Gold-Plated Romance: Gold Diggers of 1933/Pretty Woman/Materialists

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(Had a great time on my road trip, got back – and I've been sick ever since. This year has been one endless struggle bus ride, and there's room for more, so hop on :)

Materialists seems to be a polarizing movie that isn't quite a romcom, isn't quite a straight up romantic drama, while ending happily, making it one of the most interesting hybrid stories I've seen in a while. Dakota Johnson is incredible as Lucy, a smart but cynical matchmaker who treats her clients as commodities – and threatens to do the same with her ex-boyfriend until she realizes his love for her survived their terrible break up, and her honest admission that she's somewhat shallow when it comes to choosing romantic partners. When she finally decides to make a romantic choice that isn't based on statistics, shrewd calculations or dating math but what's in her heart, that's when her life turns around. And that's what makes this movie deeply romantic to me.

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com

I change my mind about this trailer – it captures the smart stylish vibe but not nearly all of the ups and downs in mood that make this such a fascinating film.

Celine Song talked about her inspiration for writing and directing Materialists in a fascinating interview on BBC World Service.

Gold Diggers of 1933 (full movie) is currently on YouTube! Oh and I forgot to mention – it stars a young Ginger Rogers too! The best hour and a half you will spend this week.

The trailer for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes doesn't tell you much, but what's clear is this Technicolor 1950s movie about two show-stopping showgirls, one in it for love and the other mostly for the diamonds, is such a treat.

How to Marry a Millionaire stars Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe as a stunning trio of broke but gorgeous roommates who we're supposed to believe have trouble landing super solvent guys who will love and dote on them.

I love going down the rabbit hole of the related and gendered variations on the gold digger trope.

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