How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (screenplay)
Zoe Akins (plays) ...

Release Date:

5 November 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The Most Glamorous Entertainment Of Your Lifetime in CinemaScope. You See It Without Glasses!

Plot:

Three women set out to find eligible millionaires to marry, but find true love in the process.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Millionaire | Money | Model | Bachelor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Loco Dempsey
Marilyn Monroe	...	Pola Debevoise
Lauren Bacall	...	Schatze Page
David Wayne	...	Freddie Denmark
Rory Calhoun	...	Eben
Cameron Mitchell	...	Tom Brookman
Alexander D'Arcy	...	J. Stewart Merrill (as Alex D'Arcy)
Fred Clark	...	Waldo Brewster
William Powell	...	J.D. Hanley

Also Known As:

Comment épouser un millionnaire (Belgium: French title) (France) (dubbed version) [fr]
Wie angelt man sich einen Millionär (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Cómo casarse con un millonario (Spain) [es]
Come sposare un milionario (Italy) [it]
Como Agarrar um Milionário (Brazil) [pt]
Hoe men een millionnair huwt (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Hur man får en miljonär (Sweden) [sv]
Jak poslubic milionera (Poland) [pl]
Kuinka miljonääri naidaan (Finland) [fi]
Milyoner avcilari (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Pos na pantrefthite enan ekatymmyriouho (Greece) (reissue title) [el]
Pos na pantreftite ekatommyriouho (Greece) [el]
Tre piger søger en millionær (Denmark) [da]

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

France:U | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | USA:Approved (PCA #16443) | Canada:G (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | West Germany:12 | Norway:7

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

On the plane, Pola is reading a book called "Murder By Strangulation" which is how Marilyn Monroe's character met her demise in Niagara (1953).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Schatze is walking up and down on the roof her shadow isn't matching the shadows on the buildings behind - her shadow falls the opposite way due to the lighting not matching the supposed position of the sun.

Quotes:

Pola Debevoise: I want to marry Rockfeller.
Schatze Page: Which one?
Pola Debevoise: I don't care.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Spin City: How to Bury a Millionaire (#4.8)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Home on the Range

a piece of fun ....

The film, the first filmed in CinemaScope, although the second to be released, remains as slick and witty as ever. While the three girls chase rich husbands they somehow end up marrying for love.

Personally for me it is Lauren Bacall and William Powell that standout...their witty knowing conversations are a true delight. Mr Powell shows just why he was so highly regarded. He has a magnificent calm and dignified presence beautifully complimented by Mrs Bogart's cool chic.

The film shows all the problems of early CinemaScope of course ...the lack of closeups because of optical distortions that would occur and enough light to sunbake under being necessary on the sets and a sound scheme with the stereophonic image shifting from side to side as characters moves across the screen.

The film is beautifully restored on the DVD with fine colour and sound.

The use of a 1:2.55 ratio means a truly WIDE screen ....which is shown off by the location shots of New York and the girls apartment which seems enormous!

The opening sequence/overture of course was designed to show off both the brand new wide screen and stereo sound. It seems slightly redundant now but is still a fabulous piece of music by Alfred Newman.

So turn the lights down, turn up the stereo and step back to 1953 and watch a consumate piece of entertainment