How to Marry a Millionaire

(Jean Negulesco, US 1953, 95 min., 35mm)

Originally heralded the “Most Glamorous Entertainment of Your Lifetime,” this comedy set in midtown Manhattan was the first film completed in CinemaScope but became the second released. The amusing story, in which three “gold digging” women rent a posh penthouse in a shameless attempt to marry millionaires, delightfully showcases the talents of Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable. Although their sights are set on a Rockefeller or a Vanderbilt, their search yields more duds than studs in a series of charming misadventures. Joseph MacDonald’s bright, vibrant cinematography takes full advantage of the CinemaScope frame.