Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

US 91m, Colour
Director: Howard Hawks; Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee, Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a garishly colourful musical comedy about two showgirls looking to find love, money and happiness. The not-so-dumb blonde, Lorelei, figures that money plus love is better than just love, and only flirts with wealthy would-be suitors. Alternatively, Dorthy, a good time girl is happy with the attentions of any good-looking guy, no matter what he does for a living. Containing Monroe’s iconic performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” this terribly stereotyped film agreeably never takes itself seriously or explains the basis for the sexual selection implied in its title (Klaus Ming December 2014).