In this 1953 musical comedy, adapted from Joseph Fields and Anita Loos’s searingly funny stage musical based on her 1925 novella, showgirl Lorelei (Marilyn Monroe) is resplendent in beautiful gowns, most notably in the pink satin dress designed by Travilla during the now-classic number “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Lorelei is seen throughout the picture in jewel tones and literal jewels, carefully selected to play up the lush Technicolor cinematography lensed by Harry J. Wild. Both effervescent and timeless, this witty gem showcases Monroe’s brilliant comic timing as well as her vocal chops. Premiering in the middle of the actress’s career and released the same year as Niagara and How to Marry a Millionaire , Howard Hawks’s film helped to plant Monroe in the hearts of the American public, making her one of the most famous people in the US.
