Common Sense Media Review
By Grace Montgomery
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic musical romp with dated premise is silly fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
What's the Story?
Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) is a dancer and husband-chaser in this glitzy musical comedy. As Lorelei journeys to Paris to hopefully marry one of her rich admirers, her friend Dorothy (Jane Russell) tries to keep her out of trouble. As the two dance and sing their way across the sea, a private detective follows Lorelei to report back to her fiancé but finds he's really falling for Dorothy.
Is It Any Good?
Taken with a grain of salt, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES is an enjoyable movie to watch. Marilyn Monroe is at her sultry best -- though her dumb blonde routine wears a bit thin -- and Jane Russell is fantastic as her down-to-earth friend. The song-and-dance numbers are elaborate and fun, and the banter between Lorelei and Dorothy is nicely done. If you can get past the dated values and stereotypes, it's a sweet and silly film you and your musical-loving tweens and teens won't mind watching again and again.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the characters change in the film. Do you think Lorelei becomes a better person by the end? Or does she still think money is more important than love?
Do you think women are portrayed negatively in the film? Why, or why not?
What stereotypes do you see in the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 1, 1953
- On DVD or streaming : May 29, 2001
- Cast : Marilyn Monroe , Jane Russell
- Director : Howard Hawks
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Musical
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 16, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate