The film is filled with comedic situations and musical numbers, choreographed by Jack Cole, while the music was written by Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Adamson,Jule Styne and Leo Robin. The songs byStyne and Robin are from the Broadway show, while the songs by Carmichael and Adamson were written especially for the film. Despite the film's title, Monroe was paid her usual contract salary of $500 a week, while Russell, thebetter known actress at the time, earned $200,000.
While Russell's down-to-earth, sharp wit has been observed by most critics, it was Monroe's turn as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee for which the film is often remembered. Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"and her pink dress are considered iconic, and the performance has inspired homages by Madonna, Beyonce, Geri Halliwell, Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Anna Nicole Smith, Christina Aguilera, Ariana Grande, and Miss Piggy.
The film earned $5.3 million at the box office worldwide, and was the eighth highest-grossing film of 1953. Monroe and Russell were accorded thehonor of putting their hand and foot prints in cement in the forecourt ofGrauman's Chinese Theatre, a spectacle that got a lot of publicity for both actresses and for the film.
