Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film) Theatre, a spectacle that got a lot of publicity for both actresses and for the film. Loos wrote a sequel to her novel entitled "But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes", with further adventures of Lorelei and Dorothy. The 1955 "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" musical film used only the book's name and starred Russell and Jeanne Crain playing completely new characters. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1953 American musical comedy film based on the 1949 stage musical of the same name. It was directed by Howard Hawks and stars Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, with Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid,
Red-Headed Woman "So Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Hah." The film, in fact, was Jean Harlow's first film after having left Hollywood for a few months following a fall-out with Howard Hughes, as reported by "Screenland". Although uncredited, Jean Harlow's husband Paul Bern was the film's production supervisor. Prior to the film's release, producer Thalberg worked with the Will Hays Office to shore up the censor's approval. Of particular concern were several scenes in which Harlow was partially undressed or making obvious sexual advances. Thalberg eventually agreed to seventeen cuts. Despite this fact, the film still received a number of complaints from cinema patrons.