Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as the Birth of the Complete Monroe Persona (supplemental)

We've talked a lot in class about Marilyn Monroe's star persona mitigating sexiness with childish innocence, and I think one can argue that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes marks the moment when that persona gelled for Monroe, for the studio, and for audiences. Dyer cites Monroe's Lorelei Lee as a moment when persona undermined the character as written, but I think it's a moment when the stars aligned to show what this Monroe girl COULD potentially be, and everything else too a back seat.

Prior to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe did several roles that were sexy but more mercenary, such as All About Eve, Don't Bother to Knock, and Niagra, but Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is the first time we see the innocent sexy girl that would charm America for generations.

All About Eve shows Marilyn as an ambitious, manipulative aspiring actress ready to use her sex to get ahead. One could argue she's on the Eve Harrington track but without the brains. Here Monroe has elements of her signature "dumb blonde" image, but not the iconic sexy/innocent paradigm.

Miss Casswell in All About Eve (1950) has an agenda for her sexiness...

In Don't Bother to Knock, Monroe is actually a villain. She lies, seduces, abuses a child, and finally gets arrested. Monroe has the sexiness, but not the innocence...

Nell in Don't Bother to Knock (1952) is sexy but unhinged...

Finally in Niagra--immediately before Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe appears at her most villainous. She's a cruel wife, she's an adulterous, and she's planning to be be a murderer. Important to note in this, her villainy is directly related to her sexiness and how she uses it as a weapon.

 

Rose in Niagra (1953) is a sexy monster...

It seems that the powers that be were setting Monroe up to be a beautiful, tempting bad girl up to this point. But then Gentlemen Prefer Blondes happened, and audiences finally see the epitome of the classic Marilyn Monroe persona. This film definitely shows her sexy innocence incarnate, and it kicked off a trend of more films designed to vehicle Monroe in this kind of character. I think it's safe to say that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes launched the Marilyn we know and remember.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

There's No Business like Show Business (1954)

Seven Year Itch (1955)

The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)

Some Like It Hot (1959)