Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Director:

Howard Hawks

Writers:

Charles Lederer (screenplay)
Joseph Fields (based on the musical comedy by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

August 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The Two M-M-Marvels Of Our Age In The Wonder Musical Of The World!

Plot:

Two singers, best friends Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw travel to Paris pursued by a private detective hired by Lorelei's fiancé's disapproving father to keep an eye on her, a rich, enamoured old man and many other doting admirers.

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Friend | Detective | Diamond | Private Detective

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jane Russell	...	Dorothy Shaw
Marilyn Monroe	...	Lorelei Lee
Charles Coburn	...	Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman
Elliott Reid	...	Ernie Malone
Tommy Noonan	...	Gus Esmond Jr.
George Winslow	...	Henry Spofford III
Marcel Dalio	...	Magistrate
Taylor Holmes	...	Mr. Esmond Sr.
Norma Varden	...	Lady Beekman
Howard Wendell	...	Watson
Steven Geray	...	Hotel Manager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Akimoff	...	Captain of Waiters (uncredited)
Aladdin	...	Musician (uncredited)
Patricia Barker	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Virginia Bates	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Wallace Bickmore	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Herman Boden	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Julio Bonini	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Jack Boyle	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Harris Brown	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Edward C. Browne	...	Small Role (uncredited)
William Cabanne	...	Sims (uncredited)
Peter Camlin	...	Gendarme (uncredited)
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Winslow - Olympic Team (uncredited)
George Chakiris	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Proprietor (uncredited)
John Close	...	Coach (uncredited)
Harold E. Coates	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Robert Cole	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Joan Collenette	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Gene Dailey	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Becky Davis	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Drusilla Davis	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
George Davis	...	Pierre - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Jean De Briac	...	Gendarme (uncredited)
Charles De Ravenne	...	Purser (uncredited)
George Dee	...	Gendarme (uncredited)
Josette Deegan	...	French Stewardess (uncredited)
Jean Del Val	...	Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Frank Dernhammer	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Bobby Diamond	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Deena Dikkers	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Jack Dodds	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Arthur Dulac	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Chez Louis Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
George Ford	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Robert Foulk	...	Passport Official (uncredited)
Alex Frazer	...	Pritchard (uncredited)
Raoul Freeman	...	Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Joel Friend	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Robert Fuller	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Ed Fury	...	Olympic Team Member (uncredited)
Kay Garrett	...	Passenger (uncredited)
A. Cameron Grant	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Bennett Green	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Stanley Hall	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
John Hedloe	...	Olympic Team Member (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	...	Olympic Team Member (uncredited)
Casse Jaeger	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Richard Kean	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Dorothy Kellogg	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Larry Kert	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Tommy Ladd	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Richard LaMarr	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Judy Landon	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Lisa Lang	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Joan Larkin	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Henri Letondal	...	Grotier (uncredited)
Ray Long	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Shirley Lopez	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Herb Lurie	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Warren Mace	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Johnny Marlin	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Erin Martin	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Matt Mattox	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Reed Maxcy	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Ray Montgomery	...	Peters - Olympic Team (uncredited)
Alvy Moore	...	Winston - Olympic Team (uncredited)
Roger Moore	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Donald Moray	...	Airport Porter (uncredited)
Leo Mostovoy	...	Phillipe (uncredited)
Fred Moultrie	...	Boy Dancer (uncredited)
James Moultrie	...	Boy Dancer (uncredited)
Noel Neill	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Robert Nichols	...	Evans (uncredited)
Ron Nyman	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Gayle Pace	...	Olympic Team Member (uncredited)
Alfred Paix	...	Pierre (uncredited)
Stephen Papich	...	French Waiter (uncredited)
Ralph Peters	...	Passport Official (uncredited)
Manuel Petroff	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Frank Radcliffe	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Ellen Ray	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Steve Reeves	...	Olympic Team Member (uncredited)
Barry Regan	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Jack Regas	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Mel Robin	...	Small Role (uncredited)
John Robinson	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Don M. Rosenstock	...	Small Role (uncredited)
James H. Russell	...	Olympic Team Member (uncredited)
Loulette Sablon	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Rolfe Sedan	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Harry Seymour	...	Louie - Captain of Waiters (uncredited)
Peggy Smith	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Roberta Stevenson	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Robert Street	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
F. Philip Sylvestre	...	Steward (uncredited)
Charles Tannen	...	Ed - Malone's Contact (uncredited)
Marlina Tepel	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Lee Theodore	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Stagehand (uncredited)
Ray Weaver	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Chez Louis Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Leo Wheeler	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Marc Wilder	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Max Willenz	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Don Wilson	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
James Young	...	Stevens - Olympic Team (uncredited)

Directed by
Howard Hawks

Writing credits
Charles Lederer		(screenplay)
Joseph Fields		(based on the musical comedy by) and
Anita Loos		(based on the musical comedy by)

Produced by
Sol C. Siegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Leigh Harline		(uncredited)
Lionel Newman		(uncredited)
Hal Schaefer		(uncredited)
Herbert W. Spencer		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harry J. Wild		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hugh S. Fowler		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)
Joseph C. Wright

Set Decoration by
Claude E. Carpenter		(set decorations) (as Claude Carpenter)

Costume Design by
Travilla		(costumes designed by)

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Allan Snyder	....	makeup artist: Miss Monroe (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Helmick	....	assistant director
Don Torpin	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Special Effects by
Ray Kellogg	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director (as Charles Le Maïre)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Joan Joseff	....	costume jewelry (uncredited)

Editorial Department
James Blakeley	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Lyman Hallowell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Eliot Daniel	....	vocal director
Earle Hagen	....	orchestrator
Bernard Mayers	....	orchestrator
Lionel Newman	....	musical director
Leo Robin	....	music and lyrics by
Herbert W. Spencer	....	composer: theme music (as Herbert Spencer)
Jule Styne	....	music and lyrics by
Jack Dumont	....	musician (uncredited)

Other crew
Jack Cole	....	choreographer
Leonard Doss	....	technicolor color consultant
Herman Levin	....	stage presenter
Oliver Smith	....	stage presenter
Doris Drought	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Marni Nixon	....	voice double: high notes for Marilyn Monroe (uncredited)
Lorraine Sherwood	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
Richard A. Smith	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (released by) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1962) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Fox Films (1953) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Fox Films (1954) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Park Circus (2010) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Seven Films - Spentzos Film (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD) (English, Spanish & Portuguese subtitles)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2002) (Finland) (DVD) (11-disc Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1980) (1995) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2000) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1966) (1988) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Howard Hawks' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U (1987) | USA:Approved (PCA #16244) | West Germany:16 | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Canada:G (video rating) | Portugal:M/6 | UK:A (1953) (cut) | Denmark:A | Brazil:Livre | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Stage 3, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

According to Marni Nixon, the studio initially wanted Marilyn Monroe's entire voice dubbed, as they thought her voice was silly. Nixon thought that was "awful", as she felt Monroe's voice suited her persona so beautifully. Nixon told The New York Times in March 2007 that she ended up only dubbing the operatic "no, no, nos" at the beginning of the song and the phrase "these rocks don't lose their shape".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the scene where Lorelei is seeing Mr Esmond off at the ship, the words "Bye, lover!" are heard but Lorelei's lips do not move.

Quotes:

Lorelei Lee:[sing] A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, / But diamonds are a girl's best friend. / A kiss may be grand, but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat. / Or help you at the automat. / Men grow cold as girls grow old, and we all lose our charm in the end. / But square-cut or pear-shaped, these rocks won't lost their shape. / Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: On Blondes/Walter Kundzicz/The Art of Flirting (#6.13)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

A Little Girl from Little Rock

Under Howard Hawks' direction Marilyn was a sexual delight striking, in one of her numbers, a 'Gilda' pose…

Marilyn's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was one of the classic musicals of the 1950's... She comes into it looking like a winner, and leaves as one… The picture has been set fully by the tone of her personality… Her personality infuses every corner of the film as if she has even picked the scenery to work for her…

The movie rises above its pretext, its story, its existence as a musical, even its music, and becomes at its best a magic work, yet it is a light-hearted satire of the old adage that when a woman goes bad, men go right after her…

The film crowned Monroe in her position as the nation's new 'Love Goddess' with the promise of many sparkling hits to come, and Jane Russell's career continued, with less fanfare, but very successfully for several more years…

The story was simple: Dorothy (Jane Russell) and Lorelei (Marilyn Monroe) work together as entertainers and are also good friends… Lorelei's millionaire fiancé Gus Esmond (Tommy Noonan) sends the girls to France, but his father (Taylor Holmes) hires a private detective, Malone (Elliott Reid) on the same boat to spy on her during the trip… When the three meet, Dorothy falls for Malone, much to the chagrin of Lorelei, who cannot understand Dorothy's indifference to men with money…

On board, the girls get into trouble when they meet an old playboy Francis Beckman (Charles Coburn), a diamond merchant…