Do Gentlemen Prefer Blondes or Redheads?

Has anyone noticed the similarities between the musical numbers of "Put the Blame on Mame" and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"? Another example of Hollywood's great recycling of sexual fantasies of the Golden Era.

In 1946, Rita Hayworth starred in Gilda as the titular role. She was proclaimed the "Love Goddess of America," and is the only movie star to ever hold that title. Gilda is one of the iconic femme fatales to grace the silver screen. And she's also become a feminist icon. The character of Gilda performs "Put the Blame on Mame" to make a point to her husband. She was going to remain who she is and that no one is going to change her.

In 1953, Marilyn Monroe starred in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as Lorelei Lee. She became the "Blonde Bombshell," and the biggest sex symbol in the world. However, Lorelei Lee is no feminist. "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is about gold diggers, and it expresses that all women were materialistic and shallow.

Now you may be thinking, they're so different how are they similar? Both songs are performed in nightclubs, and the performers wear strapless gowns with elbow length gloves. Also both women dance in a seductive manner, with Marilyn's giggly shimmying and Rita's steamy gyrations. Comparing both scenes, Rita Hayworth's rendition is extremely provocative and raw. She is the femme fatale; she has a status to uphold and she surpassed it, raising the bar for all.

Now in the dancing department, Rita is by far superior. After all, she was trained as a dancer. So, of course, she knew what her body was capable of. Another thing I liked during her performance was that she used her hair. (She was probably the only star in Hollywood whose hair was not shellacked). Marilyn's dancing looked forced and was very overt which, I think, took away from being a sexy performance.

Everyone has their own opinion as to which is the better performance. Both women are so beloved in Hollywood that most are afraid to compare the two. I happen to like Hayworth better, but that's my opinion, and I'm not saying I hate Marilyn, so don't jump down my throat. But both movies, both women are Hollywood icons. We must not forget them and we must enlighten people who do not know about them. We have to preserve the Golden Age of Hollywood, so America's movie industry does not keep continuing its downward spiral into commercialism and simplicity.