Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Sale
Screenplay by
Based onBut Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
by Anita Loos
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDesmond Dickinson
Edited byGrant K. Smith
Music byRobert Farnon
Production
company
Russ-Field Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release dates
  • September 22, 1955 (1955-09-22) (Chicago)
  • October 29, 1955 (1955-10-29) (New York City)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million[1]
Box office$1.5 million (US)[2]

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes is a 1955 American Technicolor musical romantic comedy film directed by Richard Sale, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mary Loos, based on the 1927 novel But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes by Anita Loos, aunt of Mary Loos. The film stars Jane Russell and Jeanne Crain. It was produced by Sale and Bob Waterfield, with Robert Bassler as executive producer.

Anita Loos authored the 1925 novel and 1926 play Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which had been adapted into the highly successful 1953 film of the same name, starring Russell and Marilyn Monroe. The studio attempted to repeat the formula, with Russell returning but Jeanne Crain stepping in for a presumably otherwise engaged Monroe (both women played new characters). Alan Young, Scott Brady and Rudy Vallee also appear. However, Brunettes was not as well received as its predecessor.

With choreography by Jack Cole, who had previously contributed to Blondes, a young Gwen Verdon filmed a specialty number that was cut from the US release as being too sexy.

  1. ^ "'Gents Slug Redheads' Latest Loos Saga". Variety. 23 February 1955. p. 4.
  2. ^ "The Top Box-Office Hits of 1955". Variety. January 25, 1956.