{"id":2406,"date":"2007-03-08T18:05:41","date_gmt":"2007-03-09T01:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2406"},"modified":"2021-01-18T00:42:13","modified_gmt":"2021-01-18T07:42:13","slug":"gentlemen-prefer-blondes-1953","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2406","title":{"rendered":"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Thank you ever so.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes-Poster-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-31486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes-Poster-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nShowgirl Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) becomes engaged to a wealthy nebbish (Tommy Noonan), then takes a cross-Atlantic trip with her man-loving friend Dorothy (Jane Russell). On the way, Lorelei flirts with the owner of a diamond mine (Charles Coburn) and is trailed by a private detective (Elliott Reid), who falls in love with Dorothy.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>At Sea<\/li>\n<li>Charles Coburn Films<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Dumb Blondes<\/li>\n<li>Friendship<\/li>\n<li>Golddiggers<\/li>\n<li>Howard Hawks Films<\/li>\n<li>Jane Russell Films<\/li>\n<li>Marilyn Monroe Films<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Showgirls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell &#8220;give delightful, supercharged performances&#8221; in this classic musical comedy &#8212; which, despite bland male romantic leads and a lackluster second half, remains an enjoyable diversion. Monroe performs what may be her most famous musical number ever (the oft-mimicked &#8220;Diamonds Are a Girl&#8217;s Best Friend&#8221;), and Russell &#8212; in one of her best roles &#8212; gets to perform a showstopper of her own (&#8220;Ain&#8217;t There Anyone Here for Love?&#8221;) while surrounded by scantily-clad Olympic athletes.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the script contains countless zingy lines (&#8220;The chaperone&#8217;s job is to make sure nobody else has any fun; but nobody chaperones the chaperone &#8212; that&#8217;s why <em>I&#8217;m<\/em> so right for this job!&#8221; reasons Russell), and a surprising feminist subtext. As Peary notes, Monroe and Russell&#8217;s loyal friendship is remarkably strong for a pre-1970s film, and Monroe (who is &#8220;only dumb when men want her to be&#8221;) gets to make the eminently reasonable point that &#8220;men are attracted only to women with good looks, yet resent women who are attracted to men with money.&#8221; Lorelei may be a gold-digger, but she recognizes the way the world works, and &#8212; much like Monroe herself &#8212; is more than willing to trade her &#8220;wares&#8221; in return for what she wants out of life. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marilyn Monroe, perfectly cast in an iconic &#8220;dumb blonde&#8221; role<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Monroe.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Monroe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Monroe.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Monroe-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Monroe-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Monroe-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jane Russell as Monroe&#8217;s loyal, man-crazed friend<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Russell.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Russell.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Russell.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Russell-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Russell-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Russell-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Several colorful, energetic musical sequences, including one of the most famous in cinematic history: &#8220;Diamonds Are a Girl&#8217;s Best Friend&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Diamonds.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Diamonds.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Diamonds.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Diamonds-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Diamonds-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Diamonds-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The surprise appearance of &#8220;Mr.&#8221; Henry Spofford III (and valet)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Pofford.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Pofford.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Pofford.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Pofford-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Pofford-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Pofford-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Charles Coburn as &#8220;Piggy&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Piggy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Piggy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Piggy.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Piggy-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Piggy-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Gentlemen-Prefer-Piggy-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Countless memorable lines and double entendres:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Those girls <em>couldn&#8217;t<\/em> drown&#8230;&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;I like a man who can run faster than I can.&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;I just LOVE finding new places to wear diamonds!&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. Every film fanatic should see <em>Gentlemen Prefer Blondes<\/em> at least once. Discussed at length in Peary&#8217;s <em>Cult Movies 3<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0045810\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1953\/07\/16\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-gentlemen-prefer-blondes-at-roxy-with-marilyn.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SsM7vhB214Y\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Thank you ever so.&#8221; Synopsis: Showgirl Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) becomes engaged to a wealthy nebbish (Tommy Noonan), then takes a cross-Atlantic trip with her man-loving friend Dorothy (Jane Russell). On the way, Lorelei flirts with the owner of a diamond mine (Charles Coburn) and is trailed by a private detective (Elliott Reid), who falls in love with Dorothy. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: At Sea Charles Coburn Films Detectives and Private Eyes Dumb Blondes Friendship Golddiggers Howard Hawks Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2406\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2406"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64111,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406\/revisions\/64111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}