Directed by Howard Hawkes and released in 1953, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes stars Russell and Marilyn Monroe as Dorothy Shaw and Lorelei Lee, two showgirls who are best friends with very different preferences in men. Lorelei (Monroe) plays her typical ditzy blonde who is obsessed with millionaires and diamonds, while Russell's Dorothy despises men with money and is basically out to find a guy who can show her a good time. Lorelei has captured the heart of a nerdy millionaire whose father disapproves of their union, and is going abroad to France to elope with her intended; Dorothy tags along to play chaperon and have a good time with the men's Olympic team who are travelling on the same ocean liner.
Their trip hits a snag when Lorelei's fiance's father hires a private eye to get some dirt on the blonde man-trap. While trying to get to Lorelei he starts romancing Dorothy, and soon he and Dorothy fall of each other. Meanwhile, Lorelei discovers that diamond mine owner Sir Frances "Piggy" Beekman (played by the always wonderful Charles Coburn) is on the ocean liner and starts plotting to seduce the old man into giving her his wife's diamond tiara. The private dick gets the dirt on Lorelei and the girls have to hatch a plot to get it back from him. Several misadventures and misunderstandings follow before the girls get their men and the happy ending they desire.
As mentioned before, the film really is all about the relationship between these two women and the way they constantly put their heads on the line for each other in difficult times. The chemistry between Russell and Monroe is undeniable and the film is at its best when the two are playing off each other. Other than Piggy, the male characters are pretty unremarkable and serve more as plot devices to explain the hijinks these girls get into.
As with the plot of the film, the musical numbers that work best are also the ones where both Monroe and Russell are together. To most people who are familiar with the film, the number that immediately comes to mind is Monroe's often imitated, indelible Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. Russell does a similar number with the Olympic team dancing along in flesh coloured shorts when she performs Ain't There Anyone Here For Love, and both numbers are great but together the ladies bring down the house. Unlike many other musicals every song works in the film and pretty much every number is memorable.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ranks pretty high on my list of favourite movie musicals. It's light, doesn't take itself too seriously, and is a lot of fun to watch. I really recommend that people who have never seen it take a look. Here's a sample of the Russell/Monroe magic.
