1953 was undoubtably Marilyn Monroe’s year, one in which she catapulted to stardom in three great films.

Marilyn played a delicious femme fatale in Niagara with Joseph Cotton.

She claimed the role of Lorelei Lee in the film of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

However, my favorite of Marilyn’s films that year is How to Marry a Millionaire, which also stars Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall. Shot in CinemaScope, it opens with a live orchestra’s performance of Alfred Newman’s “Street Scene.” I watched the overture about five times before starting the rest of the film.