How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Three women set out to find eligible millionaires to marry, but find true love in the process.

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (screen play), Zoe Akins (plays)

Stars:

Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Betty Grable	...	Loco Dempsey
Marilyn Monroe	...	Pola Debevoise
Lauren Bacall	...	Schatze Page
David Wayne	...	Freddie Denmark
Rory Calhoun	...	Eben Salem
Cameron Mitchell	...	Tom Brookman
Alexander D'Arcy	...	J. Stewart Merrill (as Alex D'Arcy)
Fred Clark	...	Waldo Brewster
William Powell	...	J.D. Hanley

Storyline

Three New York models, Shatze, Pola and Loco set up in an exclusive apartment with a plan....tired of cheap men and a lack of money, they intend to use all their talents to trap and marry three millionaires. The trouble is that it's not so easy to tell the rich men from the hucksters - and even when they can, is the money really worth it?

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Plot Keywords:

manhattan new york city | remake | millionaire | comedy of errors | mistaken identity | 

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Taglines:

All This and CinemaScope Too! The modern miracle with STEREOPHONIC SOUND

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Latin Arabic

Release Date:

20 November 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wie angelt man sich einen Millionär

Filming Locations:

36 Sutton Place South, Sutton Place, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,870,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,000,000, 31 December 1953

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (1959 Reissue) (Western Electric Recording) (Stereo) Stereo (1959 Reissue) (Stereo)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe was a challenge to work with. It wasn't because she was unpleasant, but rather her insecurity and total dependence on her personal acting coach Natasha Lytess for approval: "Betty Grable was a funny, outgoing woman, totally professional and easy. Marilyn was frightened, insecure--trusted only her coach and was always late. During our scenes she'd look at my forehead instead of my eyes; at the end of a take, look to her coach, standing behind Jean Negulesco, for approval. If the head shake was no, she'd insist on another take. A scene often went to 15 or more takes, which meant I'd have to be good in all of them as no one knew which one would be used. Not easy--often irritating. And yet I couldn't dislike Marilyn. She had no meanness in her--no bitchery. She just had to concentrate on herself and the people who were there only for her."

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Goofs

The flowers change position in the bedroom during the wedding party.

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Quotes

Schatze Page: I can't shack up with a dame I've never met before and she's crazy too!
Pola Debevoise: You don't have to. She'll come up and you'll see if you like her. If you don't...
Schatze Page: Is she any help to this?
Pola Debevoise: Let's see
[over the phone to Loco]
Pola Debevoise: Hey Loc, how much money you got?
Loco Dempsey: [on the phone] I got a quarter.
Pola Debevoise: Great. Pick up lunch on your way over.
Loco Dempsey: Ok, how many.
Pola Debevoise: Three
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist (1987)

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Soundtracks

Sweet and Lovely
(1931) (uncredited)
Music by Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias and Neil Moret
In the score during the fashion showing

User Reviews

What a wonderfully, delightful movie!

I just had a wonderful opportunity to catch a screening of this film on a wide screen. What a treat!

Unfortunately, it wasn't the best print; lots of dust and scratches on reel changes, and the colors were quite faded, but these films simply must be seen on a wide screen with an audience to be truly appreciated. Of course, almost any movie is improved by seeing it at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity.

Lauren Bacall has always been one of my favorite actors, and she and Powell do work wonderfully together. Monroe is also, always a delight - I think that she was a much better actress than she is generally given credit for. However, though I've seen this movie close to a dozen times before, I was really struck at the wonderful performance that Grable turned in. She was perfect! I haven't seen much of her other work, but in HTMAM, she shows herself to be a wonderful comedic actress, playing a "dim blonde" who really isn't that dim. What a revelation and what a delight.

I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes old movies, but if you have a chance to catch it on a real movie screen - DO SO! You won't be disappointed.