Alexander D'Arcy, Betty Grable, Cameron Mitchell

Three models of modest means rent an expensive Manhattan penthouse apartment and pose as women of wealth as part of an elaborate scheme to snare rich husbands.

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82% liked it

11,806 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

13 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Jean Negulesco

Release Date: January 1, 1953

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DVD Release Date: May 29, 2001

Stats: 668 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (668)


  • December 8, 2008
    Three women go to great lengths to land a rich husband. Marilyn Monroe playing ditsy Pola Debevoise is the most memorable. The script's take on sexual politics of the 50s is a lighthearted and witty forerunner to the prurient "Sex and the City". which would debut 45 year...( read more)s later. Stylish romantic comedy was the first film to be shot in Cinemascope.
  • September 27, 2008
    How To Marry a Millionaire, is a classic from the '50's starring Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable. These dames decide to utilize there final funds for an expensice lifestyle to land a millionaire each. A very good cast and a good vehicle for all leading ladies.
  • December 15, 2007
    as man criticizes woman's mercenery snobbery, the case of "how to marry a millionaire" might be dismissed as irrelevantly worthless. just as monroe quibs at "gentlemen prefer to blondies", woman liking rich man is as fair as man evaluate woman by appearance, and it probably makes...( read more) the most sense. and this husband-tracking theme is utterly reserved for female audience but somehow some contrary sarcasm mingled with human warmth has been injected in it that evolves it into a classy social satire sweetened with a comic flair.

    misogynists might bombard feminie vanity for luxury but they definitely have no clue that females are sharp in the tongue but gentle in the heart, and ironically none of these three females end up with rich men as they assume in the first place, especially bacall's character who nullifies her potential marriage to the rich debonair elderman played by william powell who manifests great gentile demeanor to breeze a woman's heart with proper respects. the conclusive point in this comedy shall be human affection surpasses materialistic ambition, despite whatever they may say or claim, their hearts are bigger than their purses but they ain't aware of it.

    the cutest joke in this flick would be monroe's near-sightedness, particularly when she mistakes a blind eyepatch as a beaten bruise. monroe has the residual childlike innocence ironically contrasted with her million-watt sensual outlook. the gowns and constumes in this flick are well-designed by travilla. notably the red paillette dinner gown monroe wears in front of the four-folded mirror has become a fashion milestone.

    the end credict has a witty cynical touch: as three women faint while bacall's seemingly prole lad flings 1000 cash just for several pairs of hamburgers, then the men rise and toast "gentlemen, to our wives!"
  • November 15, 2007
    This extremely likeable piece of romantic fluff oozes 50s glamour as Monroe, Gable and Bacall hatch a plan to bag themselves rich husbands. The sexual politics can be described as "quaint" at best; the whole concept of gangs of fashion models roaming the land, marriage being thei...( read more)r only purpose in life seems extremely sily in this day and age. This is the kind of film that's best enjoyed for what it is rather than trying to analyse it too closely, the witty banter between glamorous starlets, charming characters and romance being more the point as these initially cynical hustlers learn that there is more to life than money. Each of the characters have obviously been carefully created to appeal to different parts of the male demographic; Bacall's sassy and charismatic ice queen, Monroe's vulnerable and innocent ditz and Grable's down to earth girl next door are all very appealing. Add fine support from the ever charming and debonair William Powell and some great lines, mostly delivered by Bacall (there's even a slyly funny reference to her real-life relationship with "that old feller in The African Queen"!) and it's an enjoyably nostalgic experience.
  • November 13, 2007
    lauren bacall is the leading lady here with marilyn monroe and betty grable backing her up. a tale of gold-diggers looking for rich men to marry, only it isn't as easy as it first sounds, or as easy going for the viewer. mildly entertaining and apt for a sober afternoon. nowhere ...( read more)near monroes best performances though if that's what you're hoping for. she does bump into things alot
  • September 25, 2009
    If you interesting about check the film to find out How to marry amillionaire. Very funny story great woman cast.
  • September 20, 2009
    A highly entertaining romantic comedy, extremely funny and well written. What a wonderful cast - Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, William Powell, Cornell Wilde...It's Monroe that steals the picture though. Great ending!
  • September 18, 2009
    Another classic! Love it!
  • August 6, 2009
    Three golddiggers fall in love with penniless men, despite their best intentions of capturing rich husbands. Well, one of them does find a man with money but it's quite by accident. My favorite line, "I like older men... and that old fellow, what's his name in 'The African Queen'...( read more) " uttered by the lovely Lauren Bacall.
  • August 5, 2009
    I have a poster on my wall of Marilyn during the dream sequence scene. It's nice to finally know where the photo was taken and came from. She's absolutely STUNNING to look at! Directors would get introduced to her during the 1st days of production running tests, and would say tha...( read more)t they just don't see all the sex appeal and hype that everyone's making ... ... Then they'd get the dailies from those tests and their jaws would drop!

    It TOTALLY gave her justifiable reason to be as difficult as she was to work with on the set. Not just her looks but the sound of her voice and the feeling she gives her viewers from all of what she's overbearing you with through her overall performance. It forced other actors to step up their game and make their perfomances that much satisfactory to them almost every time because "when Marilyn got it right ... we printed that take!" I haven't heard of any other actor that can act this way on the set, demand whatever demands he or she wants, and get these kind of results.

    I loved the score in the beginning. The sound of the film really sets the tone and prepares you for the mood of the film and the attitude and feeling you should have to begin watching the film. This is EXACTLY what Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd does to me. The opening gets me in the right mood I need to be in to watch the movie. Some may think this score is a little long, but if you get into the quality of the song, it shouldn't matter. If it does then this movie just doesn't click with you and "really isn't your type of movie" to begin with.

    I do think, however, that like a lot of "Marilyn's Movies", she's used as the marketing tactic to sell the film and get "the butt's in the seats" to raise ticket revenues and overall sales. The focus, to me, was really on Lauren Bacall's character. The ending thrill was on the millionaire she ended up with in the end and the relationship between the two of them. Marilyn was more of a supporting role in this film and not the protagonist like the advertisements and marketing make her out to be. It's just business I guess, but over doing it may cause some disappointment among viewers.

    Still nonetheless, a good movie. All Marilyn fans or appreciaters should definitely watch. Everyone else can get a good laugh and a good feeling during and after and should still view the film regardless.

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