A Troubled Star: Marilyn Monroe

I have just finished reading a wonderful book about Marilyn Monroe: In the Movies. Packed full of great photos and quotes as well as information on the block buster movies she starred in, details of her private life and failed marriages are also mentioned. Away, from the glitz and the glamour, Marilyn was a very sensitive and child like creature who reacted terribly to criticism and could rarely trust many of the domineering men in her ruthless industry. After suffering through a troubled childhood (she was adopted) Norma Jean Baker as she was born, grew up into a woman who craved the limelight yet was terrified of the exposure and exploitation she received. This may have has something to do with the fact both her parents were absent throughout her childhood, with Marilyn later claiming she dreamt that the king of Hollywood, Clark Gable was her real father.

After the success of her first few movies, Monroe dyed her hair platinum blonde, had cosmetic surgery applied to her teeth and had her hairline scraped back further to reveal more of her forehead. This wavy, blonde hair would later be her trademark feature, copied nowadays by numerous celebrities including Rita Ora, Paris Hilton and Beyonce. The movies she starred in throughout the 1950's where a huge success with, 'The Prince and the Showgirl,' 'Gentleman Prefer Blondes,' 'The Seven Year Itch' and 'Some Like it Hot', being the most famous. However, according to my book and research, Marilyn was a problematic star for directors, fellow actors and producers alike, as she regularly turned up late for shooting, had difficulty reading her lines and phoned in sick for weeks on end. When she was on set, she would have to be coaxed out of her dressing room and then once filming began, Marilyn would demand that scenes be shot over and over again until she was personally happy with them, which infuriated directors and actors, including Robert Mitchem and Dean Martin who stormed off the set of 'Something’s Got to Give' in 1962, and out of the motion picture. Marilyn was also unhappy with Fox Productions who she was signed to under contract, as she was forced to star in movies she felt did not suit her and had no freedom over her professional career. For example, ‘There’s no Business like Show Business’ was a huge success, yet Monroe was not a singer or dancer and hated every moment of shooting that movie, yet audiences were never to know that.

Marilyn also dealt with two marriage break downs in the public eye and a saddening miscarriage which left her suffering from depression. Her marriage to Joe DiMaggio was short lived and apparently abusive, after he grew increasingly jealous of the attention his wife received by millions of men across the world. Her second husband, the playwright Arthur Miller was more stable and secure, yet after Monroe had an affair with the French actor Yves Montand in 1960, the marriage was badly damaged. During this time, the troubled yet beautiful star battled with anxiety, drug addiction and depression which caused her to sign into a clinic for three weeks.

Eventually, on August 5th, 1962, Monroe was found dead in her house after taking a subscription overdose of drugs. The mystery and uncertainty over her death has never properly been cleared up, with many conspiracy theories arising that she committed suicide and that the US President JFK ordered her death after their high profile affair. That day, a great actress was lost and Hollywood mourned her death deeply. What is amazing is that even though her film career spanned just over a decade, Monroe is the most recognized woman in the world and the iconic images of her are still very much relevant in today’s society. Let’s face it, everyone knows who Marilyn Monroe is... she is an everlasting part of cinematography. Her womanly curves, unusual for Hollywood at the time, beautiful face and delicate nature captivates audiences worldwide to this day and her movies are still admired and enjoyed more than ever.

There is no denying that I am a huge Marilyn fan, and find her life and death most fascinating and intriguing. Behind those big eyes and smiling mouth, there was a child trapped in a woman’s body who was unable to cope with her celebrity and found the negative effects of the press too much to handle. People only hear about the glamour of Monroe, from her sexy dresses to the bright red lipstick. Yet, the woman behind the facade was innocent and loving; a woman, who was in need of help, yet was denied the healing and mentoring she so desperately desired. Nevertheless, she is an icon, and this book proves what a fantastic actress she was, never to be forgotten...