Reviewer's Rating 3 out of 5 听 User Rating 4 out of 5
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes DVD (1953)

Surely it's not the case that only "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", but whatever your thoughts on the matter, all will prefer this Marilyn Monroe film on DVD in its restored glory.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture The image quality of this transfer is particularly impressive with unexpectedly sharp definition on offer. In particular, the scene where Marilyn and Jane Russell are in bright red dresses, dancing against a purple background, is near flawless in separation and detail - a feat that even a modern film transfer would struggle to achieve without some blurring between such vibrant shades.

Sound A 2.0 stereo track carries the musical numbers with ease, although it mixes mainly into the centre speaker with only light musical support from the front left and right channels. Although less exciting than the 4.0 mix upgrades afforded to other Marilyn titles, it's still better than the old VHS release, and the classic number "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" sounds great.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Included on this disc is a theatrical trailer, two poster images, and a restoration comparison that shows that staggering difference between the old video release and this new DVD. That said, the amount of work that had to go into restoring "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was less than was needed for "Bus Stop", which was in far worse shape initially.

Also on the disc is a very short Movietone news item with Marilyn Monroe and co-star Jane Russell signing their names in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The commentator assures us that, "despite their clashing roles in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", they are as friendly offstage as sorority girls".

Region: 2
Chapters: 30
Ratio: 1.33:1 (Academy fullscreen)
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 (stereo)
Technical Features: Scene selection, multiple languages and subtitles, and English captions for the hearing impaired.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.

End Credits

Director: Howard Hawks

Writer: Charles Lederer

Stars: Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn, Tommy Noonan, Elliot Reid, George Winslow, Norma Varden

Genre: Musical

Length: 87 minutes

Cinema: 1953

DVD: 5 August 2002

Country: USA