Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Lorelei and Dorothy, two showgirls and friends who are very different from each other, travel to Paris pursued by a private detective and several admirers. Lorelei (Marilyn Monroe), a stunning but seemingly dumb blonde, believes that a man’s best virtue is the money in his pocket; while Dorothy (Jane Russell), a sarcastic, pragmatic brunette, prefers men who are handsome and in good shape. Monroe’s iconic performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” consolidated her status as a sex symbol, while Jane Russell became a figurehead for strong women with sharp wits. The contrast between the two goes far beyond their looks: their creative chemistry made the film memorable, and it has influenced subsequent generations of musical comedies.