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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Apr. 14th, 2020 09:53 amI’ve decided that this time of enforced idleness is a good time to get caught up on classic movies (really, probably a good time to get caught up on any movies), so we got started with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which shockingly I’ve never seen.
I quite liked it! I’m sure at least part of this was simply the result of low expectations: I had really expected the movie to pit the two female stars (Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell) against each other to basically enact the title thesis (Marilyn Monroe gets the man because Gentlemen Prefer Blondes! or something like that), but in fact Lorelei and Dorothy's friendship is one of the most important relationships in the movie, and they always have each other’s backs.
Admittedly, Lorelei’s idea of having Dorothy’s back is trying to hook her up with the richest man she can find, but this is an entirely sincere and in its way generous desire. Marrying rich is Lorelei’s big dream, and so she’s trying to ensure the same thing for her friend, showing a perhaps too literal understanding of the dictum “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but nonetheless, she’s trying to do her best by Dorothy.
And I also liked the fact that the movie basically lets Lorelei get away with her gold digging ways. It’s not that I think marrying for money is necessarily a good idea or a nice thing to do, but it’s tiresome to watch characters get castigated by a narrative for it. And it’s not like Lorelei is marrying a man she doesn’t like for his money; it is, as Lorelei said, “just as easy to love a rich man as a poor one.”
Also, the music numbers are catchy (particularly the classic “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”) and frothy and fun. In general, this is just a fun, light movie: perfect for a bit of distraction.
I quite liked it! I’m sure at least part of this was simply the result of low expectations: I had really expected the movie to pit the two female stars (Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell) against each other to basically enact the title thesis (Marilyn Monroe gets the man because Gentlemen Prefer Blondes! or something like that), but in fact Lorelei and Dorothy's friendship is one of the most important relationships in the movie, and they always have each other’s backs.
Admittedly, Lorelei’s idea of having Dorothy’s back is trying to hook her up with the richest man she can find, but this is an entirely sincere and in its way generous desire. Marrying rich is Lorelei’s big dream, and so she’s trying to ensure the same thing for her friend, showing a perhaps too literal understanding of the dictum “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but nonetheless, she’s trying to do her best by Dorothy.
And I also liked the fact that the movie basically lets Lorelei get away with her gold digging ways. It’s not that I think marrying for money is necessarily a good idea or a nice thing to do, but it’s tiresome to watch characters get castigated by a narrative for it. And it’s not like Lorelei is marrying a man she doesn’t like for his money; it is, as Lorelei said, “just as easy to love a rich man as a poor one.”
Also, the music numbers are catchy (particularly the classic “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”) and frothy and fun. In general, this is just a fun, light movie: perfect for a bit of distraction.
