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Click above to purchase "How To Marry A Millionare" at
amazon.com
How To Marry A Millionare
review by Zach B. and Anthony D.
Not Rated
Studio: Fox
Running Time: 105 minutes
Starring Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall,
David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Cameron Mitchell, Alex D'Arcy,
Fred Clark and William Powell
Screenplay by Nunnally Johnson
Based uponplays by Zoe Akins and Dale Eunson and Katherine
Albert
Directed by Jean Negulesco
Retail Price: $24.98
Features: Restoration Comaprison, Movietone Newsreel:
"How To Marry A Millionare In Cinemascope", Theatrical
Trailers
Specs: 2.55:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English Dolby 4.0
Surround, English Stereo, French Mono, English Closed
Captions, English Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles, Chapter
Search (24 Chapters)
Myopic Monroe keeps bumping into walls, beautiful Bacall
falls for an older man and G.I. dream girl Grable finds
herself in a Maine lodge with measles and a married man as
these dames go gaga with their new-fangled concept of "How
to Marry a Millionaire." Historically speaking, this was the
first film to be shot in Twentieth Century Fox's new
photographic process of Cinemascope - - with a very, very
wide 2.55:1 aspect ratio - - although Fox's second 'scope
film. "The Robe," actually made it to theaters first. "How
to Marry a Millionaire's" director, Jean Negulesco, makes
wise choices in filling the wide frame with as much
information as he can in this experimental process of
widescreen photography; placing the girls in medium shots,
so that all three stars can share the frame as often as
possible.
Lauren Bacall's divorcee, Schatze Page, has a plan for
catching a wealthy man, which she likens to trapping a bear
- - get a ritzy, un-affordable apartment, fully furnished,
on the Upper East side of New York City, and the men will
appear. In league with Schatze's plan is the ever-delightful
Paula (a bumbling, bordering on slapstick performance from
Marilyn Monroe) and her modeling buddy, Loco - - a simple
girl with great gams, zestfully articulated by former Fox
pinup queen Betty Grable.
It's a very simple story, retold often enough, but the
freshness of "How to Marry a Millionaire" comes from its
impeccable cast playing the script as broadly as possible,
and the script's abundant use of 1953 in-jokes. When
Bacall's Schatze's is confessing her yen for older men, she
states that the older guy in that movie "The African Queen,"
is just her type, first time audiences would have know that
Schatze was referring to Bacall's own offscreen husband,
Humphrey Bogart. Likewise with Loco when she hears a radio
broadcast playing the Academy Award winning song, "You'll
Never Know," she swears its being played by The Harry James
Orchestra, emphatically stating that she would know Harry
James if she heard him; a double reference her to both
Grable's one time husband, and to her former rival at Fox,
Alice Faye, who introduced that specific song in Fox's
musical, "Hello, Frisco, Hello." Paula's modeling of a swim
suit dripping with diamond accouterments is introduced with
the line "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," in reference
to Monroe's stunning work as Lorelei Lee in the previous
year's "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds."
Able support is given by the men of their dreams, David
Wayne as the counterpoint to Paula's glasses shy vixen,
William ("The Thin Man" series) Powell as a Texas cowman who
Schatze hopes to lasso, Rory Calhoun as Loco's love interest
and Cameron Mitchell as the wealthiest man around town,
pursuing Schatze to no avail since she thinks he's a grease
monkey. If these names are unfamiliar today, then this film
is definitely dated, as is its storyline of three
independent women seeking the benefits of marriage. But for
harmless 50's fluff, "How to Marry a Millionaire" will at
the very least, bring several smiles, if not laughs, to your
lips; or if you're into really great music, check out the
pre-credits sequence of Alfred Newman (he was Randy's daddy)
conducting the enormous 20th Century Fox Orchestra's brisk
playing of Newman's own 1931 classic composition "Street
Scene."
"How To Marry A Millionare" is presented in 2.55:1
anamorphic widescreen and like all the other Monroe films,
it's also been restored. There are nice hues that seem to be
on target, and the 3-D quality as seen in the other Monroe
films are there. I noticed some slight shimmering as well as
soft images that appear faded and had a digitalish look to
them. Detail is pretty good but I noticed some distractions
such as blemishes, dirt and grain throughout the film.
Overall, very good.
The English Dolby 4.0 Surround is pretty good. Dialogue
is clear and not distorted despite the film's age, and
doesn't overlap with other noises. The film is heavy and
music and does sound pretty good, but I did expect some
stronger surrounds and the music felt kind of weak. When
surrounds are used, they are pretty good. English Stereo and
French mono options are included as well as English closed
captioning, English subtitles and French subtitles.
A little light on supplements, "How To Marry A
Millionare" features the Theatrical Trailer, an
Italian Theatrical Trailer and a German Theatrical
Trailer. Also is a "Diamond Collection" part that has
trailers for other Monroe films.
A short but really nice Movietone News: How To Marry A
Millionare In Cinemascope is included as well as a
fairly interesting Restoration Comparison.
With some decent extras and a pretty good presentation,
Fox has put together a good release of "How To Marry A
Millionare". If you like it, check it out!
 (3.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
(3.5/5)
 (3/5)
 (1.5/5)
(3/5,
NOT an average)
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