In our second tribute to Marilyn Monroe, we present Howard Hawks’ screwball comedy musical which also stars Jane Russell and Charles Coburn and scores a full five stars from The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw.
Lorelei Lee (Monroe) is a beautiful showgirl engaged to be married to the wealthy Gus Esmond (Tommy Noonan), much to the disapproval of Gus' rich father, Esmond Sr. (Taylor Holmes), who thinks that Lorelei is just after his money. When Lorelei goes on a cruise accompanied only by her best friend, Dorothy Shaw (Russell), Esmond Sr. hires Ernie Malone (Elliott Reid), a private detective, to follow her and report any questionable behaviour that would disqualify her from the marriage. Monroe and Russell - one blonde gold-digger obsessed with diamonds and one romantic brunette with a sassy tongue - convey a sparkling magnetism, nowhere more apparent than when Monroe sings ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend’ in one of the classic musical performances on film.
USA 1953 Howard Hawks 91m
