It's funny that almost 60 years after this movie was released, it is still getting spoofed, re-done, and remembered more as a Marilyn movie than the film version of a hit Broadway musical focusing on the adventures of TWO women. Sure, there are tons of differences between the original Broadway Lorelei (Carol Channing) and the sultry Marilyn, but the role of Lorelei Lee dates back to a play and a silent movie of the 1920's, straight from the Best Selling story of the not-so-dumb blonde and her pal Dorothy. Having seen two stage versions of this (Los Angeles 2002 with Alice Ripley and Valarie Pettiford; New York 2012 with Megan Hilty and Rachel York) and having had the pleasure of seeing this at the anniversary of Chinese Grauman's Theatre (with Jane Russell present), I actually prefer the character of Dorothy, but find it funny that the brunette (who gets the husband in Anita Loos's follow-up) is constantly overlooked. In all of the versions I've seen, I find that it is Dorothy who has the heart, is less of a "female", and undoubtedly more of a catch. No offense against Lorelei; She is fun; It's just Dorothy who gets my vote.
The movie is a bit different than the Broadway show, especially the absence of most of its songs. The replacements aren't bad, but with Jule Styne as composer, why replace them in the first place? The story of the tiara bought by Lorelei with money borrowed from the husband of the tiara's owner is intact, and hysterically funny, with Charles Coburn ("I say!") delightful as the hot under the collar Lord whose imperious wife (Norma Varden) really means business. "Then why are you wearing that hat?", Russell snidely asks her. Some of the characters names remain the same as in the stage production, but the name of the little boy who helps Lorelei out of a porthole was actually an adult whom Dorothy chases in the play.
Both Monroe and Russell are truly likable, and from the moment the show opens, their duet of "Two Little Girls from Little Rock" (just one on stage) sets the tone. Both stars get a chance to shine in the show's most recalled number, two renditions of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend", Russell's obviously less splashy since hers is just a reprise. Her "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?" is an acceptable replacement for the stage "I Love What I'm Doin'", but its basically just the same song by a different composer and used to show off the muscles of the athletes aboard ship. As a result, it is more campy than show-stopping. Musically for me, the highlight was "Bye Bye Baby", while Marilyn's "Diamonds" is more of a music video inserted into a movie. (Along with "Funny Face's" "Think Pink", I can't think of two musical numbers in movie musicals that qualify as moments in film that influenced the music video industry.) While this may never stand up as a faithful version of the stage show, it does its job quite satisfactorily and the results are mostly pleasing. Just give Jane a break, and view the film from Dorothy's perspective for once.
The movie is a bit different than the Broadway show, especially the absence of most of its songs. The replacements aren't bad, but with Jule Styne as composer, why replace them in the first place? The story of the tiara bought by Lorelei with money borrowed from the husband of the tiara's owner is intact, and hysterically funny, with Charles Coburn ("I say!") delightful as the hot under the collar Lord whose imperious wife (Norma Varden) really means business. "Then why are you wearing that hat?", Russell snidely asks her. Some of the characters names remain the same as in the stage production, but the name of the little boy who helps Lorelei out of a porthole was actually an adult whom Dorothy chases in the play.
Both Monroe and Russell are truly likable, and from the moment the show opens, their duet of "Two Little Girls from Little Rock" (just one on stage) sets the tone. Both stars get a chance to shine in the show's most recalled number, two renditions of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend", Russell's obviously less splashy since hers is just a reprise. Her "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?" is an acceptable replacement for the stage "I Love What I'm Doin'", but its basically just the same song by a different composer and used to show off the muscles of the athletes aboard ship. As a result, it is more campy than show-stopping. Musically for me, the highlight was "Bye Bye Baby", while Marilyn's "Diamonds" is more of a music video inserted into a movie. (Along with "Funny Face's" "Think Pink", I can't think of two musical numbers in movie musicals that qualify as moments in film that influenced the music video industry.) While this may never stand up as a faithful version of the stage show, it does its job quite satisfactorily and the results are mostly pleasing. Just give Jane a break, and view the film from Dorothy's perspective for once.