After doing some research, I’m about a year late on this one, but I just saw this ad on television for the first time. Thanks to the wonders of CGI, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich and Grace Kelly are featured in the Dior commercial (see clip below) for their perfume, J’Adore. A nod to these classic Hollywood beauties is reason enough to buy the perfume. A round of applause for Dior!
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Many of the photos in the below link are familiar to Marilyn Monroe fans, but have you seen the untouched versions? A few weeks before photographer, Bert Stern, photographed Monroe for “The Last Sitting,” she had gall bladder surgery. As you will see, the scar in the untouched photos is still very fresh. Marilyn Monroe with a physical imperfection? It’s a rare thought, one that is not often mused in the same sentence.
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The below photo might be the one that is being spoken about in the comments section. This was taken much later. Though it does involve a pink scarf 🙂
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The Misfits has long been one of my favorite films. Though it wasn’t received well by critics or the public upon its release, it has since become a cult classic, partly because it was the final film for both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, but mostly because of the cast of characters that were created by Arthur Miller and directed by John Huston. At a cost of a little over $4 million, it was the most expensive black and white film to date.
I’m very excited to announce that Angela Allen, script supervisor on The Misfits, has kindly agreed to be interviewed for my upcoming book on “The Films of Marilyn Monroe”.
I highly recommend the three part video footage of the making of the film below. There was so much drama going on behind the scenes, it was a film unto itself!
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I have been looking forward to seeing My Week With Marilyn ever since I heard about its existence. While it took some time to reach Australian shores, and it’s still playing in theatres here, I decided to order the DVD from Amazon so I could watch it a few times and really soak it all in. Today, I received my copy and I watched it for the first time this afternoon.
I have to say, what struck me was the standout performances by Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh and Michelle Williams. While I never quite got to the point of forgetting I was watching Michelle play Marilyn, in other words, she never “became” Marilyn for me, she still did a wonderful job of portraying Marilyn Monroe without her performance becoming a cheesy impersonation. Her mannerisms and recreated scenes from The Prince and the Showgirl were perfect. As usual, Judi Dench was fantastic, this time playing Dame Sybil Thorndike. But, Kenneth Branagh was the definite anchor of the film. He DID become Sir Laurence Olivier for me. I actually forgot he was playing Olivier because I believed he WAS Olivier!
He should have won an Oscar – period!
I realize the film was based on Colin Clark’s book, but I felt the “romance” between the two of them detracted from the real life drama of the story behind the film. Clark’s involvement in Monroe’s life at that time is highly embellished. I guess it’s a little bit of artistic license, but as I said previously, it WAS based on his book so the events that unfold are told from his perspective. I’ve studied the making of The Prince and the Showgirl extensively and I can say that most everything else about the film is 100 per cent accurate. It clearly shows the fragility of Marilyn Monroe, on many levels. Along with the tensions and complexities of making the film, the behind-the-scenes drama is all there, all properly portrayed, and all very, very entertaining.
The film leaves you wondering. Was Marilyn Monroe delicate…difficult…or both. You decide.
All said and done, I highly recommend My Week With Marilyn. However, take the afternoon off and watch The Prince and the Showgirl first. It’s a double-feature that won’t disappoint.
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In the below audio interview you will hear Marilyn Monroe’s REAL speaking voice. Though recognizably her, her natural voice is a much lower register than the higher pitched/sexy coo that was manufactured for the screen.
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Allan “Whitey” Snyder was Marilyn’s longtime makeup artist…he did her post-mortem makeup, but before her death, Marilyn asked “Whitey” to promise her that he’d do her makeup if she died before him. He joked, “Sure, bring the body back while it is still warm and I’ll do it.” Marilyn appreciated the joke so much, she gifted him with a gold Tiffany money clip.
The inscription read: Whitey Dear – While I’m still warm – Marilyn.
Sadly, by early-August of 1962, it was a joking pact that “Whitey” made good on…though he carried out his promise to do Marilyn’s post-mortem makeup, he needed a flask of whiskey to get him through the emotionally traumatic job.
With a starting bid of $3,000 and a sales estimate of $6,000 – $8,000, I have a feeling that this piece will go a lot higher than predicted. As of this writing, it already has a current bid of $4,000 and the auction doesn’t begin until March 31st.
Along with the money clip, there are many photos and letters from Snyder’s estate going under the hammer.
Article About the Auction HERE
Above photo: Snyder applies make up to Marilyn Monroe.
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This looks like a fantastic exhibition of Marilyn Monroe costumes and photographs…and entry is FREE.
It runs until the end of May. If you’re in London, PLEASE go see it and let me know your thoughts.
See below article for more details.
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Since Whitney Houston’s body was seen lying in a casket…on the front cover of the latest issue of The National Enquirer, many people have expressed how distasteful it was to publish it, let alone splash it across the cover. But, as I’ve already said in my earlier post, it’s the family member or friend that has provided the magazine with this image – for money, who should be scolded. They sold her out. The tabloid is in the business to sell magazines. Millions buy the tabloids each week and they’ll pay big $$$ for an exclusive photo. That said, a photo of Whitney Houston in her casket…it’d be a name your price situation.
As shocking as Whitney’s image is, the death scene and autopsy photos of Marilyn Monroe are far, far worse. In her, we had the most beautiful, glamorous, vivacious, fun-loving soul that had ever graced Hollywood’s doorstep. A sex-symbol. And, at thirty-six…she too was dead. While I believe that Marilyn Monroe was murdered, as with Whitney Houston, drugs destroyed her.
Death is a part of life. But for the living, it’s often a difficult topic to discuss and come to terms with. Thankfully, when it’s “our time” to go, unlike these superstars, there’ll be no final photographs in death. No magazine covers. And, for the record, I’m good with that 🙂
The below photos show death in its rawest form…the death of Marilyn Monroe.
Below: The death scene. Marilyn Monroe, naked and dead in her bed.
Below: Autopsy photo #1
Below: Autopsy photo #2
Below: Marilyn Monroe in her prime, full of life.
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Michelle Vogel
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