Edward Murrain
New York Age
A lively technicolorization of the spicy Broadway stage hit…
December 3, 2019
Clyde Gilmour
Maclean’s Magazine
…confirms that Marilyn Monroe should always be thought of as a comedian first.
May 30, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
It’s complex and hilarious, and not hilarious at the expense of the film’s two female leads.
January 24, 2019
Samantha Mann
Bust Magazine
Classic musical romp with dated premise is silly fun.
July 26, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Grace Montgomery
Common Sense Media…
Plot
Lorelei and Dorothy are just “Two Little Girls from Little Rock”, lounge singers on a transatlantic cruise, working their way to Paris, and enjoying the company of any eligible men they might meet along the way, even though “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Based on the Broadway musical based on the novel.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell’s “sparkling magnetism” anchor the delightfully entertaining 1950s musical.
Howard-Hawks.jpg
