Howard Hawks's classic musical comedy firmly established Marilyn Monroe (pictured) as a huge star, best epitomised in the show-stopping scene in which she sings Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. Jane Russell is an admirable co-star, and from the dynamite opening, where the pair sing Two Little Girls From Little Rock, things kick smoothly into gear.
The plot - from Anita Loos's mid-1920s novel and Broadway play - focuses on a materialistic blonde (Monroe) and a man-hungry brunette (Russell), who embark on a luxury cruise en route to Paris in search of romance and money. Also on board are a detective hired by the father of the blonde's millionaire boyfriend (he suspects her of being a gold-digger) and a flirty diamond broker who catches her eye. Released in 1953, it's super stuff, although things flag a bit towards the end.
Did you know? Monroe's rendition of Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend is considered an iconic performance. It has been copied by numerous stars, including Madonna and Kylie Minogue.
(4 Star)
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