Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Jane Russell: Dorothy Shaw

Photos 

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Quotes 

• [Dorothy is admiring some athletes] 

  Gus Esmond : Dorothy Shaw. I want you to remember you're supposed to be the chaperone on this trip.

  Dorothy Shaw : Now lets get this straight, Gus. The chaperone's job is to see that nobody else has any fun. Nobody chaperones the chaperone. That's why I'm so right for this job.

• Ernie Malone : It seemed a good idea to bring some drinks. Here are your cigarettes.

  Dorothy Shaw : Oh, you're a dear. Good boy.

  Lorelei Lee : I've been wondering, what is your line, Mr. Malone?

  Ernie Malone : My line? Well, my most effective one is to tell a girl that she has hair like a tortured midnight, lips like a red couch in an ivory palace, that I'm lonely and starved for affection. Then, I generally burst into tears. It very seldom works.

  Dorothy Shaw : You idiot.

• Dorothy Shaw : Remember, honey, on your wedding day it's All right to say "yes."

• Dorothy Shaw : You know I think you're the only girl in the world who can stand on a stage with a spotlight in her eye and still see a diamond inside a man's pocket.

• Lorelei Lee : [Lorelei is holding a tiara]  How do you put it around your neck?

  Dorothy Shaw : You don't, honey, it goes on your head!

  Lorelei Lee : You must think I was born yesterday.

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, sometimes there's just no other possible explanation.

• Dorothy Shaw : Honey, did it ever occur to you that some people just don't care about money?

  Lorelei Lee : Please, we're talking serious here.

• Dorothy Shaw : You mean you eat at six and have to be in bed at nine?... Holy smoke! Nine o'clock. That's just when life just begins!

• Lorelei Lee : Pardon, please, is this the way to Europe, France?

  Passport Official : To where?

  Dorothy Shaw : Not Europe, France, honey. France is *in* Europe.

  Lorelei Lee : Well, who said it wasn't?

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, you wouldn't say is this the way to North America, Mexico, would you?

  Lorelei Lee : If that's where I wanted to go, I would.

  Dorothy Shaw : The dealer passes.

• Dorothy Shaw : If we can't empty his pockets between us, then we're not worthy of the name Woman.

• Dorothy Shaw : Listen, either you hock some of that stuff or get the price of a diamond tiara out of him.

  Lorelei Lee : How much do you think a diamond tiara will cost?

  Dorothy Shaw : Fifteen thousand at least.

  Lorelei Lee : [Concentrates]  Let's see, that'll take an hour and 45 minutes.

• Dorothy Shaw : I certainly want to know who the players are. For instance, who's the young man who just tried to steal second base?

  Ernie Malone : Name is Malone.

  Dorothy Shaw : I'm Shaw, Dorothy. Well, Mr. Malone?

  Ernie Malone : You're the most attractive girl in the room so I came over to tell you. Do you mind?

  Dorothy Shaw : No, I might as well warn you, flattery will get you anywhere.

  Ernie Malone : In that case we haven't got any problems.

• Gus Esmond : [as she tries on the diamond ring he's just given her]  Is it the right size?

  Lorelei Lee : Well, it can never be too big. Do you think that's too small, Dorothy?

  Dorothy Shaw : [whistles]  Looks like it oughta have a highball around it.

• Lady Beekman : You'll find I mean business!

  Dorothy Shaw : Oh, really? Then why are you wearing that hat?

• Dorothy Shaw : Bottom's up!

  [Dorothy, Lorelei and Ernie drink their cocktails] 

  Dorothy Shaw : He looks like he's going to explode.

  Ernie Malone : What was that?

  Lorelei Lee : Just equal parts of Scotch, Vodka, Brandy, and Gin.

• Dorothy Shaw : I like a man who can run faster than I can.

• Lorelei Lee : Dorothy. Mr. Esmond and I are getting married.

  Dorothy Shaw : To each other?

  Gus Esmond : Of course to each other. Who else to?

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, I don't know about you Gus, but I always figured Lorelei would end up with the Secretary of the Treasury.

• Lorelei Lee , Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  We're just two little girls from Little Rock, We lived on the wrong side of the tracks, But the gentlemen friends who used to call, They never did seem to mind at all, They came to the wrong side of the tracks...

• Lady Beekman : You might be interested in my tiara. I always carry it with me. Afraid to leave it in the stateroom.

  Dorothy Shaw : And you're not afraid to show it to Lorelei?

• Ernie Malone : I'm not that bad all the time. Sometimes I'm very nice. Sometimes I just speak without thinking.

  Dorothy Shaw : I get the picture. You're half sweet and half acid.

• Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  I like a beautiful hunk of man. But I'm no physical culture fan. Ain't there anyone here for love?

• Lorelei Lee : I can't get over that passenger list. Calling a young boy "mister." A girl could waste a whole trip to Europe if she trusted a passenger list.

  Dorothy Shaw : Then, you think we better give up the whole idea, huh?

  Lorelei Lee : Well, if he was 16 or 17, even, you could marry him in Tennessee.

• Gus Esmond Jr. : Dorothy Shaw, I'm counting on you to keep those athletes to yourself.

  Dorothy Shaw : What a coincidence! That's my plan too.

• Dorothy Shaw : Honey, did it ever occur to you that some people just don't care about money?

  Lorelei Lee : Please, don't be silly. We're talking serious. You don't want to end up with a loveless marriage, do you?

  Dorothy Shaw : Me, loveless?

  Lorelei Lee : That's right. Because, if a girl spends all of her time worrying about the money she doesn't have - how is she going have any time for being in love? I want you to find happiness and stop having fun.

  Dorothy Shaw : That baffles me.

  Lorelei Lee : You'll thank me someday.

• Lorelei Lee : Why did you just stand there and let him kiss you?

  Dorothy Shaw : You want to hear something crazy? I think I'm falling in love with that slob.

  Lorelei Lee : Oh, you just feel that way because he's poor.

  Dorothy Shaw : I hope so.

• Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  Bye bye baby. Remember you're my baby when they give you the eye.

• Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  When love goes wrong, nothing goes right. This one thing, I know.

  Lorelei Lee : [singing]  When love goes wrong, a man take flight.

  Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  And women get uppity-oh.

• Dorothy Shaw : What were you doing before Piggy started barking like a seal?

  Lorelei Lee : That wasn't barking, that's Swahili.

• Dorothy Shaw : Doubles, anyone? Court's free! Two out of three, anyone? Doesn't anyone want to play?

  [singing] 

  Dorothy Shaw : I like big muscles, And red corpuscles, I like a beautiful hunk of man...

• Lorelei Lee : What do you do for a living?

  Ernie Malone : Oh, that kind of a line. Nothing, I'm afraid. Just clip coupons and live off the fat of the land.

  Lorelei Lee : Coupons. That's like money, isn't it?

  Ernie Malone : Very similar.

  Lorelei Lee : I'm so pleased Dorothy's taken an interest in you. I mean, she's never been interested in anyone worthwhile.

  Ernie Malone : No taste, eh?

  Dorothy Shaw : No, I'm a hobo collector. I might even find room for you.

• Lorelei Lee : There's one other place it could be.

  Dorothy Shaw : Where?

  Lorelei Lee : His pants.

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, we'll have to get those too.

  Lorelei Lee : Would you rather I did it alone?

  Dorothy Shaw : No. I think two heads are better than one.

  Lorelei Lee : I suppose so.

  Dorothy Shaw : It's ticklish business anyway you look at it.

• Dorothy Shaw : So, what's all the talent in the blue jackets? That's not a band, is it?

  Passport Official : No, no, Miss. That's the Olympic team. They're sailing with you on this ship.

  Dorothy Shaw : The Olympic team!

  Passport Official : Yes.

  Dorothy Shaw : For me. Now, wasn't that thoughtful of somebody?

  [to Loreei] 

  Dorothy Shaw : Dibs on the shot-putter.

• Lorelei Lee : I just can't wait!

  Dorothy Shaw : For what?

  Lorelei Lee : Dorothy, didn't you notice? His pocket was bulging!

  Dorothy Shaw : That could be a bag of gumdrops.

• Lorelei Lee : [singing]  Someone broke my heart in Little Rock, So I up and left the pieces there, Like a little lost lamb I roamed about, I came to New York and I found out

  Lorelei Lee , Dorothy Shaw : That men are the same way everywhere...

• Lorelei Lee : Dorothy, did you ever hear of a rich pole-vaulter?

  Dorothy Shaw : Maybe not; but, who cares? I like a man who can run faster than I can.

• Lorelei Lee : Pardon my saying so, but, having heard so much about you and all, I expected you'd be much older.

  Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman : Me? Well, my, you don't say. By George! Older than what?

  Dorothy Shaw : The Pyramids.

• Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  I'm not - in condition to - wrestle, I've never trained in a gym, Show me a man who can nestle, And I'll pin - a medal - on him, Need some chappie to make me happy, And he don't have to be Hercules, Don't anyone know about birds and bees? Ain't there anyone here for love? Sweet love, Ain't there anyone - here for love?

• Dorothy Shaw : Just about the time Piggy was squeezing the goat, Mr. Ernie Malone was taking pictures right through that porthole.

• Dorothy Shaw : Wait a minute, what do you mean you're all bruised? Malone's been here with me the whole time.

  Lorelei Lee : Mr. Spofford pulled me too hard.

• Ernie Malone : For the past hour, I've been thinking. Thinking about doing something.

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, what have you been thinking, Mr. Malone?

  [kiss] 

• Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman : [Piggy is with Lorelei and Dorothy in their cabin]  Shall I wait in the next room?

  Dorothy Shaw : If you'd like. We're expecting Lady Beekman for tea.

  Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman : Lady Beekman? Here?

  Dorothy Shaw : Yes.

  Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman : Oh, I just remembered, I have another appointment. I better pop off. Well, toodle-loo, chin-chin and all that rot.

• Lorelei Lee : Do you think three sleeping pills are enough?

  Dorothy Shaw : Three's quite a lot. That's pretty potent stuff!

  Lorelei Lee : The things worth doing is worth doing well.

• Dorothy Shaw : [singing]  A woman's a fright, a terrible sight

  Lorelei Lee : A man goes out, gets high as a kite

  Dorothy Shaw , Lorelei Lee : Love is something you just can't fight

  Dorothy Shaw : You can't fight it, honey, You can't fight it

  Dorothy Shaw , Lorelei Lee : When love goes wrong...

• Dorothy Shaw : You get the money and I'll take care of the gendarmes.

  Lorelei Lee : How?

  Dorothy Shaw : Never mind how. You're not the only one around here with hidden talents.

• Dorothy Shaw : Let's don't talk about love. It reminds me of my friend Malone, the human ferret.

• Dorothy Shaw : [after Lorelei relates Piggy's story of how a python can squeeze a goat]  Well, what's incriminating about that?

  Lorelei Lee : Well... Piggy was being the python, and I was a goat.

• Lorelei Lee : Sometimes Mr. Esmond finds it very difficult to say no to me.

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, that's very possible.

• Dorothy Shaw : I don't know what you do honey, unless you use Novocaine in your lipstick?

• Lorelei Lee : Did you say "diamonds"?

  Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman : Well, well, well! By George, I must say! No doubt about it, no sirree. By George, no doubt about it at all.

  Dorothy Shaw : Miss Lee, meet Piggy.

  Sir Francis 'Piggy' Beekman : Delighted! Delighted!

  Lorelei Lee : You did say "diamonds." I can tell.

• Dorothy Shaw : Boy will I tell that stinker off when we get those pictures back.

  Lorelei Lee : The question is how do we do that?

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, the simplest way is to swipe 'em. Come on, we'll get our warpaint on and go to work.

• Dorothy Shaw : Money is rather a hobby of Lorelei's.

• Dorothy Shaw : We'll have a better chance of getting those pictures back if he doesn't know we're onto him.

  Lorelei Lee : I'll get them.

  Dorothy Shaw : How?

  Lorelei Lee : He's a man, isn't he?

• Lorelei Lee : How does it look?

  Dorothy Shaw : Exactly like trouble.

• Dorothy Shaw : Do me a favor, will you, Malone? Go whistle up a rope.

• Dorothy Shaw : I'd sure hate to have your job.

  Ernie Malone : Well, maybe you're right. Checking up on people is messy work sometimes. But only when those people are doing things that...

  Dorothy Shaw : Doing things like pretending to make love to a girl while you spy on her friend?

• Dorothy Shaw : The old boy won't let you commit matrimony with his son. He'd rather shove him down an elevator shaft.

• Dorothy Shaw : When love goes wrong / Nothing goes right / This one thing I know

  Lorelei Lee : When love goes wrong / A man takes flight

  Dorothy Shaw : And women get uppity-O

  Lorelei Lee : The sun don't beam / The moon don't shine / The tide don't ebb and flow

  Dorothy Shaw : The clock won't strike / A match won't light

  Dorothy Shaw , Lorelei Lee : When love goes wrong / Nothing goes right

• Captain of Waiters : [to Lorelei]  Mademoiselle, Mr. Spofford is here.

  Lorelei Lee : Dorothy...

  [whispering] 

  Lorelei Lee : now please try to make a great impression.

  Dorothy Shaw : [sighing]  Okay.

  Captain of Waiters : Mr. Henry Spofford.

  [to the audience's surprise, Henry Spofford, a small boy, seats himself at the table.] 

  Henry Spofford III : [greeting everyone]  Hello. Hello. Hello.

  Dorothy Shaw : Well! Mr. Spofford! Are you traveling by yourself?

  Henry Spofford III : No. I've got a valet, a tutor, and a trainer.

  Dorothy Shaw : Well, pardon my saying so and all, but having heard so much about you, I expected you to be much older.

  Henry Spofford III : I'm old enough to appreciate a good-looking girl when I see one.

  [unfolding his napkin] 

  Henry Spofford III : This promises to be quite a trip. Personally, I don't intend to miss a meal.

  Dorothy Shaw : [to Lorelei]  How'm I doing?