Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic Hollywood legends sparkle; premise doesn't hold up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How to Marry a Millionaire
What's the Story?
Three young women friends (Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, and Marilyn Monroe) decide that their best chances to meet rich, eligible bachelors will come if they live where the wealthy live. So they scrape together every penny they have to pay first and last month's rent on a luxurious Manhattan apartment, which serves as their base of operations. But landing a millionaire doesn't happen overnight, and soon they're forced to sell off the apartment's furnishings to maintain their lifestyle. As the apartment empties and they're reduced to folding chairs and camping cots, they of course find themselves falling for guys without a penny to their names. Will their hearts be able to resist?
Is It Any Good?
Parents and kids who are fascinated by old Hollywood will get a tremendous kick out of seeing three legends, Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, and Marilyn Monroe, playing to their strengths. (Not to mention a delightfully understated, elegant turn from William Powell.) It's a sheer pleasure to watch them do what they do best. Everything about the production under director Jean Negulesco (1953's Titanic, Johnny Belinda) showcases the star power of the three leading ladies, with the fashion-show sequence as a real highlight not only of the stars' appeal but also of Negulesco's careful eye and Nunnally Johnson's (The Grapes of Wrath, The Dirty Dozen) tight, clever script.
Although there's nothing kids shouldn't see, the movie's appeal will be fairly limited. Some extended shots showcasing the glory of CinemaScope probably thrilled audiences in its initial theater run, but today they seem intrusive and clunky. Also, the plot's about trying to find someone to marry, and the pacing is quiet and gentle. To go along for the ride, modern audiences need to set aside modern sensibilities about what a woman's best options are. If you (and your kids) can do that, you're in for a real treat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the film's premise. Is marriage the biggest thing you can do in life? What's more important than having lots of money?
Why are classic Hollywood romances still so popular? Why do we enjoy watching them so much?
Three Hollywood legends star in this movie: Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, and Marilyn Monroe. Had you heard of any of them before watching? How do they compare to the biggest stars in movies today?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 4, 1953
- On DVD or streaming : October 23, 2006
- Cast : Betty Grable , Marilyn Monroe , Lauren Bacall , William Powell
- Director : Jean Negulesco
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
- Genre : Romance
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 3, 2025
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