Watching Gentlemen Prefer Blonde's by Howard Hawks (1953)
Glamour, satire, choreographed dance routines and a budget of 2.3 million dollars (double the average back in the 50's). My simple 2025 requests!
Marino just told me the energy I woke him up with on Sunday morning was like going to Disney Land. Think he’s referring to the pancakes I made at 6am in the morning. This woman is just one of the many characters that live within the complex world of Elise. Each day all of my many selves hold a conference room inside the brain and take a vote, who should we send out today people? Demure Elise or Disney Land Elise?
Neither of which were present yesterday may I add, as I wrote to you from alongside the ocean, parked up at Faria beach, tapping away on my laptop, looking like a right yuppie, as Marino would say. So here I am writing to the sounds of waves breaking. Think I’ve hacked the system. Writing while he surfs. Accepting the fact that I only enjoy surfing when the conditions are perfect has taken me 9 years of being in a relationship, and if I’m honest, a lifetime of dating surfers, where part of my allure was being the girl who wins them over even more because she’ll surf with you.
This character is extremely laid back. She’s wearing a baseball cap, wool jumper and corduroy pants, very Californian. Very out of place with her laptop. Topless men scurry by carrying large toys called surfboards, a manic sort of glee in their eyes as they enter the ocean. She’s at one with the scene and not trying to compete. Reminds me of this moment from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, featuring the actress Jane Russell, who finds herself surrounded by the male Olympic swim team, before suddenly becoming the centre piece of a choreographed dance routine. Living the dream…
I find myself singing “Honey, you’ll hurt yourself!” as I wave to my husband heading out to hunt waves, only wishing I”m wearing something far more glamorous…
The song ends with her character sitting next to the pool as men vault over, before she’s knocked in as well. Apparently it was a wonderful accident, one they decided to keep in the shot. The way she sings “I’m apathethic, and non-athletic” is just, chef’s kiss. Life was so much simpler when we weren’t trying to compete with men all the time, don’t you think? Has feminism gone too far is something I remember laughing about with Sophia one day last summer. Is that unhinged of us to say? Is this a safe space?
Anywho, the woman I came to watch the film for, was in fact, Marilyn Monroe. I mean it’s all in the title isn’t, and arguably one of the most famous blonde woman who ever lived needs no introduction. Wild to believe I hadn’t seen any of Marilyn’s work until now. Do you love how I refer to her on a first name basis. I like to think we would have been friends had we been alive at the same time here in Hollywood.
It felt only fair to discover her talent after seeing Ana De Amas take on her personal story in Andrew Dominik’s Blonde (2022). She was so unfairly reduced in that depiction, truly made out to be nothing more to the viewers than a traumatised crazy woman. Not to mention what Ana was forced to endure as the actress on that set… Sigh. I’ve just remembered the wildest rumour I heard about Marilyn, that her body went missing for 24 hours after she died, before she was buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery here in Los Angeles. God only knows what her body was used for in those final moments before her burial. She was and always will be known for her sex sybolism. Alas, it’s interesting to see how the public interest, and directorial choices exposing an actresses personal life can detract from the work itself. Food for thought.
To give her talent the recognition it deserves, that’s my intention here, it’s so simple. Gentlemen Prefer Blonde’s is just that, nothing too complicated. Quite the contrary. Carefree, elegant, languid, giggly. All things I aspire to be and more. Things were so much more laidback in the 50’s weren’t they, or at least that’s how they appear in this film, and throughout the gilded age of Hollywood. I’ve noticed that some elements of this cultural era are making a comeback actually. Take a look at this if you haven’t.
“I can be smart when it’s important, but most men don’t like it” comes to mind when I reflect back on Marilyn in GPB’s once more with my more, 'critical thinking, hat on. Women are so smart aren’t we. The whole premise of this film is that Marilyn’s character loves diamonds, so she uses her prowess to get them. Diamonds. No matter the man, or whether or not she genuinely likes him, she uses him to get what she wants. To see a woman be so shamelessly manipulative. So brazen about her materialism. Now this is somewhat refreshing in this day and age. Is that a crime?
What if life was this simple? What if diamonds really are a girls best friend? I’ll tell you what, I’m certainly curious to test this theory. Calling all diamonds! I’m sure as hell not trying to be a man so much anymore. I’m leaning into my feminine, which is that I have a choice about the way I show up in the world, in my marriage and career, choosing to sit here in the sunshine and write my silly Substack, while my man surfs his silly waves, now that’s my choice. That’s me deciding how I’m going to make the most of my time. What will I do with my freedom next? Take the car while he’s in the water, drive straight to Cartier and dance with the staff to reenact my favourite scene?
One of the most memorable moments in this scene is the way she sings the word “no”. Another one of the fabulous choices given to us, costs nothing, and means everything. Who knows what she will say or do next? That’s another stereotypes about women. The way we are impulsive, frivolous, shoppaholics even, and extremely seductive. “A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental…” What does continental even mean in this context? Can anyone tell me?
Anyway, this sort of character is sometimes portrayed as the femme fatale in films, or the villian, and the mean girl in 2025. Typically she cannot be trusted, and is often downplaying her wit, at least with men, which is perhaps the most witty thing of all, bimboism as a means of self protection. Brilliant, women. I just love us. The way we can communicate our feelings with just a piercing look to one other. The way we can unpack multiple topics within one string of conversation. Always looping back. Always finding the red thred. Always gassing each other up. Always shining.
Is there anything better than taking the world on with a girlfriend by your side? It’s certainly hard to imagine while seeing Marilyn & Jane’s characters together in Paris, or sashaying their way into the ballroom, even going on to have a tandem wedding. Their friendship is fiercely loyal and honoured above everything else. This legacy is something that lives on in 2025 undoubtably. A timeless theme in film making.
Satire might just be my preferred genre of film making right now. Reminds me of Triangle of Sadness (2022), Ruben Ostlund’s film, about a couple of fashion models who join a luxury cruise for the wealthy. The film explores the relationship between power and beauty, and the challenges of making sense of political philosophy in a world where power is the ultimate motivator. Deep themes, but explored in a sexy and lauhghable way. The smarts required to deliver such intelligent relevant ideas in the most stylish way, while also striking the right comedic tone, now this is admirable.
That’s my manifesto moving forward, and maybe what you can expect to hear more of this year as I continue sharing. Thank you all for bearing with me as I explore writing! I feel excited to see themes emerging and love sharing my taste with you all as I consciously choose the actresses I wish to learn from, as one developing herself. Muses are important to a girl, whether that’s women around her, or stars who’ve gone. Studying the greats says a lot. So thank you all for reading, and drop what you’re doing to go watch that film <3 I can confirm Marilyn was a star for a reason, the way she uses her eyes, and chooses how to command her voice to charm anyone, while always delivering the comedic balance needed to soften her demands, j’adore…
Love, Elise