I had only seen clips of this infamous movie and especially Marilyn's rendition of "Diamonds are a girls best friend" but until last night I had never seen the entire film.
In my quest to see all the classic films (and yes I say this movie is a classic) I rented Gentlemen Prefer Blondes from Netflix.
I must say...this film was a delight! It was terribly corny with the dance routines and all the breaking out into song but it worked. It was fun and who knew that Marilyn Monroe was funny.
Here are just some of my reflections and ruminations:
* Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926. So she would be 82 today. Hard to imagine isn't it?
* This film came out in 1953 and so Marilyn was in her late twenties then.
* Here are someof my favorite quotes from the movie:
----[Staring at Lorelei and Dorothy] Evans: Say, suppose the ship hits an iceberg and sinks. Which one of them do you save from drowning? William J. Stevens: Those girls couldn't drown.
Esmond Sr.: Have you got the nerve to tell me you don't want to marry my son for his money? Lorelei Lee: It's true. Esmond Sr.: Then what do you want to marry him for? Lorelei Lee: I want to marry him for YOUR money.
Lorelei Lee: Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn't marry a girl just because she's pretty, but my goodness, doesn't it help?
Lorelei Lee: I won't let myself fall in love with a man who won't trust me, no matter what I do.
* I love how they named characters in movies back then. Lorelei Lee is such a great name.
* I kept thinking of how Marilyn would have played Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffanys. I was reading once that this part was originally for her. It would have been a totally different film of course, but I would have liked to have seen it.
* I didn't know Marilyn Monroe's voice was as deep as it was. Her singing voice surprised me at times.
* No matter how many diamonds a man has, a man with a monocle named "Piggy" is just not attractive!
* For the 1950's this movie was very risque I thought! I always thought the 50's was so conservative but I am thinking that they thought about sex as much as we do now.
* How did the ladies get their boobs to look so...so out there? And then I found the secret. It was their bra! Take a look. This is how the "sweater girls" achieved their look.
* When I think of Jane Russel I think of the 18 hour bra that she advertised in later years. Would Marilyn have ended up selling bras later in life? Or maybe she would have ended up on a reality tv show. The possibilities are endless.
* Overall I think the movie was a smart parody of American values. Marilyn was totally making fun of a lot of our culture and values in this film.
* After watching this film I am definitely a Marilyn fan!
Muah! You all have a wonderful weekend
18 comments:
I love classics! Yes, "Diamonds" was a great movie. Marilyn did have a raspy voice, didn't she?
But she is NO true blonde! No one really is...Ha ha...Gentlemen REALLY prefers brunettes! Me brunette!
Love your picture at the bottom!
Rock that dress, sista!
PS: You kinda remind me of the singer Liz Phair.
I've never seen that whole movie, but I've seen the "diamonds" song from it. I also saw Madonna's video homage to it.
you look ab fab as always, d :)
i'm with you in liking classic films, they were hollywood at its best, mostly it's all hollyweird these days :(
Pear shaped or square shaped
these rocks won't lose their shape....
I still prefer the whackier ones, too. Some Like it Hot.
Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Maryln and Joe E. Brown!
HA!
oh yeah, and
ooo-la-la!
Nice dress you're sporting there, gal!
That breathy voice Marilyn had was always something that I found attractive. She was no dizty blonde...just a very tragic figure.
I was an MM fan growing up and enjoyed the film. Of course I played back that key musical scene twice.
Well, I had been forming a comment until I got to the end and saw you, I forget what it was now...
Marilyn is second on my list. :)
Hi, Diane! How have you been? We've been doing remodels to the house and I haven't been out and about much lately. Yes, Marilyn is one of my favorites. I remember when she died. I was a little girl living in New Mexico. I remember seeing pictures of her and reading about her in one of the early tabloids of the day. I thought she was so pretty and couldn't understand why she would be taking drugs or drinking. It didn't make sense to me. Someone mentioned Some Like It Hot. That is one of my all time favorites-no matter how corny. That bra hurts me just to look at it! You look wonderful and hope you are feeling well. Best. D
Funny lines! Especially the idea that neither girl could drown I guess on account of their buoys...
Marilyn was born on my husband's birthday and died on my birthday. Just an odd bit of trivia we share. We call it our Marilyn Connection.
Marilyn was THE blonde. Hey, MM, stand over a fan next time.
MM was a UK size 16 I believe - which is the average size of women in the UK today... but you wouldn't believe that with all the skinny celebs in the media.
My favorite Monroe flick is The Seven Year Itch, but your choice is a great one, too.
But, I prefer the picture of tangerine you over MM any time.
Now, for you there is an award at my blog. Please check it out.
'And you certainly possess that sensuous Marilyn Monroe charm yourself!'
:>
- The Lady Prism
www.prismlives2.blogspot.com
MM didn't get the credit she deserved as an actress. I think she was just sweet until sadly exploited. There are more you will probably enjoy. She would have appreciated your homage.
Sex in the 50's? It was there, everywhere, just not quite as open and obvious as today. Watch some old cartoons.
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