How to Marry a Millionaire
Directed by Jean Negulescou
Written by Nunally Johnson from a play by Zoe Akins, Dale Eunson, and Katherine Albert
1953/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Loco Dempsey: You don’t think he’s a little old?
Schatze Page: Wealthy men are never old.[/box]
I thought this was fun.
Three fashion models team up to share a fancy apartment (paid for by selling the owner’s furniture) with the single goal of marrying millionaires. They are Schatze (Lauren Bacall), Pola (Marilyn Monroe) and Loco (Betty Grable). Before we know it each is being squired by an almost suitable candidate. Schatze sets her sights on a much-older widower J.D. Hanley (William Powell); Pola is dating a one-eyed oil mogul; and Loco decides to allow a married man to take her to his lodge.
Somehow love intervenes with each one of their plans. The fun is in seeing how they end up with Mr. Right after all. With David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, and Cameron Mitchell as the men in question.
This isn’t laugh out loud funny but is humorous throughout and a fine light entertainment. There has been a long gap since I saw William Powell in a movie and this made me realize I miss him. This seems to have been a showcase for CinemaScope and the film begins rather oddly with Alfred Newman conducting the Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra in a full version of his “Street Scene” suite.
Trailer
It’s been a while since I saw it but the main thing I remember about it is how cute everybody is! Marilyn in her glasses, Lauren Bacall in color. It was the first movie I ever saw Betty Grable in and I suddenly understood Stalag 17 a little better! (I hadn’t even realized I was missing anything!)
Grable was even cuter in the 40’s! I liked her in Down Argentine Way (1940) and I Wake Up Screaming (1941). Both of the movies are not bad either. The earliest film I remember her in is The Gay Divorcee where she’s a lead dancer in a chorus number.
Monroe is absolutely adorable in her glasses.
Oh yeah! I Wake Up Screaming was weird. I’ve been wanting to see it again.
I also kinda liked Sweet Rosie O’Grady. It dragged at times but every time the music started, it turned into an incredible music number. And Betty is totally adorable and sexy and amazing.