Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Marilyn Monroe's star was well and truly rising when she portrayed author Anita Loos's gold-digging Lorelei Lee in this scintillating 20th Century-Fox musical. It's directed by Howard Hawks, who had a clever understanding of how to exploit Monroe's star power - he'd previously directed her in Monkey Business. Watch how even co-star Jane Russell is entranced by the blonde bombshell during their duets. Monroe shines in the superbly photographed and choreographed production numbers, most notably Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend - watch for an uncredited young George Chakiris (West Side Story) in the chorus. The movie opens with a scene that uses the sparkling Technicolor to best effect, as Monroe and Russell announce that they're just Two Little Girls from Little Rock, and it simply takes off from there. The men are underused - but who cares? - and the third act is a flat and contrived letdown yet, make no mistake, this is the movie that consolidated Monroe's stardom and showcased her special talent to the full. Don't miss.