Travis Simpkins

Monkey Business (1952): Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe

Directed by Howard Hawks, Monkey Business (1952) is a Screwball Comedy with a sexy edge. The story concerns an absent-minded scientist and his experiments with developing a youth serum. Precise direction, fast action, witty lines and well-timed deliveries make the film an entertaining ride from beginning to end. Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers are great in the lead roles. It is the beautiful Marilyn Monroe, however, in an early role, that steals the show.

Monkey Business. 1952

Monkey Business. 1952: Marilyn Monroe

Monkey Business. 1952

Monkey Business. 1952: Marilyn Monroe

Monkey Business. 1952

Monkey Business. 1952: Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant

a scene from "Monkey Business"

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953): Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell

Directed by Howard Hawks, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) contains one of the most Iconic, sexy musical routines in film history: Marilyn Monroe performing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in her now-famous pink dress. Hawks shows his versatility as a director and all-around filmmaker, with each scene running smoothly into the next, and the song and dance routines intermingled nicely. Marilyn Monroe is ravishingly beautiful in one of her best roles as money-hungry gold-digger Lorelei Lee. Jane Russell is elegant and quick-witted in her role as Dorothy Shaw. The supporting cast is great as well, including Charles Coburn and Elliot Reid.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 1953: Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 1953: Marilyn Monroe

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953): Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable

A technological experiment, How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) was the first film shot in the newly developed CinemaScope widescreen process. It was also the first color film to be shown on network television, eight years later in 1961. Directed by Jean Negulesco, How to Marry a Millionaire is a visually stunning production... thanks in part to the sweeping and vibrant cinematography, but most pleasantly due to the ravishing beauty of it's three stars: Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable. Marilyn Monroe is especially great as a near-sighted, ditzy girl who refuses to wear her glasses in front of men (and bumps into things as a result). William Powell is good in a supporting role as well, his second-to-last part before his retirement from acting in 1955.

Three lovely, but broke, young ladies... Schatze Page (Lauren Bacall), Loco Dempsey (Betty Grable) and Pola Debevoise (Marilyn Monroe) have rented an extravagant New York City apartment with a specific plan and objective in mind...