| Marilyn | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Harold Medford |
| Narrated by | Rock Hudson |
| Starring | Marilyn Monroe (archive footage) |
Marilyn (Originally titled: The Marilyn Monroe Story) is a 1963 documentary film based on the life of the 1950s sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. The film was released by 20th Century Fox, and was narrated by Rock Hudson.
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Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortensen on June 1, 1926) rose to fame with the 1953 film noir, Niagara, released by 20th Century Fox. Monroe had signed with Fox "originally" in 1947, and, played bit parts in a few films, starring stars like: Betty Grable, June Haver, Cary Grant, Peggy Cummins, and Jeanne Crain. When released from Fox, Monroe found work as yet again a bit player in films like: Love Happy (1949), starring The Marx Brothers. She re-signed with Fox in 1950 and began playing, small but meaningful roles in big-budgeted films like: All About Eve, starring Bette Davis. After several films, Fox gave Marilyn her biggest break with, Niagara. The film starred Monroe, Joseph Cotten, and Jean Peters. Monroe went on to make millions for Fox, starring in movies like: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953); How to Marry a Millionaire (1953); and River of No Return (1954).
Marilyn's first flop in two years was, There's No Business Like Show Business, a musical co-starring, Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, and Johnnie Ray. This film's lavish production didn't over shadow the dragged plot-line. However, Monroe re-gained her success with, The Seven Year Itch in 1955, co-starring Tom Ewell and Evelyn Keyes. Seven Year Itch, showcased the famous scene of Monroe's white dress being skyrocketed in the air by a subway grating. This film was a major success, as was Marilyn's next feature, Bus Stop (1956): which was her last film with Fox until 1960. However, Monroe's biggest success in a film was in 1959's Some Like It Hot, a comedy co-starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The film was Monroe's most successful film of her career.
However, Marilyn, only focuses on the films that Monroe made with 20th Century Fox, which sadly ex-cludes Some Like It Hot, for it was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Monroe's last film with Fox was the 1960 romantic-musical comedy, Let's Make Love, also starring Yves Montand. In 1962, she signed on with Fox to remake a 1940 film called My Favorite Wife: the film was re-titled Something's Got to Give, and cast Monroe in the lead: Monroe would co-star with Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse, Wally Cox, and Phil Silvers. Sadly, Monroe died before the film's completion. In 1963, Fox re-cast Something's Got to Give, with Doris Day, James Garner, and Polly Bergen; and even re-titled the film to Move Over, Darling.
The reception of Marilyn, was both good and bad. Some called the film: "20th Century Fox's final chance to make some bucks off of Marilyn Monroe", where some called the film: "marvelous". Even though, it drew both good and bad press reviews, Marilyn, drew success with the "forever" Marilyn Monroe fans.
Marilyn has never been released on either DVD or VHS. Some debate whether a copy of the film even exists.