May 07, 20 marilyn and jane russell star as two showgirls who set sail on a luxury liner bound for france. Josephus gage, a zipper manufacturer and ruddy character im atingle, im. The story primarily follows the escapades and dalliances of a young blonde flapper in new york and europe during the roaring twenties. Later, loos joked that the plot of gentlemen prefer blondes was. Gentlemen prefer blondes has music by jule styne, lyrics by leo robin. Eisman her days consist mostly of shopping, champagne, meeting rich gentlemen, and going to parties lorelei and dorothy travel to europe with. Lorelei lee is a beautiful showgirl engaged to be married to the wealthy gus esmond, much to the disapproval of gus rich father, esmond sr. Well give you details on who said it, when they said it, and in some cases, why on earth they thought it was okay to say it. Synopsis the two mmmarvels of our age in the wonder musical of the world.
Based on anita loos bestselling 1925 novel of the same name. Gentlemen prefer blondes lyrics gentlemen prefer blondes. Gentlemen prefer blondes book summary and study guide. Miss lorelei lee, whose philosophy is diamonds are a girls best friend. Book by joseph fields and anita loos, lyrics by leo robin and. Gentlemen prefer blondes original, musical, comedy, broadway opened in. The story involves an american womans voyage to paris to perform in a nightclub. Gentlemen prefer blondes lorelei dont you understand that ive been true to you, but im in demand, because gentlemen prefer blondes like me. Anita looss gentlemen prefer blondes represents a curious case in the literary. Gentlemen prefer blondes broadway musical original ibdb. An attractive screen tintuner has been fashioned from the musical stage hit, gentlemen prefer blondes, and its a flashy film show with enough s. The new yorker may earn a portion of sales from products and services that are purchased through links on our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with. The central character, lorelei lee, advances the stereotype of the dumb blonde.
Gus but what am i to do if they go on preferring you. A nita loos, a screenwriting hollywood wunderkind, says she began to draft gentlemen prefer blondes, a jazz age classic, on the american railroad, as. Jane russell and marilyn monroe in gentlemen prefer blondes 1953. Similarly, the 1953 movie version gentlemen prefer blondes produced by 20th century fox has this line of thought. In this delightfully droll and witty book, loreleis glamorous pragmatism shines, as does anita looss mastery of irony and dialect. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for dorothy shaw from gentlemen prefer blondes join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Gentlemen prefer blondes is one of those movies where everything was in alignment. Click on any quote below to see it in context and find out where it falls on shmoop s pretentious scale. Henry spofford, character in gentlemen prefer blondes. Dont you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty.
The intimate diary of a professional lady is a 1925 comic novel written by american author anita loos. The intimate diary of a professional lady, a novel by anita loos, tells the story of lorelei lee, a beautiful blonde showgirl, famously played by marilyn monroe in the. But itd be hard to say it passes the famous bechdel test, as each is obsessed with men, albeit in different ways by patrick brown. Gentlemen prefer blondes synopsis broadway musical. On arrival in paris, dorothy and henry are becoming attracted to each other sunshine. The characters in gentlemen prefer blondes fall into three major types. George santayana, the spanishamerican philosopher and author, facetiously averred that gentlemen prefer blondes was the best book on philosophy written by an american.
Gentlemen prefer blondes original broadway cast 1949. On the surface, gentlemen prefer blondes is kinda antifeminist we have the stereotypical dumb blonde and the smart brunette, the dumb blonde is a blatant golddigger, we dont get a full bechdel test pass almost all of the conversations are about men, and the film is shot with the intention of emphasizing the lead actress sexiness as. Gentlemen prefer blondes is a musical with a book by joseph fields and anita loos, lyrics by. The main character in gentlemen prefer blondes is lorelei lee. Gentlemen prefer blondes is a musical with a book by joseph fields and anita loos, lyrics by leo robin, and music by jule styne, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by loos. E t e a c h ers n o t e s 1 gentlemen prefer blondes 3. Gentlemen prefer blondes may be the origin of the dumb blonde stereotype. My students enjoyed learning the dances of the 20s and creating characters that were over the top.
T his 1953 musical comedy, among the last of its kind to be made before the coming of the widescreen, features a golddigging. Aug 25, 2014 later, loos joked that the plot of gentlemen prefer blondes was almost as gloomy as a dostoevsky novel. I think that takes a bit of the fun from gentlemen prefer blondes for me. If any american fictional character of the twentieth cent. Close reading of a frame from gentlemen prefer blondes for cine 495. Henry has brought into her life sunshine, though when henry proposes marriage you say. Together with her best human friend dorothy topbilled jane russell, showgirl lorelei embarks upon a boat trip to paris, where she intends to marry millionaire gus esmond tommy noonan. Gentlemen prefer blondes by allison layton on prezi.
Al hirschfeld illustration for gentlemen prefer blondes, starring carol channing as lorelei lee. Do gentlemen really prefer blondes bodies, behavior, and brainsthe science behind sex, love, and attraction by jena pincott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. At its helm was the great director howard hawks, one of my favorites and best known for manly movies like the original scarface 1932, only angels have wings 1939, and the first of the humphrey bogartlauren bacall collaborations to have and have not 1944 and the big sleep 1946. She and her friend, dorothy shaw, embark on a cruise to europe where she hopes to marry the wealthy gus esmond. Jun 04, 2016 gentlemen prefer blondes is a musical with a book by joseph fields and anita loos, lyrics by leo robin, and music by jule styne, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by loos. Lorelei they buy me champagne because they say that they admire my brain. Based on a popular broadway show which was itself based on the famous novel by anita loos, gentlemen prefer blondes tells the story of two cabaret performersblonde bombshell loreli lee, who is determined to marry for money, and brunette beauty dorothy shaw, who prefers to marry for love. Immediately download the gentlemen prefer blondes summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching gentlemen prefer blondes. The novel uses the diary format to share loreleis deep feelings with the reader, along with. Feb 27, 2010 jane russell and marilyn monroe in gentlemen prefer blondes 1953. Interestingly, the book was adapted into a silent film, a broadway play, and even a broadway musical before the popular 1953 film version. If any american fictional character of the twentieth century seems likely to be immortal.
It was directed by howard hawks and stars jane russell and marilyn monroe, with charles coburn, elliott reid, tommy noonan, george winslow, taylor holmes and norma varden in supporting roles. Now you can turn your finished slides into an engaging, moving prezi presentation in 10 minutes or less. Gentlemen prefer blondes the guide to musical theatre. Later, loos joked that the plot of gentlemen prefer blondes was almost as gloomy as a dostoevsky novel. My students enjoyed learning the dances of the 20s and creating characters. Gentlemen prefer blondes is the story of a blonde girl from little rock, lorelei who knows how to get her way. Loos again wrote about her heroines in the novellas why not brunette and but gentlemen marry brunettes. Indeed, without loreleis fauxnaif interior monologue, her tale is replete with hints of. Gentlemen prefer blondes,her first novel, was published in 1926 as a book, having been first serialised in an american magazine, harpers bazaar. Once in paris, dorothy continues to enjoy the changes henry has brought into her life sunshine while the beauty of. Jane russell and jeanne crain in gentlemen marry brunettes 1955, a sequel of sorts to gentlemen prefer blondes, also written by anita loos, about showgirls who move to paris to seek fame and. Lorelei lee from gentlemen prefer blondes charactour. Gentlemen prefer blondes frame analysis by melissa larabee. Diamonds are a girls best friend is a popular song from the movie but also the main theme, with the importance of finding a rich husband strongly emphasized.
Gentlemen prefer blondes is a 1953 film adaptation of the 1949 stage musical, released by 20th century fox, directed by howard hawks and starring marilyn monroe and jane russell, with charles coburn, elliott reid, tommy noonan, taylor holmes, and norma varden in supporting roles. The illuminating diary of a professional lady, the material was turned into a dramatic play by loos and her husband, john emerson new york, 27 september 1926. Masquerading as her diaries, gentlemen prefer blondes follows lorelei as she entertains suitors across europe before returning home to marry a millionaire. This wild songanddance extravaganza, based on a book by anita loos, focuses on. Cinema trailer for gentlemen prefer blondes back in uk cinemas from 26 february 2010. Gentlemen prefer blondes, based on a novel and broadway musical by anita loos, fits this recurring pattern in hawkss films, but is unique among the films he directed in that both of the central characters are women. The marilyn monroe film version is wonderful in a very different way, placed in a 1950s context, while the book is pure 1920s flapper jazz age.
Gentlemen prefer blondes lorelei, gus homesick blues lorelei, dorothy, gus, henry, ella spofford, josephus keeping cool with coolidge dorothy, bill, ensemble. Hijinks on the high seas ensue as lorelei monroe and dorothy russell discover theyre being. Secondbilled marilyn monroe is the blonde in question in this second film version of gentlemen prefer blondes. In the same year, her stage adaptation of the book opened in new york and this was followed by several musical versions. Gentlemen prefer blondes was a great play because it only required three sets, and the characters were well developed.
Review by tracey webb, rend lake college, ina, ill. Featuring a book by anita loos and joseph fields, adapted from loos. Diary entries of lorelei lee lorelei leaves arkansas to move to new york city to become an actress and is being educated by mr. This wild songand dance extravaganza, based on a book by anita loos, focuses on. Outrageous, charming, and unforgettable, shes been portrayed on stage and. Provided to youtube by sony music entertainment sunshine aaron lazar rachel york jule styne gentlemen prefer blondes. Since the entire book supposedly was a joke against her mentor hl mencken i dont like him much either i probably would have given this 5 stars if it wasnt for the fact it was written by anita loos, who from all ive read of her makes my skin crawl. Parents need to know that gentlemen prefer blondes is a classic musical comedy full of dated stereotypes. Some years later she and henry fields collaborated to write the script for the. If any american fictional character of the twentieth century seems likely to be immortal, it is lorelei lee of little rock, arkansas, the notsodumb blonde who knew that diamonds are a girls best friend. Louis, this 1953 confection is nonetheless a real charmer.
Book by joseph fields and anita loos, based on her novel of the same name. Gentlemen prefer blondes original, musical, comedy, broadway opened in new york city dec 8, 1949 and played through sep 15, 1951. Read the full synopsis of gentlemen prefer blondes, 1953, directed by howard hawks, with jane russell, marilyn monroe, charles coburn, at turner classic movies. Gentlemen prefer blondes is a 1953 american musical comedy film based on the 1949 stage musical of the same name. Gentlemen prefer blondes original broadway cast 1949 the. T his 1953 musical comedy, among the last of its kind to be made before the coming of.
Gage, a zipper manufacturer and ruddy character im atingle, im aglow. This quote from the novel gentlemen prefer blondes which was written by anita loss succinctly encapsulates the ambition of lorelei lee, the heroine of the story. After being published in book form as gentlemen prefer blondes. You may not marry a girl just because she is pretty, but, my goodness, doesnt it help. The delirious 1925 jazzage classic that no less an authority than edith wharton called the great american novel. This wild songanddance extravaganza, based on a book by anita loos, focuses. Style essentialsstardom strikes marilyn monroe as gentlemen. Gentlemen prefer blondes 1953 howard hawks synopsis.
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