I’m a fan of Gentlemen Marry Brunettes partly because of “My Funny Valintine” (music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart), “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (music & lyrics by Thomas ‘Fats’ W. Waller, Harry Brooks, and Andy Razaf). And I love the great scenes of Paris and Monte Carlo.
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes is a 1955 technicolor romantic musical comedy starring Jane Russell and Jeanne Crain as sisters Bonnie and Connie who travel to Paris to find adventure and love. Directed by Richard Sale with a screenplay by Mary Loos and Sale, the movie is based on the novel But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes by Anita Loos. Anita Loos had titled her book But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, but the studio dropped the first word from the title for this film.
Anita Loos was also the author of the novel and play Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which was a smash hit with Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe two years earlier. Gentleman Marry Brunettes is a semi-sequel with Jane Russell returning but Jeanne Crain playing a role similar to the one Marilyn Monroe starred in but both women now playing new characters. Alan Young (later the star of TV’s Mr. Ed), Scott Brady (brother of Lawrence Tierney), and Rudy Vallee also appear in this movie as love interests. The choreography was by Jack Cole, who had also contributed to the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes film. The dance ensemble includes a young Gwen Verdon who would later go on to greatness. Gentlemen Marry Brunettes is fun. Are you a fan of Jane Russell and Jeanne Crain? GRADE: B
Have never seen this. Jeanne Crain isn’t on my radar but I have never liked Jane Russell. Never thought she was a good actress. And the addition of Alan Young and Rudy Vallee as love interests certainly isn’t going to draw me in. Did you watch this in Spanish?
Steve, I actually rewatched this on YOUTUBE for BRUNETTE WEEK. I first saw GENTLEMEN MARRY BRUNETTES decades ago.
It’s fun…but Jeanne Crain is no Marilyn Monroe! In fact, when she starred in “Pinky” (as a light-skinned Black woman “passing” as white), director Elia Kazan said she was the blandest actress he’d ever worked with.
Deb, you’re right about Jeanne Crain not having the charisma of a Marilyn Monroe. But I found her a charming foil to the boisterous Jane Russell in GENTLEMEN MARRY BRUNETTES.
No. I’ve seen this once, many years ago. But like Steve, I have never been a fan of Jane Russell. And Rudy Vallee? Yikes.
Jeff, Rudy Valley plays a rich and lecherous scamp who chased Bonnie’s and Connie’s mothers when they were in Paris years ago.
Jeanne Crain was a pleasant enough actress without being memorable. The best thing she was in was probably A LETTER TO THREE WIVES, though she was as unmemorable as ever in it. Russell was always memorable, at least.
Jeff, I thought Jeanne Crain–a pleasant actress as you point out–was an odd costing choice to replace Marilyn Monroe.
I’m still boggled by Jane Russell getting 2nd billing — to Jeanne Crain?
Dan, I was surprised, too. Maybe they were grooming Jeanne Crain for Bigger Things.