For “Lookin’ for Trouble,” the show-stopping number in The French Line, Howard Hughes wanted Jane to wear a bejeweled bikini. Jane went on strike in protest and this one-piece Michael Woulfe design was the compromise.
For a musical number in The French Line set in a bubble bath, RKO publicity claimed that the press had been banned from the set because it called for Jane to expose herself “down to Mr. [Joseph] Breen’s frown.”
For this scene in The French Line, Howard Hughes had Michael Woulfe design a dozen swimsuits. “But seriously,” Woulfe later mused, “who would wear a swimsuit while playing shuffleboard?”
Following the success of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Howard Hughes figured he could produce his own musical set on a luxury liner, so Jane’s next film was The French Line opposite Gilbert Roland.
After a little over a month of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, we’re wrapping up the posts on that film. Here’s the 6-sheet I purchased after catching auction fever last year. Isn’t it fab?
Today marks 59 years since we lost Marilyn Monroe. Holding a good thought for Jane’s most magnificent co-star.
Here’s one more (adorable) photo of Jane in the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes wedding gown and the last image I have in this series. Hope you’ve enjoyed the JR GPB costume deep dive!
I don’t have photos or paperwork for costume change #15, so we’re jumping ahead to the final scene of the film where Jane and Marilyn wear these ultra 1950s wedding gowns.
Today’s costume is one both Jane and Marilyn wear briefly during a backstage scene at Chez Louis. It was also used in the musical number “Four French Dances” which was cut from the final film, but shows up briefly in the trailer. In this photo, Jane is wearing her Lorelei wig, though the board notes it does not go with this costume.
For Jane’s next costume, I only have the paperwork which designates the design as for the poster. Marilyn and Jane do indeed wear this outfit on the promo art and it’s also used to promote their Chez Louis act in the film.