Alleged Marilyn Monroe Porno "Flops" at Auction

In following up to my blog post of July 23, 2011, "Marilyn Monroe Porno? The Widow's Peak Speaks," I'm pleased to announce that, not surprisingly, the sale of this pornographic film flopped at auction on August 7 in Argentina. In spite of Mikel Barsa's unsubstantiated claims that it was a young Norma Jeane performing sex acts on an unknown man in the film, there were no bidders.



It is clearly not Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe in this film. Nonetheless, Barsa claims he may negotiate a sale with a buyer in Denver Colorado.



Even though there are clear and significant differences in facial structure, and body mass and form between Marilyn Monroe and the woman in the film, coupled with the fact that Marilyn Monroe had already been discovered in 1945, someone is still actually considering buying this film? SERIOUSLY?



Thankfully, after Barsa conducted a press conference announcing the sale of the film, media outlets around the world sought an opposing perspective. I was honored to have been contacted by the Associated Press, Reuters, and ABCNews.com to express my views on whether or not it was Marilyn in the film. This issue received press coverage around the world.



I'd like to express sincere gratitude to Joshua Greene of the Milton H. Green Archives, Chuck Murphy of One West Publishing (management company for Andre de Dienes images) and Margaret Miller of the Richard C. Miller estate for allowing me to use photos of Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe in comparing her likeness to the woman in the pornographic film.



With these side-by-side comparisons, it's very clear that it's not Norma Jeane in the film. The comparisons were shared with the AP, Reuters and ABCNews.com, and have now been shown around the world.



To view my interview with Reuters, as published via the Huffington Post UK, click here.



Also interviewed for this topic by ABCNews.com was Michelle Morgan, author of Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, and Lois Banner PhD, author of MM Personal.



Very recently, Authentic Brands Group, the corporation that purchased Marilyn Monroe's licensing rights in January of this year, came out swinging, threatening legal action. According to Nancy Carlson of Authentic Brands Group, "A sale of the film would invite legal action for perpetrating a fraud on the public, violating the Monroe estate's exclusive rights to her image and other claims of intellectual property infringement."



Was this fraud from the onset? Without question, it isn't Norma Jeane in the pornographic film. According to Barsa, he sold this same film in 1997, albeit a 16mm version, to a private collector for $1.2 million. Whoever that private collector is...they might want to think about asking for their money back. "No widow's peak, no Marilyn."



Was it a mere coincidence that Mikel Barsa auctioned the film a mere two days after the 49th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe? Not likely.



So, this issue has been put to rest, for now anyway. As a friend of mine on Facebook says, "...at least for another five years," until someone else tries to sell it again, claiming it's Norma Jeane before being discovered.

Lois Banner Book Signing: MM-Personal

Lois Banner PhD, author and Professor of History and Gender Studies at USC College, will be signing her most recent book, MM-Personal, at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Book Soup
8818 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
90069

MM-Personal: A New Book on Marilyn Monroe

Coming soon: MM Personal, by Lois Banner PhD and celebrity photographer Mark Anderson.

This book consists of photos of Marilyn Monroe's personal files and documents, all of which come from her personal filing cabinets - The filing cabinets everyone knew existed but were nowhere to be found. MM-Personal is available now for pre-order on Amazon.com here.

I had the incredible and amazing opportunity to see Marilyn's personal archives in person on two separate occasions in Los Angeles before ownership of the cabinets and their contents was transferred to Marilyn's estate. (There is much actual speculation as to how the cabinets came to be in the possession of Inez Melson, Monroe's business manager, yet they eventually came to be owned by Mil Conroy, nephew to Melson. Ultimately, the cabinets and all contents were turned over to the Strasbergs.)

Other items pictured in the book, aside from personal documents, are furs, jewels, purses, and other effects, yet there is serious doubt in my mind that these items actually did belong to Marilyn. Note that it is clarified in the book that it's not known 100% if these items were in fact owned by Marilyn.


As a point of reference, these cabinets and their contents were the subject of a lengthy expose written by Sam Kashner for Vanity Fair in October of 2008: The Things She Left Behind.

Inspite of the inclusion of personal items that may or may not have actually been owned by Marilyn, believe you me, if you're a true Marilyn Monroe fan you'll be salivating over the array of documents, receipts, and personal communications showcased in this book. The photographs, taken by Anderson, are in fact spectacular.

Liz Smith wrote about MM Personal in her column today:

Marilyn — Still Alive in the 21st Century!

“NOW, ON Castro. You see, I was brought up to believe in democracy, and then when the Cubans finally threw out Battista with so much bloodshed, the United States doesn’t stand behind them or give them help or support even to develop democracy! I can understand John Daly on an American national broadcast making fun of Castro for having appeared at one of his country’s national functions in a tuxedo. But the New York Times’ responsibility to keep its readers informed — means in an unbiased way. I don’t know, somehow I have always counted on the Times, and not entirely because you’re there.”

That is a part of a long letter to senior New York Times editor Lester Markel, dated March 29, 1960. The writer? Miss Marilyn Monroe.

(Actually, I personally think the Times went all out to support Castro’s ascension via their reporter T.S. Matthews who is credited by conservatives as having “accomplished” Castro’s rise to power. The Right has always blamed The Times.) But “never mind” if Marilyn had it wrong — she was probably swept up by the romanticism of a revolutionary who said he was “for the people.” She proves that she cared about what was happening in the world.

THIS letter (in which MM also ruminates on campaign slogans for the coming presidential race) appears in a new (yet another!) book on Marilyn, the star who simply cannot die. This one is titled MM-Personal: From the Private Archive of Marilyn Monroe by Lois Banner, photograhs by Mark Anderson.

Unlike last year’s Fragments, which consisted solely of Marilyn’s notes, poems, jottings, recipes, etc., MM Personal — while it also has letters from the star — is mainly correspondence to Monroe. From friends and professional colleagues — including harried notes and telegrams from publicists frantic to put a stop to the unhappy publicity surrounding Marilyn’s behavior on the set of “Some Like It Hot.” These strategic plans are overshadowed by Monroe’s miscarriage, which is referred to. (There is even talk of suing Time magazine.)

Among the affectionate missives is this telegram from the great Broadway and movie choreographer Jack Cole: “The universe sparkles with miracles, but none among them shines like you. Remember that when you go to sleep.” The book, a luscious glossy thing, is studded with photos, many of them Monroe’s personal items — including artwork she purchased just before her death.

There’s a great deal of minutiae that only the most devoted MM fans will appreciate –check stubs and such. But the overall vibe of the book is wrenching, because it clarifies Monroe’s humanity, her working life, her normal day-to-day existence. She didn’t lurch around every single moment in a drug-induced coma. She had a vital — if troubled —existence. She wrote to her stepchildren by Arthur Miller (in the voice of the family dog, Hugo) and she wrote to Isadore Miller, even after she had divorced his son, Arthur.

This note to Miller, dated February 12, 1962, contains a significant paragraph: “Last night I attended a dinner in honor of the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy. He seems rather mature and brilliant for his 36 years, but what I liked best about him, besides his Civil Rights program, is he’s got such a wonderful sense of humor.”

***MMC Interesting Reference Note: I own the letter that Miller wrote to Marilyn in response to this February 12, 1962 correspondence. The letter Miller wrote to Marilyn is dated February 22, 1962. View both of these letters on my website here.

However it ended up, that controversial relationship began as most of Marilyn’s relationships with men began — appreciation of the mind, and a fine regard for laughter. Six months after writing this, Monroe was dead. But, not really.

Others were more beautiful, more talented, had far more illustrious careers. But even in her lifetime, there was sense that she was a little different than the usual “sex symbol.” Certainly, her struggles to raise herself up in the world were there for all to see. Death enshrined her, and books continue to analyze and reveal the woman who, according to her last press rep, Pat Newcomb “never told everything to anyone.” Monroe herself said, weeks before her death, “Fame will go by, and so what? I’ve had you, fame. It’s something I’ve experienced, but that’s not where I live.”

She couldn’t know that Fame is exactly where she’d live, forever.
_________________________

You got that right, Liz!