Marilyn Monroe’s Personal Script for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Marilyn Monroe’s personal working script for the Twentieth Century Fox production Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, released in 1953. The script comprises 118 pages and is housed in a light blue paper cover, marked “final” and dated October 22, 1952.
Throughout the script, Marilyn made handwritten notes in pencil on the reverse sides of several pages, offering rare insight into her preparation and engagement with the material. The name of her character, Lorelei Lee, is circled multiple times, underscoring her close attention to the role.
The back page of the script is pink and typewritten with a notice addressed to secretaries, and the name “Marilyn Monroe” appears handwritten in ink at the upper right corner, further confirming the script’s personal use and provenance.
Collector’s Note
This script documents Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the film that changed everything for Marilyn. She was already working in Hollywood, but this role made her a star. The handwritten notes throughout the script show her engagement with the material. She circled her character’s name. She wrote on the pages. This wasn’t just a script to her, it was something she worked through.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was a massive success when it released in 1953. It grossed millions and established Marilyn as a major box office draw. Seventy years later, the film remains iconic. Lorelei Lee is still one of the most recognizable characters in cinema. The image of Marilyn in that gold dress singing ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ is embedded in popular culture. Few films from the 1950s have maintained that kind of cultural relevance. This script represents the film that made her a legend.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
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