Retrospective Film Review

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) • 70 Years Later — a sparkling diamond

Two showgirls travel to Paris, pursued by a detective hired by the suspicious father of one’s fiancé, as well as a rich old man and other doting admirers.

1953 was a banner year for Marilyn Monroe. She starred in three hits (Niagara, How to Marry a Millionaire, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), ascending from a supporting player to a bonafide star. Gentlemen and How to Marry a Millionaire were both in the Top 10 highest-grossing films of that year — earning the seventh and fourth spot, respectively.

But of the three, none have become as intrinsically intertwined with her image and legacy as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The film turns 70 this year and, true to the philosophy of its most famous musical number, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”, has lost none of its lustre. It’s actually better regarded now than it was upon release, as it reads as being ahead of its time for its incisive commentary on gender and class politics.