Film Snail

6.8

How to Marry a Millionaire

NR·1953·95m

Comedy

Romance

Comedy

Romance

Summary

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

Cast

Marilyn Monroe

Pola Debevoise

Lauren Bacall

Schatze Page

Betty Grable

Loco Dempsey

David Wayne

Freddie Denmark

Rory Calhoun

Eben

Cameron Mitchell

Tom Brookman

Alexander D'Arcy

J. Stewart Merrill

Fred Clark

Waldo Brewster

William Powell

J.D. Hanley

Percy Helton

Mr. Benton (uncredited)

Harry James

Radio Trumpeter (uncredited)

Hope Landin

Mrs. Salem (uncredited)

Ruth Hall

Model (uncredited)

Charlotte Austin

Model (uncredited)

Merry Anders

Model (uncredited)

Robert Adler

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Tom Greenway

Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)

Jan Arvan

Tony (uncredited)

John Breen

Cook (uncredited)

Benny Burt

Reporter (uncredited)

Harry Carter

Elevator Operator (uncredited)

Jack Chefe

Waiter at Wedding (uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Herbert Deans

Steward (uncredited)

Van Des Autels

Best Man (uncredited)

George Dunn

Mike - Elevator Operator (uncredited)

Elaine DuPont

Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Eve Finnell

Stewardess (uncredited)

Kenneth Gibson

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

James Gonzalez

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Ivis Goulding

Maid (uncredited)

Jane Liddell

Model (uncredited)

Robert Locke Lorraine

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Dayton Lummis

Justice of the Peace (uncredited)

Rankin Mansfield

Bennett (uncredited)

Maurice Marsac

Mr. Antoine (uncredited)

Thomas Martin

Pete - the Doorman (uncredited)

Beryl McCutcheon

Model (uncredited)

Harold Miller

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Alfred Newman

Orchestra Conductor in Prologue (uncredited)

Barry Norton

Plane Passenger (uncredited)

Tudor Owen

Mr. Otis (uncredited)

Murray Pollack

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Ralph Reed

Jewelry Salesman (uncredited)

George Saurel

Emir (uncredited)

Bernard Sell

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Richard Shackleton

Bellboy (uncredited)

Hermine Sterler

Madame (uncredited)

James Stone

Doorman (uncredited)

Larri Thomas

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Lida Thomas

Model (uncredited)

Ivan Triesault

Phillip - Captain of Waiters (uncredited)

Tyra Vaughn

Model (uncredited)

Emmett Vogan

Man at George Washington Bridge (uncredited)

Eric Wilton

Butler (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Jean Negulesco

Screenplay

Nunnally Johnson

Theatre Play

Katherine Albert

Theatre Play

Dale Eunson

Theatre Play

Zoe Akins

Reviews

Geronimo1967

February 19, 2024

Despite the flat-as-a-pancake orchestral opening at the start, this film is really all about Lauren Bacall. She ("Schatze") lives with fellow models "Pola" (Marilyn Monroe) and "Loco" (Betty Grable) and are down to their last cent. Unless they can raise some money sharpish, they are going to be out on the street - and none of these fur wearing, champagne swilling, women are in any way equipped for that! On their terrace one afternoon, they hit on a plan. Marry a millionaire. They all know plenty of them, they are gorgeous and the men usually too stupid, or vain, to know when they are being played. How hard can it be? Well, as this light-hearted comedy unfolds, they discover that separating the wheat from the intellectual chaff isn't that simple after all. "Schatze" takes a shine to "Hanley" (William Powell) but he turns out to be a surprisingly decent cove and she must look elsewhere. Then there's "Pola" - who has the eyesight of a very old mole. She alights on "Freddie" (David Wayne) before, finally, "Loco" who really hasn't a clue what she's doing with "Eben" (Rory Calhoun) and/or "Tom" (Cameron Mitchell). Thing is, though - aside from Powell, they don't appear to have any money? How will this solve their problem? Now we know that one of these boys is actually as wealthy as Croesus, but they are oblivious and believe it or not, they might actually be starting to think about their choices based on the "l" word! Bacall is in her element here. She epitomises her elegant and smart character. Monroe does the ditzy and affectionate rather well and Grable, well she docent really feature much at all as the story develops. The first film in Cinemascope and a curiously stage-bound choice for it, but that aside it's an engaging enough rom-com that allows three women to play the game for all it's worth.