Click on any quote below to see it in context and find out where it falls on shmoop s pretentious scale. In this delightfully droll and witty book, loreleis glamorous pragmatism shines, as does anita looss mastery of irony and dialect. Scott fitzgeralds the great gatsby and carl van vechtens. The illuminating diary of a professional lady, the material was turned into a dramatic play by loos and her husband, john emerson. 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. A smash success on the broadway stage, gentlemen prefer blondes. Gentlemen prefer blondes are a fun, swing style closeharmony singing duo. Everyone, of course, has heard of gentlemen prefer blondes, but the short novels fame was eclipsed by the 1953 movie of the same name, starring. The film gentlemen prefer blondes 1953 directed by howard hawks has an obvious association with stereotypes with the movie title. 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. Girl from little rock, sunshine, im atingle, im aglow, you say. While the film has its share of flaws, this isnt marilyn monroe golddigging her way to europe.
Gentlemen prefer blondes is rightly considered a classic, its sharp and bitingly witty insight is something one never seems to see in a book today indeed, humour in a book today seems to be rare sometimes it seems that all new fiction books are depressing and. Gentlemen prefer blondes has music by jule styne, lyrics by leo robin and a book by. On the surface, gentlemen prefer blondes is a brassy, garish, colorful musical comedy featuring two rather lightweight actresses, marilyn monroe and jane russell. Edith wharton lorelei lees wideeyed ditziness is nothing less than a joy forever. Gentlemen prefer blondes original broadway cast 1949 the. And it really is remarkable, because it makes over 50,000 people read the same book every month. The delirious 1925 jazzage classic that no less an authority than edith wharton called the great american novel. Gus but what am i to do if they go on preferring you.
The main character in gentlemen prefer blondes is lorelei lee. The musical was staged according to the book of the same name by anita loos and joseph fields. Based on anita loos bestselling novel of the same name, gentlemen prefer blondes. With ruth taylor, alice white, ford sterling, holmes herbert.
Gentlemen prefer blondes an attractive screen tintuner has been fashioned from the musical stage hit and its a flashy film show with enough s. Outrageous, charming, and unforgettable, shes been portrayed on stage and. The story primarily follows the escapades and dalliances of a young blonde flapper in new york and europe during the roaring twenties. George santayana, the spanishamerican philosopher and author, facetiously averred that gentlemen prefer blondes was the best book on philosophy written by an american.
After being published in book form as gentlemen prefer blondes. Gentlemen prefer blondes original broadway cast 1949. Gentlemen prefer blondes by howard hawks howard hawks. Gallery of 37 movie poster and cover images for gentlemen prefer blondes 1953. Gentlemen prefer blondes 1953 its a tiara scene hd duration.
Navy to show its troops that women do not like men who are loud, obnoxious, drunken sex maniacs. Written by anita loos novel and play, joseph fields play, and charles lederer. Henry has brought into her life sunshine, though when henry proposes marriage you. Gentlemen prefer blondes quotes showing 17 of 7 you can say what you want about the germans being full of kunst, but what they are really full of is delicatessen. Gentlemen prefer blondes opened on broadway at the ziegfeld theatre on. In those days it was standard practice at fox to wait one year after the release of a picture, and then we would junk all of the outtakes and all of the trims. Set in the roaring twenties, gentlemen prefer blondes follows the. The director howard hawks adds sly sexual insinuation to the blatantly sexual antics of marilyn monroe and jane russell in this scintillating 1953 adaptation of the stage. Gentlemen prefer blondes lyrics song lyrics for musical. Lorelei is dedicated to advancing and improving herself, especially in. I gave henry a supscription sic to the book of the month club that tells you the book you have to read every month to make your individuality stand out. Anchored by marilyn monroe and jane russells sparkling magnetism, gentlemen prefer blondes is a delightfully entertaining 1950s musical. A comparison and contrast between the novel and the film. The intimate diary of a professional lady is a 1925 comic novel written by american author anita loos.
Sunshine, sunshine, oohlala, skies are bluelala in the bois. Gentlemen prefer blondes jane russell marilyn monroe charles coburn 1953 two showgirls on the lookout for rich eligible bachelors run into numerous complications during a trip to paris. Gentlemen prefer blondes book summary and study guide. Gentlemen prefer blondes by anita loos and black oxen by gertrude atherton were a direct challenge to the idea that a womans identity were wrapped up in her beauty. In fact, there are a number of more interesting ways to read gentlemen prefer blondes. Gentlemen prefer blondes marilyn monroe the guardian. This is a great little book actually, two books in one. Anita loos gentlemen prefer blondes download ebook pdf. In this delightfully droll and witty book, loreleis glamorous pragmatism shines, as does anita loos s mastery of irony and dialect. Music by jule styne lyrics by leo robin book by anita loos and joseph fields adapted from the novel by anita loos. Lorelei loves money, jewelry, and men rich enough to provide them, while dorothy is in love with love itself, including the sexual side, which shes as candid about as 1950s.
A nita loos, a screenwriting hollywood wunderkind, says she began to draft gentlemen prefer blondes, a jazz age classic, on the american railroad, as. On arrival in paris, dorothy and henry are becoming attracted to each other sunshine. Both heroines are showgirls, and both have specialized tastes. Similarly, the 1953 movie version gentlemen prefer blondes produced by 20th century fox has this line of thought. Masquerading as her diaries, gentlemen prefer blondes follows lorelei as she entertains suitors across europe before returning home to marry a millionaire. Gentlemen prefer blondes lorelei dont you understand that ive been true to you, but im in demand, because gentlemen prefer blondes like me.
Anita loos quotes author of gentlemen prefer blondes. Increased press coverage of marilyn brought headaches, but it also contributed to an improvement in her status at twentieth centuryfox throughout the production of niagara on june 1, 1952, fox gave marilyn a surprise birthday present the news that she would star as lorelei lee in the film version of gentlemen prefer blondes. Gentlemen prefer blondes essay 1089 words bartleby. Breezes hum a song, children hum along, ladedadedah. The book quotes james blakely, the assistant editor on gentlemen prefer blondes.
Gentlemen prefer blondes original, musical, comedy, broadway opened in new york city dec 8, 1949 and played through sep 15, 1951. Interestingly, the musical is quite complex when viewed through a feminist lens. A gentleman is representative of an apparent higher class of male which is financially stable and has the ability to become the breadwinner of the family. 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 1953 howard hawks synopsis. Cast recording of gentlemen prefer blondes stunning vocal arrangements by hugh martin with orchestration by don walker cop. Lyrics to gentlemen prefer blondes broadway musical. Gentlemen prefer blondes original broadway cast recording. 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. Gentlemen prefer blondes is one of monroes most famous films. 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. As one might expect from the title, lorelei is a blonde. 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. Gentlemen prefer blondes is a musical with a book by joseph fields and anita loos, lyrics by.
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. Originally published in 1925, gentlemen prefer blondes was a bestseller decades before marilyn monroe and jane russell starred in the now morefamous screen adaptation. 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. It is one of several famous novels published that yearincluding f.
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 the film is filled with comedic situations and musical numbers, choreographed by. Book by joseph fields and anita loos, lyrics by leo. Gentlemen prefer blondes is a 1953 american musical comedy film based on the 1949 stage musical of the same name. Gentlemen prefer blondes may be the origin of the dumb blonde stereotype. The actress megan hilty is taking on a role made famous by marilyn monroe, the celebrity her character on nbcs smash pines to play, in gentlemen prefer blondes, part of the encores. Gentlemen prefer blondes broadway musical original ibdb. Book club brings the roaring 20s to stanford with anita. Al hirschfeld illustration for gentlemen prefer blondes, 1949 starring carol channing as lorelei lee. Parents need to know that gentlemen prefer blondes is a classic musical comedy full of dated stereotypes. Marilyn monroe in gentlemen prefer blondes howstuffworks.
Gentlemen prefer blondes was a great play because it only required three sets, and the characters were well developed. Gentlemen prefer blondes marilyn monroe and jane russell make a fantastic double act in howard hawkss sparkling 1953 comedy, writes peter bradshaw double trouble. Gentlemen prefer blondes fri, aug 1, 2014 the shedd institute. Cinema trailer for gentlemen prefer blondes back in uk cinemas from 26 february 2010. I laughed put loud throughout it and hoped that it would never end. This wild songanddance extravaganza, based on a book by anita loos, focuses on. The story involves an american womans voyage to paris to perform in a nightclub. Miss lorelei lee, whose philosophy is diamonds are a girls best friend. Gentlemen prefer blondes the lost scenes b movie bombshell. 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. When lorelei goes on a cruise accompanied only by her best friend, dorothy shaw, esmond sr. Sunshine yvonne adair eric brotherson gentlemen prefer blondes orchestra gentlemen prefer blondes original broadway cast recording. Lorelei they buy me champagne because they say that they admire my brain.
Gentlemen prefer blondes, directed by sasha regan, runs at. 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. Laurence olivier talks about marilyn monroe duration. Gentlemen prefer blondes has music by jule styne, lyrics by leo robin. 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. Anita looss gentlemen prefer blondes represents a curious case in the literary. I didnt even know it had been a book until i saw a stray comment about it in bill brysons one summer. Gentlemen prefer blondes lyrics gentlemen prefer blondes. Secondbilled marilyn monroe is the blonde in question in this second film version of gentlemen prefer blondes.
Ultimately, however, director howard hawks uses the nature of the material and the glossy stars to an interesting, paradoxical effect. Two years later, there was a second part of the movie gentlemen marry. In looss gentlemen prefer blondes, a young woman journals about her travels and the men she meets along the way. Featuring a book by anita loos and joseph fields, adapted from loos. Union theatre revives gentlemen prefer blondes, full cast.
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