Why Marilyn Monroe earned significantly less than her co-star for a legendary film role
In short: Despite becoming an icon for her performance in the 1953 musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn Monroe was paid only 500 dollars a week. Her co-star, Jane Russell, who was better known at the time, earned 200,000 dollars for the same production, highlighting the stark disparity in their industry standing.
Directed by Howard Hawks, the 1953 musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was based on a 1949 stage production and a 1925 novel by Anita Loos. While Hawks is credited as the director, he famously admitted he had no interest in the musical numbers, which were actually staged by choreographer Jack Cole. The film follows two showgirls, Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw, who navigate romance and social expectations while traveling to France. Lorelei, played by Monroe, is a pragmatic fortune hunter, while Dorothy, played by Russell, prioritizes physical attraction over wealth.
The film is perhaps best remembered for Monroe's iconic rendition of Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, a performance that remains a staple of popular culture. Although critics at the time were divided—with some praising the leads' magnetism and others criticizing the film's pace and direction—it was a commercial success, earning 5.3 million dollars worldwide. It ranked as the seventh-highest-grossing film of 1953. The production was originally intended as a vehicle for Betty Grable and Ginger Rogers, but the studio shifted focus to Monroe following her success in the film Niagara.
Modern reappraisals of the film have moved beyond its reputation as a simple musical comedy. Contemporary critics often highlight the film as a groundbreaking depiction of female solidarity and agency. Unlike many narratives of the era, the relationship between Lorelei and Dorothy is defined by unwavering loyalty rather than competition for men. Scholars and writers have noted that the film functions as a cheeky social satire, celebrating female ingenuity and friendship while navigating the complexities of gender and class, all presented through a glamorous Technicolor lens.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film)
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