Marilyn Goes From Blonde to Hot in the UK

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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes begins a limited run at the Hyde Park Picture House (HPPH) in Leeds this weekend.

“Thanks to showstopping musical numbers and iconic wardrobe by William Travilla, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was an all-time classic on release. Marilyn Monroe shines as cinema’s quintessential dumb blonde who’s anything but. In 2026, audiences can relish its satirical observations on gender politics, which remain sharp 70 years later.”

  • Sunday, May 31 at 2:30 pm – includes a burlesque performance by Mimi Mariami (which may feature some brief nudity)
  • Monday, June 8, at 2:30 pm – a Memory Matinee screening (dementia-friendly)
  • Wednesday, June 10 at 11am – a Bring Your Own Baby screening (for new parents)

In honour of Marilyn’s centenary, volunteers have shared their favourite Monroe movies on the HPPH blog.

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is one of cinema’s great reminders that comedy, unlike base metal, does not tarnish with age. Social norms might change, and certain pop-cultural references may lose meaning, but the basic rules of humour, of expectation and subversion, remain as ‘forever’ as diamond. It is in this pillar of the film’s monstrously lavish architecture that Marilyn Monroe’s shining brilliance as a performer is arguably best exemplified.” – Charlie Ashton

Also on Sunday, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – ‘the greatest showcase for the talents of the most famous film star there has ever been’ – is showing at Eden Court Theatre and Cinema in Inverness, Scotland at 7pm, with a second screening at 5:30 pm on Monday, June 1 (Marilyn’s 100th birthday.)

Meanwhile, Some Like It Hot is coming to Manchester…

Edinburgh Filmhouse is showing Some Like It Hot in 4K on May 31 at 12:30 pm; and on June 1 at 3pm and 6pm.

“Some Like it Hot follows the antics of two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who, after witnessing the St Valentine’s Day Massacre, escape from the mob by dressing up in drag and joining an all-girl band. Comic complications ensue when Tony Curtis – now a pouting girl – strives to express his affection for Marilyn Monroe, while Jack Lemmon – similarly attired – is being pursued by an amorous Joe E Brown, who has one of the most famous closing punchlines in film history. Join us for a wonderfully silly cinema classic to celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s centenary – more to come in July!”

Down south, two more screenings in June…

The BFI’s 4K restoration of The Misfits is showing at selected cinemas across the UK and Ireland throughout June.

“Roslyn, a beautiful ex-showgirl, arrives in Reno to finalise her divorce. In a cocktail lounge she connects with two men, widowed mechanic Guido and aging cowboy Gay, who also find themselves adrift in the world and searching for connection and meaning. The odd group eventually move to an unfinished house in the Nevada desert. John Huston’s neo-western was written by Monroe’s then-husband, Arthur Miller. It was intended as a gift, offering Monroe a more complex, dramatic role. Their marriage imploded during the heated production, but Monroe delivers one of her finest performances. Appearing to harness the pain of her own life, she imbues Roslyn with a raw vulnerability. Gable and Clift are superb, but the film would not have soared without Monroe.”

And finally, some mixed doubles:

  • The Misfits is showing at Glasgow Film House on June 1 at 12:15 pm and 8:15 pm; with The Seven Year Itch to follow on June 18 (The latter will be introduced by Lillian Salvatore – who curated a Monroe retrospective for the Glasgow Film Festival in April – as part of the dementia-friendly ‘Movie Memories’ series.)
  • Northampton Filmhouse is hosting a Marilyn double bill on Saturday, June 6: with Some Like It Hot showing at 12 pm, followed by The Misfits at 2:45 pm.
  • London’s Garden Cinema is showing The Misfits daily from June 5-11; and Some Like It Hot on June 15 and July 14, as part of a Screwball Summer series.
  • Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is showing at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, on June 7; with The Misfits to follow on June 14.
  • The Misfits is coming to the Electric Picture House in Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, on July 4; with Some Like It Hot showing on July 11-12.