Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1953 film adaptation of the
1949 stage musical, released by
20th Century Fox,
directed by
Howard Hawks and starring
Jane Russell and
Marilyn Monroe, with
Charles Coburn,
Elliott Reid,
Tommy Noonan,
Taylor Holmes, and
Norma Varden in supporting roles. The
screenplay by
Charles Lederer is augmented by the music of songwriting teams
Hoagy Carmichael &
Harold Adamson and
Jule Styne &
Leo Robin. The songs by Styne and Robin are from the Broadway show, while the songs by Carmichael and Adamson were written especially for the film.
The movie is filled with comedic gags and musical numbers. While Russell's down-to-earth, sharp wit has been noted by most critics, it is Monroe's turn as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee for which the film is often remembered.
[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes] Monroe's rendition of the song "
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is considered an iconic performance that has been copied by the likes of
Madonna,
Geri Haliwell,
Kylie Minogue,
Nicole Kidman and
Anna Nicole Smith.
The story line first appeared in
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady, a 1925
novel by
Anita Loos. It was adapted for the stage in 1926, and then a 1928
silent movie, starring
Ruth Taylor,
Alice White,
Ford Sterling, and
Mack Swain, which, as of now, is apparently lost.
John C. Wilson directed the Broadway
musical with
Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee that served as the basis for this screen version.