I watched the classic Marilyn Monroe flick, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, today for about the 50 Millionth time but no matter how many times I've watched it, I was always left wondering who the two little colored boys were that suddenly appeared onscreen singing and dancing with Marilyn and co-star Jane Russell on When Love Goes Wrong (Nothing Goes Right).
Most fans rightly reference the movie for one of the all-time, great and iconic musical moments in cinematic history - Monroe's performance of Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. I NEVER tire of that sequence, but I always get a kick out of those two little black boys when they briefly show up. I know they're there and I know the scene is coming up, but there's always that enjoyable element of surprise that just seems to catch me off guard.
In this scene, Monroe and Russell portray Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw, two ultimate gold diggers and partygirls, who after arriving in France, immediately go on a marathon shopping spree at all of the top fashion houses in Paris. When they attempt to check in at a swank hotel, the girls discover that Lorelei has been accused of stealing a diamond tiara, and that the gravy train has finally dried up. Kicked out on the street, they show up depressed and downhearted in front of a Paris bistro where they are joined by the boys to sing and dance their tale of woe.
I remember years ago when I first showed this movie to my hubby and he wanted to know who the boys were. I didn't know so I told him they were Gregory and Maurice Hines as children and he believed me. Today, I can tell him the truth and say they are James and Fred Moultrie, two little brothas who also starred with Dorothy Dandridge in Bright Road. I don't know what happened to them, but to star with the two ultimate film goddesses of the fifties in the same year - they sure were hot in 1953!
ADDENDUM: Due to the direction that the discussion took in the comments section, I have decided to add another musical number from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, performed by Jane Russell, called Ain't Anyone Here For Love. It's very campy i.e. very GAY for 1953, chockful of subtle innuendos and visuals. And for the record, she's about as sexy (to me) as the bottom of my shoe.
Hey, Corey:
It's great to have you writing again.
As usual our taste in Hollywood classics is just about the same. I love "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and I've seen it so many times. Both Monroe and Russell are great doing comedy and the musical numbers.
I really like the number that Russell did with the athletes: "Is There Anyone Here For Love". With all the athletes in very brief swimming trunks, and they're totally ignoring her. I always joked that they were all Gay. Well, in real life they probably were.
It's so funny that you told your husband that the two little black performers were the Hines Brothers. Hilarious. And believed you!!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | July 24, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Thank you, Derrick. I'm trying to do a little sumthin'- sumthin' here without getting all INVOLVED. Just trying to work my way back!
But yessssss ..... to say Is There Anyone Here For Love is a curious number is an UNDERSTATEMENT! I can't think of any other musical number from the 50's that rivals it for pure HIGH CAMP. And when they bent over, stuck their butts out and wiggled them I was like OH NO,THEY DIDN'T!
Posted by: Corey | July 24, 2012 at 02:23 PM
I watched it too this weekend and i can't always help but get a little gay thrill when those boys in trunks (ALTHOUGH WHITE) do serve up much booty & leg kicking to outshine La cage aux Folles!
The Love Goes Wrong song always has made me feel a bit odd. The part where Marilyn says, "And day is DARK as night" and looks at the little black boy.Is it just me or was that just a subtle bit of rascism?
Posted by: Dale | July 24, 2012 at 06:58 PM
Dale, I think it's just you reading something that's not really intended. It's just two black boys playing Algerians that Monroe can shake her boobs at without fear of upsetting the censors....hmm, maybe that is racism.
Posted by: Curious | July 24, 2012 at 07:17 PM
Dale, I think it's just YOU. It could be coincidence, or it could be a subtle bit of cleverness. I hardly think it was racist as Monroe was not racist.
However, I did find this bit of peculiar info on a republican website announcing Russell's death last year. "Unlike many of her conservative colleagues, Russell was certainly no homophobe. She spent a lot of time in the Q&A waxing nostalgic over her openly gay choreographer in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Jack Cole. She repeatedly called him a genius and said he was largely responsible for the success of the film since neither she nor Marilyn Monroe could dance a step when they started shooting. Jane always seemed to enjoy her status as a gay icon, and she commented on the bizarre bit of homoerotica in the film when she sings “Ain’t There Anyone Here for Love” in the middle of a training session for the Olympic team.
THAT CERTAINLY EXPLAINS WHY "HERE FOR LOVE" IS SO CAMPY! Is it just me, but wasn't Russell VERY BUTCH in that movie?
Regardless, and oddly enough, here's what Russell had to say about her own Republicanitis - “these days I am a teetotaling, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded conservative Christian bigot, but not a racist.”
In other words, the press says call her what you like but don't call her a homophobe and SHE SAYS call me what you like, but don't call me a racist.
HMMMMMMMM.
Posted by: Corey | July 24, 2012 at 08:30 PM
Corey:
I went to IMDB (Internet Movie Database) to look up the Moultries but it seems like they vanished from the face of the earth afer the 50s.
I hope they lived good lives and didn't fall into the pitfalls many other child actors do.
I saw that dance scene in the gym for the first time a few years ago. It is the gayest thing I have ever seen in the movies (and that's saying something considering Paris is Burning is one of my favorite films).
How they got that through the sensors I will never know. Why am I not surprised the choreographer was a member of the family.
Welcome back Corey! Keep writing.
Immanuel
www.dlconfessionssequel.com
Posted by: Immanuel | July 27, 2012 at 11:08 PM
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Posted by: Cecilia Ada | September 09, 2012 at 10:50 PM
THANK YOU, Cecilia Ada. SAY THAT!
Thanks for turning me on to Mr. Burley. I'd say he was worthy of a blog post, indeed.
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