Marilyn Monroe Archives - Classic TV and Movies https://classictvmovies.com/tag/marilyn-monroe/ All the old pop culture that's fun to love! Mon, 02 Aug 2021 14:23:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://classictvmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ava.png Marilyn Monroe Archives - Classic TV and Movies https://classictvmovies.com/tag/marilyn-monroe/ 32 32 The Prince and the Showgirl https://classictvmovies.com/2021/07/29/the-prince-and-the-showgirl/ Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:39:29 +0000 https://classictvmovies.com/?p=360 The Sleeping Prince was re-titled as The Prince and the Showgirl, staring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier in the title... read more The Prince and the Showgirl

The post The Prince and the Showgirl appeared first on Classic TV and Movies.

]]>
The Sleeping Prince was re-titled as The Prince and the Showgirl, staring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier in the title roles. Set in London, foreign royalty is gathering together for the crowning of King George V.

The title prince is accompanied by his son and mother in law. The 16 year old son is eager to take on responsibilities as reigning King from his father, who is acting regent until he comes of age. The family, loosely based on Romanian royalty is from the fictional Carpathia, a country in the Balkans. The Prince is given a political attaché named Northbrook to make his visit to London enjoyable. Northbrook takes the Prince Regent to a musical, where he becomes smitten with Marilyn Monroe playing the showgirl Elsie Marina.

Invited to dinner, Elsie is at first is less than impressed by the Rengent Prince. Distracted by responsibilities, he leaves her alone for much of dinner and she, encouraged to stay by Northbrook, drinks too much. When the Prince tries to make a pass at her, she rudely rebuffs him, saying she expected romance and gypsy violins. The Prince composes himself and brings in a violinist. Then just when Elsie is starting to swoon for him, the alcohol, she’d been sipping all night, catches up with her and she passes out.

Having spent the night at the Carpathian embassy, Elsie overhears the young King plotting to overthrow his father by making alliances with the Germans. Elsie goes to Grandma (the Queen mother) for advice and is asked to remain for the coronation in place of the her lady in waiting, who has taken ill. Elsie uses her time with the family to convince the young King to write up a contract and put off his political sabotage against his father in exchange for a general election. The Prince regent is impressed, and finds himself appreciating more than Elsie’s body. But first a reconciliation with his son, to whom he has failed to show real affection.

The film ends with the pair going their separate ways, vowing that in 18 months each will be free of professional obligations.

The post The Prince and the Showgirl appeared first on Classic TV and Movies.

]]>
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes https://classictvmovies.com/2021/07/25/gentlemen-prefer-blondes/ Sun, 25 Jul 2021 18:22:27 +0000 https://classictvmovies.com/?p=353 Gentleman Prefer Blondes is one of the first films to make Marilyn Monroe a star and her scene singing Diamonds... read more Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The post Gentlemen Prefer Blondes appeared first on Classic TV and Movies.

]]>
Gentleman Prefer Blondes is one of the first films to make Marilyn Monroe a star and her scene singing Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend has become so iconic it has inspired performers through the years to do their own version of the song or scene for their music videos. The 1953 comedy musical paired Monroe with the already accomplished star Jane Russel as showgirl best friends who dream of finding their respective perfect guy. For Monroe’s character Lorelei Lee, only a rich man will do, while Jane Russel’s character Dorothy Shaw’s head is turned by every buff athletic body they pass.

Originally a stage musical, Gentleman Prefer Blonds director Howard Hawks brought in choreographer Jack Cole to direct the film’s stage performances. Charles Coburn, Taylor Holmes, Tommy Noonan, Elliot Ried, Norma Varden and George Winslow star as supporting cast. Songs were added just for the movie, written by the team of Harold Adamson and Hoagy Carmichael.

The movie’s principle Blond bombshell Lorelei Lee is engaged to marry a nerdy and naive Gus Esmond, played by Tommy Noonan, but he comes from old money and Esmond Sr doesn’t think that a showgirl is a suitable wife for his son. He keeps his son from sailing away to Paris to marry Ms. Lee and when she goes ahead on the ship with a promissory note for expenses, he has a private eye Ernie Malone, played by Elliott Reid tail her.

Lorelei is partial to diamonds and the ship has a diamond tycoon Sir Francis Beekman, played by Charles Coburn, on board. He flirts with her relentlessly despite being married. He manages to demonstrate a python’s hold on Lorelei, just when Malone snaps some incriminating photos. Dorothy who is accompanying Lorelei to Paris, catches him and hatches a plot to get the misleading photos away from him before they can be passed onto Esmond Sr. She and Lorelei drug him and get the film. When Sir Francis learns that he almost had proof of his infidelity in the wrong hands, he gives Lorelei his wife’s diamond tiara in thanks.

Once in Paris, the girls have to work as the promissory note has been withdrawn by Esmond Sr. Lady Beekman reports her tiara stolen and Lorelei is accused. Ready to hand it over, she can’t find the evidence. Meanwhile the Esmonds, Jr and Sr have shown up. And Malone and Dorothy are in love, but don’t know it.

The post Gentlemen Prefer Blondes appeared first on Classic TV and Movies.

]]>
Some Like It Hot https://classictvmovies.com/2021/07/24/some-like-it-hot/ Sat, 24 Jul 2021 01:08:53 +0000 https://classictvmovies.com/?p=348 Among the greatest films of all time, Some Like it Hot should even please the PC culture of today, as... read more Some Like It Hot

The post Some Like It Hot appeared first on Classic TV and Movies.

]]>
Among the greatest films of all time, Some Like it Hot should even please the PC culture of today, as it was instrumental in breaking away from Hays code of what was socially acceptable content back in 1959. Billy Wilder made it possible as co-writer, director and producer. He brought together Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe. Set in the prohibition era, complete with gangsters who offer a subplot to the romantic comedy. Even the musical score is a delight with the use of orchestra music from the era because the principle characters are musicians.

Some like it hot follows two musicians, played by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon who witness a valentine’s day massacre style execution in Chicago. They flee the gangsters by joining a all female band headed for Miami. On the train, in full drag, the pair befriend Marilyn Monroe’s character, Sugar and must contain their attraction to not reveal their true identities. Sugar admits that she has had it with saxophone players , much to Joe’s (Tony Curtis posing as Josephine) chagrin and that she hopes to snag a millionaire when they reach Miami.

Once in Miami, the pair continue their ruse. Lemmon posing as Daphne, attracts the attention of a real millionaire, while Joe tries to woo Sugar by pretending to be one. Joe convinces Jerry/Daphne to keep “her” suitor occupied, so he can use the real millionaire’s yatch to win Sugar. When he returns, Daphne has accepted a proposal from her millionaire, and Joe reminds Jerry that he can’t possible go through with his plan to marry, and get a big divorce settlement when the truth comes out.

Meanwhile, the Mafia have a big gathering at the hotel where the band is playing. Joe and Jerry are recognized, they hide in drag and witness the revenge murder of their pursuers. Fleeing to the millionaire’s yacht, with Sugar finally realizing that Joe and Josephine are the same person running after them. They make a get away, where Sugar professes her love for Joe and Daphne tries to explain to Osgoode, her millionaire, that she can’t marry him. He doesn’t care that she is infertile, and when Jerry finally tears off his wig to reveal himself, Osgoode simply says, “Well, nobody’s perfect.”

The post Some Like It Hot appeared first on Classic TV and Movies.

]]>