"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" presents us with the showgirls and best friends Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell). There isn't much of a plot—just Lorelei and Dorothy taking a transatlantic voyage and running into trouble when Lorelei's love for diamonds gets her into a compromising situation—but that's enough to provide a framework for jokes and songs. Monroe is at her ditziest here, delivering all her lines with sincere, wide-eyed loopiness; Russell makes a nice contrast as the sardonic, practical Dorothy, so it's all the funnier when she imitates Monroe's cartoonish persona late in the movie.

The musical numbers are just an excuse for clever rhymes, sequined costumes, and shimmying choreography, and they succeed on all charges. Monroe and Russell duet on the jazzy "Two Little Girls from Little Rock" and the plaintive "When Love Goes Wrong" (a country/blues song sung at a Parisian café). The highlight, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is an over-the-top riot of Technicolor, diamonds, dancers, and Monroe's insinuating, breathy vocals, though the song is also fun when Russell kicks it up in a courtroom. Then there's the hilarious "Anybody Here For Love?" which Russell performs in front of a chorus of male bodybuilders in flesh-colored briefs.

What I love most about "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is that it's a female buddy movie. Of course, in one sense, it plays into sexist stereotypes--Lorelei is a gold-digging airhead and Dorothy flirts shamelessly with any handsome guy. But in another sense, it's pretty rare for Hollywood to depict two beautiful women as friends and equals, not rivals. Although gentlemen may prefer blondes, Dorothy is never jealous of Lorelei, and despite her cynical wisecracks, she deeply cares for her. The girls will always put their friendship before romance, and help each other out of a jam. Monroe and Russell sparkle together, but lack chemistry with their C-list male costars; in the end, you feel like these guys don't deserve two such vibrant women. Kind of ironic, then, that the movie's hit song claims "diamonds are a girl's best friend," when the rest of the movie celebrates the best-friendship between Lorelei and Dorothy.

Classic musical comedy directed by the great Howard Hawks and starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. Marilyn's determined to marry a rich heir but his father has hired a private detective to prove the beautiful blonde's just after his money. Jane tries to protect Marilyn and keep her out of trouble while the two travel to Paris.

Marilyn's pitch-perfect as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee. She played the 'dumb blonde' better than anybody in movie history. It's impossible not to like her, even when she's doing things you might not agree with. Jane's never been better than here playing Marilyn's sassy man-crazy best friend. Charles Coburn is the horny owner of a diamond mine. Child actor George Winslow steals every scene he's in. Tommy Noonan is fun as Marilyn's fiancé. Elliott Reid is the weakest part of the cast as the private detective who falls for Jane. He's just so stiff and corny that I couldn't see what a great dish like Jane Russell could see in him. He looks like a Fed.

Lots of great lines and scenes. Possibly the best thing about the movie is just how gorgeous it looks. I'm not just talking about the leading ladies, who are both stunning. The Technicolor just pops off the screen. One of my favorite movies of all time. It'll make you smile from start to finish. Colorful, funny, sexy, with enjoyable performances and wonderful songs. Includes one of Marilyn's defining moments - "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." An absolute must-see classic.