As Marilyn’s centennial year approaches, Berlin rings out the old with How to Marry a Millionaire showing at the Astor Film Lounge on Wednesday, December 31 at 6:30 pm.
“‘The adventures of three models humorously refute the notion that wealth is more important than love. Delightful comedy entertainment with sparkling ideas, framed by impressive landscapes and New York cityscapes.’ – Lexicon of International Films
Models Pola (Marilyn Monroe), Loco (Betty Grable), and Schatze (Lauren Bacall) meticulously plan their futures: based in a New York penthouse, they lie in wait to meet millionaires and get married. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for them, as they either fall for the wrong men or fail to recognise the right ones…
This was the first film shot using the then-new CinemaScope process. Before its Los Angeles premiere in November 1953, the monumental biblical epic The Robe had opened in September, but How to Marry a Millionaire is now considered the ‘first’ CinemaScope movie.
It contains numerous references to Monroe’s previous film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but also parodies films starring Grable and Bacall. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1954 for Best Costume Design in Colour (William Travilla and Charles Le Maire).”
The Marilyn Report 