Charlize Theron, my pick for the Marilyn Monroe Movie.

No disrespect to Michelle Williams, but in my opinion.. I would have loved to have seen Charlize Theron, get the part in the new movie.. My Week With Marilyn Monroe. I think that she looks more like, Marilyn Monroe.

Charlize Theron(born 7 August 1975). At the age of sixteen, Theron travelled to Milan after winning a local competition. She went to New York with Pauline's Model Management. After her one year contract ended, she attended the Joffrey Ballet School, where she trained as a ballet dancer. A knee injury ended her career at 19.

After which, Theron flew to Los Angeles on a one-way ticket. Soon after, she went to a bank to cash a cheque her mother had sent her, the teller refused to cash it. After getting into a shouting match with her, a talent agent in line behind her handed her his business card and introduced her to some casting agents and got her into acting school.

After several months, she was cast in a non-speaking role in the film, Children of the Corn III (1995). Her first speaking role was in the film, 2 Days in the Valley. Larger roles films followed, The Devil's Advocate (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999). She was on the cover of the January 1999 issue of Vanity Fair as the "White Hot Venus".

Theron, later starred as the serial killer in the film, Monster (2003). Film critic Roger Ebert called it "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema". For this role, Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 76th Academy Awards in February 2004,as well as the SAG Award and the Golden Globe Award.She is the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.

On 30 September 2005, Theron received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the same year, she starred in the science fiction thriller, Æon Flux. Theron received Best Actress Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in the drama, North Country.

In 2005 Theron portrayed Rita, in the television series, Arrested Development. She also received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her role in the 2004 HBO film, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

In 2008, she also starred in the film, Hancock and in late 2008 she was asked to be a UN Messenger of Peace by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

In October 2009, Theron was cast to star in a sequel to the Mad Max films, titled Mad Max: Road Fury, which filmed at Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia in late 2010. Theron has been cast in the role of the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Huntsman.

Video: Charlize Theron for J'Adore Dior fragrance, having historical famous Hollywood actress like, Marilyn Monroe!

Liz Smith on "My Week With Marilyn"

Liz Smith reviews "My Week With Marilyn," along with providing some comments on the star-studded screening of the film.

Source: www.wowowow.com.

“WHEN I was growing up I wanted to be either Mickey Mantle or Bert Stern. But later, when I thought about it, I preferred Stern. Mickey Mantle hit a lot of balls and got drunk a lot. But Bert Stern got to meet all of the world’s most beautiful women!”

That was Harvey Weinstein’s introduction of photographer Bert Stern, at a special screening of The Weinstein Company’s feature, “My Week With Marilyn.”

The screening was held downtown at the Milk Gallery, which is currently exhibiting a collection of photos of Monroe, “Picturing Marilyn.” These run the gamut from fresh-scrubbed Norma Jeane in 1945 to the weary but still lovely goddess of 1962. One of Mr. Stern’s most beautiful shots of Marilyn, in a backless, black Dior gown dominates the entrance to the exhibit. The flamboyant sex-symbol is elegance personified.

Dior was one of the sponsors of the event. Indeed fashion model Dree Hemingway — daughter of Mariel Hemingway and the great-granddaughter of Ernest, was on hand, swanning around in what was said to be the very same Dior gown Monroe had worn in the Stern photos. Or at least it was an excellent copy. Dree looked lovely, though it was bittersweet imagining how gorgeous Monroe herself must have looked in this dress.


* * *

THE SCREENING also attracted, as co-hosts, Celeste Holm (she was one of the big stars of “All About Eve” in which Marilyn had a small but showy role) and actress Joan Copeland, Arthur Miller’s sister. Also peering closely at the pictures of Marilyn were Ben Shenkman … Dan Abrams … Bruce Weber … Matt Stone … Calvin Klein and his Nick Gruber … Simon Curtis, director of “My Week With Marilyn” and one of the film’s stars, Dominic Cooper who plays Milton Greene) … Beverly Johnson and — giving Marilyn a run as the most gorgeous blonde in the room, Christie Brinkley — in head-to-toe shades of caramel.

Miss Brinkley is jaw-droppingly beautiful — so statuesque, so shapely, so radiant it’s almost scary. But she doesn’t have that scary look. If she has employed methods other than good clean living to stop the clock, it’s been done with an expert touch. She is still beaming from her adventures in London with the production of “Chicago.” She had been a big hit on Broadway in the long-running revival. And she is super-excited about a line of beauty products she is launching online. Christie is certainly her own best advertisement! At one point, Christie and Beverly Johnson embraced and posed for photos together. The sight of these two great beauties, supermodels of decades past, but still looking in their prime, stopped the room cold. Or hot.

* * *

AH, YES — the movie. Much has been said — mostly by the film’s star, Michelle Williams — about the difficulty of portraying the many sides of Marilyn, her variety of voices and personas. Miss Williams is a wonderful actress and no doubt she means every word she utters, but the Marilyn of her creation is a dreary, depressed, dim creature. In fact, it is the Marilyn of Arthur Miller’s “The Misfits.” (Marilyn hated her role in that film, complaining endlessly of the girl’s passivity.)

This movie is based on the highly suspect memoirs of Colin Clark, a lowly go-fer on the set of “The Prince and the Showgirl,” which was filmed in London, in 1956. Colin and Monroe became “close” he averred. The characterization offers nothing of Monroe’s wit, humor, intelligence or — and this is vital — her anger. Her reactions to events were not always a depressed collapse. She was capable of intense, extraordinary rages. She had a sharp tongue. She could fight back, and she did. But “My Week With Marilyn” presents nothing but her fears. Or a perceived stupidity. Williams has to utter lines like, “Gee, I wish I could read all these books” when entering a library, or, “I met the Queen. She said my dress was pretty.”

Worse, all the other characters in the film — Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh, Eddie Redmayne as Colin — are compelled to say how “extraordinary” Monroe is, despite her neurotic behavior. Then we see Miss Williams enacting various scenes from “The Prince and the Showgirl.” Problem? She is not Marilyn Monroe. And so, she does not seem extraordinary at all. I admire Miss Williams for her efforts and sincerity, but in the end, she has given one more imperfect impersonation of Marilyn.

* * *

HOWEVER, the worst served by “My Week With Marilyn” is the late photographer Milton Greene. This man admired and loved Marilyn, encouraged her ambitions, supported her financially during her year-long strike against 20th Century Fox. He co-produced “The Prince and the Showgirl.” Their partnership ended badly, but he never spoke ill of her, never exploited their relationship or her image. Dominic Cooper plays Milton like a foul-mouthed NYC gangster, just another user. One wonders what Amy Greene, Milton’s ex-wife, who lived through The Marilyn Years with Milton, would think of this portrayal. (I ran into Amy Greene by chance, just last year. Still razor-sharp, she spoke lovingly of both Marilyn and Milton, “That was their golden time,” she said.)

You know what? Just check out “The Prince and the Showgirl” the next time Turner Classic Movies runs it. It is a testament to the talents of Monroe and Milton Greene.

No more pretty blonde ladies playing dress up, pretending to be Marilyn. It just doesn’t work. Sorry, Michelle.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Marilyn Monroe!

Personal Quote:

On her favorite actress.. "Jean Harlow was my idol".

Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis - Win a Copy of the Book!

I'm excited to announce that HarperCollins Publishers have provided me with three copies of Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, the new book by David Wills, which I am using as prizes for "The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest."

This book is not yet available in the US, so here is your chance to win one of the very first copies! To learn more about Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphisis, and to see images from the book, visit www.ultimatemarilynbook.com.  You can also buy high quality images of Marilyn on this site.

Instructions for entering and participating in "The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest"

1. Access the Marilyn Monroe Collection fan page on Facebook by clicking here.
2. If you're not already a fan, click the "Like" button at the top of the page.
3. Upload your favorite photographs of Marilyn to the MMC fan page, and share with me and with the world (in just a few words for each photo) why the image is a favorite of yours.  More specifically:  Why is the photo meaningful to you?  What message is it sending you?  What story is it telling?  How does it impact you?

Note: If you're not a Facebook user, simply email your favorite photos of Marilyn with your commens to me at scott@marilynmonroecollection.com.

Contest entries must be received by midnight (PST) on Friday, November 11.

Three entrants will be selected as winners of this contest, with an announcement being made on Sunday, November 13.   Note that photo contest entries will be evaluated on the explanation as to why the image submitted is one of your favorites.   

I just received the books in the mail today, and only one word can be used to describe this portfolio: Stunning! This large coffee table book offers 285+ pages of photographs, comments from notable individuals connected to Marilyn, and quotes from the legend herself. While the book is being touted as providing never-before-seen images of Marilyn, the die-hard Monroe aficionado will likely have seen most of the photographs of Marilyn contained in the book. However, even I came across several photos of Marilyn in Metamorphosis that I have never seen. Regardless of whether you've seen one or all of the photos of Marilyn in this book, I'll guarantee that what you've not seen are such high quality images of Monroe in any other photo book.

The coloring and definition of these portraits are indeed the finest I've come across in any other publication. The resolution, clarity and richness of photographs in Metamorphosis are unsurpassed. In addition, the overall feel and look of this book is quite high, from the heavy paper used to the gold-toned printing of the text. This book is a rare "must have" for every Marilyn Monroe fan and collector.

About Author/Collector David Wills and Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis:
There have been many Marilyn Monroe photo books—but nothing like this.
Curator and photographic preservationist David Wills has amassed one of the world’s largest independent archives of original Marilyn Monroe photographs. Now, in Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, he has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from Marilyn’s key photographers—Richard Avedon, George Barris, Cecil Beaton, Bernard of Hollywood, Andre de Dienes, Elliott Erwitt, Milton Greene, Philippe Halsman, Tom Kelley, Douglas Kirkland, Willy Rizzo, Sam Shaw, and many others—to create this dazzling portfolio of images from every period of Marilyn Monroe’s adult life, from her wedding day in 1942 till just weeks before her death two decades later. Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis pays homage to her continually evolving style and extraordinary beauty.

The King of Pop Michael Jackson is World's Top Dead Earner

For a second straight year Michael Jackson is the world's top dead earner, according to a macabre list compiled by Forbes magazines of stars whose earning power remains undiminished beyond grave.

The King of Pop, who died two years ago at the age of 50, brought in $170 million for his estate over the past 12 months, enough to place him ahead of every other pop music act of the past year - both living and dead - except for Irish rock band U2.

Elvis came in second place, earning $55 million, thanks to his evergreen songbook and a hit Las Vegas stage production featuring his tunes mounted by Cirque de Soleil.

In third place was movie siren Marilyn Monroe, who had $27 million in earnings over the past year.

"Peanuts" cartoon creator Charles Schulz was fourth while Beatles legend John Lennon tied for fifth place with screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor, both earning $12 million.

Pawesome Pet Picture: Marilyn Monroe.

Personal Quote:

Dogs never bite me. Just humans.

"Battle Of The Blondes": Marilyn Monroe VS Jayne Mansfield.

This month TCM, is Spotlighting a feature they call, "Battle of the Blondes". First in the ring is: Marilyn Monroe VS Jayne Mansfield:

Marilyn Monroe(June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962). Her performances in the films, The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950), launched her acting career. By 1953, Monroe had moved on to leading roles in the films, Niagara (1953)and Some Like It Hot (1959).



Niagara(1953)

 Please click here to read movie review for the film, Niagara(1953).

Some Like It Hot (1958)

Please click here to read movie review for the film, Some Like it Hot (1959)

Jayne Mansfield (April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967), was one of the leading blonde sex symbols of the 1950s, Mansfield starred in many films that showcased her platinum-blonde hair, hourglass figure and she could also play the violin.

While Mansfield's film career was short-lived, she had several box office successes and won the Theatre World Award, a Golden Globe and a Golden Laurel.

Mansfield, maybe best known for her comedy films: The Girl Can't Help It (1956) and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957). As the demand for blonde bombshells began to fade in 1960s, Mansfield remained a popular celebrity.

The Girl Can't Help It (1956).

The Girl Can't Help It(1956). Comedy/musical, starring Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, and Edmond O'Brien. It was produced and directed by Frank Tashlin.

The music score, a song performed by Little Richard, was by Bobby Troup, with an additional credit to Ray Anthony for the tune "Big Band Boogie".

Down on his luck gangster Marty Murdock, wants his girlfriend, Jerri Jordan, to become a famous singing star. He hires press agent, Tom Miller to take Jordan, around to the most popular night clubs. It does not take long before Jordan, is offered many contracts. Unfortunately, all Jordan, really wants to be a wife and mother. Because, her singing is so bad Murdock, suggests that Jordan would be perfect for the part of a train whistle in his new song. Miller, records Jordan performing the song and he travels to Chicago to promote it to Wheeler, a mob rival of Murdock.

Suspicious, of Miller's reasons of promoting Jordan, Murdock has Mousie, listen to their phone call. Mousie, decides to tell Murdoch, that their relationship is strictly business, but.. is it?

Fun Fact:

When the film reached Liverpool, England in the early summer of 1957. It featured cameo performances of early rock 'n' roll stars: Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, and Gene Vincent and His Bluecaps. Which impressed a 16-year-old John Lennon and he was then inspired to follow his own rock and roll dreams. On July 6, 1957, 15-year-old Paul McCartney, was introduced to Lennon, after he had performed at a village church garden party with his group, The Quarrymen. McCartney, performed the song, "Twenty Flight Rock", for Lennon, the way he had seen it played by Eddie Cochran in the film, The Girl Can't Help It. McCartney, also talks about this movie in the documentary series, The Beatles Anthology.



What fun it is to watch... Little Richard, Gene Vincent, The Platters and Fats Domino perform their songs in 1956. Jayne Mansfied, is at her sexiest, wittiest best? Also, check out the cars.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

Please click here to read movie review for the film, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?(1957).

Jayne Mansfield, was often referred to as the “poor man’s Marilyn Monroe” although she did not have the same level of onscreen presence as Monroe did.  Rivals, from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, both were underestimated and both died very young.

Monroe and Mansfield.

Blonde Bombshells.

Over the years, Hollywood has tried to find another Marilyn Monroe. She is one of the greatest sex symbols of all time, and she still sets the standard for glamour, sexuality and beauty. Even today, nearly half a century after Monroe’s 1962 death, we still can’t stop trying to fill her shoes. Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino and now with a Marilyn inspired movie out Nov. 4, Michelle Williams, can be added to the list.

Video: Movie trailer:



Many beautiful blonde actress of her era found themselves being compared to Marilyn Monroe. The Actresses, listed below are the more well known Marilyn Monroe "clones":

Barbara Lang.

She first came to the attention of Hollywood producers with her performances in, Death Valley Days (1955–1956). She landed a long-term contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Lang played the feminine lead in, House of Numbers (1957). The movie was the first to be filmed inside, San Quentin Prison.

Lang, starred with Elvis Presley in, Jailhouse Rock. Later she performed in the film, Party Girl (1958), where she played, "Ginger D'Amour", a Chicago showgirl.

Barbara Nichols

She began modeling for pinup magazines in the late 1940's. In the mid-1950s, she moved to Hollywood and began performing in second leads in films such as: Miracle in the Rain (1956), The King and Four Queens (1956), The Naked and the Dead (1958), The Pajama Game (1957), Pal Joey (1957), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), That Kind of Woman (1958), Where the Boys Are (1960). Her last film was Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood(1976).

Joi Lansing

Lansing's, film career began in 1948 and in 1952, she played an uncredited role in, Singin' in the Rain. She received top billing in, Hot Cars (1956). In the opening scene in the film, Touch of Evil (1958), she plays the dancer who is killed. Lansing, had a small role as an astronaut's girlfriend in the sci-fi, Queen of Outer Space(1958). During the 1950s, she starred in short musical films for the Scopitone video-jukebox system. Her songs included: "The Web of Love" and "The Silencers".

Lansing played "Lola" in, Marriage on the Rocks (1965), with a cast that included Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, and Dean Martin. She had also performed in, Sinatra's film, A Hole in the Head and in Martin's film, Who Was That Lady? Her last film performance was in, Bigfoot (1970).

Diana Dors

According to many film buffs, her best work as an actress was when she played a murderess in the film, Yield to the Night(1956). She was willing to play repulsive characters in films such as, The Amazing Mr. Blunden, The Unholy Wife, and Timon of Athens.

Mamie Van Doren

Joan, was discovered by producer Howard Hughes, on the night she was crowned Miss Palm Springs. They dated for several years. Hughes launched her career by placing her in several RKO films.

Hughes, gave Van Doren a bit part in, Jet Pilot, which was her motion picture debut. Her line consisted of one word, "Look!" and she appears uncredited in the film.

Van Doren, performed a few more bit parts including, His Kind of Woman (1951) starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell and Vincent Price.

On January 20, 1953, Van Doren signed a contract with Universal Studios. Van Doren's first movie role for Universal was in the film, Forbidden (1953), playing a bit part as a singer. She then made, The All American (1953), playing her first starring role as Susie Ward, a wayward girl who is the man-trap at a campus beer joint. In Yankee Pasha (1954), she played a slave girl, Lilith. In 1955, Van Doren was cast in, Ain't Misbehavin', a musical comedy and starred in the crime-drama film, Running Wild.

In 1956, she played opposite a young "unknown" at the time Clint Eastwood in, Star in the Dust. Van Doren, performs in a small role as a daughter of a ranch owner. Star in the Dust was Van Doren's last film with Universal, for she was tired of being cast in small non-"breakthrough" roles and she stopped accepting film offers from Universal, and started working more successfully with other studios.

Van Doren, went on to star in several bad girl movies that later became cult films: Untamed Youth in 1957, she was the first woman to sing rock and roll in a Hollywood musical (Eddie Cochran did the music for the film). This film was later featured in, Mystery Science Theater 3000's "Untamed Youth" (1990).

Van Doren's more noteworthy movies include: Teacher's Pet (1958), Born Reckless (1958), High School Confidential (1958), The Beat Generation (1959), prison for Girls Town (1959), The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960), The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina (1959), Sex Kittens Go to College (1960) and Vice Raid (1960).

Sheree North

North, made her film debut as one of the many club members in, Excuse My Dust(1951). She was spotted by a choreographer performing at the Macayo Club in Santa Monica, and was cast as a chorus girl in the film, Here Come the Girls(1953). She made her Broadway debut in the musical Hazel Flagg, for which she won a Theatre World Award. She reprised her role in the film version, Living It Up (1954).

North, landed the lead role opposite Betty Grable in, How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955), a role that was rejected by Monroe. Film historians, say North's dancing to, "Shake, Rattle and Roll", is the film's most memorable scene.

Soon after, Fox gave North the lead role in, The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1956). When released in January 1956, The Lieutenant Wore Skirts was a huge box-office success. The film was the 13th-highest grossing film of the year.

Later that same year, believing North was now a box-office draw, Fox cast her in a supporting role opposite Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey, and Ernest Borgnine in the film, The Best Things in Life Are Free, The film was a success, but the studio began to lose interest in North and started to promote, Jayne Mansfield.

In 1980, North would portray Marilyn Monroe's mother, Gladys Baker, in Marilyn: The Untold Story a television movie.

In 1957, North won a dramatic role in, The Way to the Gold. North proved she could act in The Way to the Gold. In the fall of 1957, Fox cast North in the all-star drama, No Down Payment.

The next year North won a role in the war-time drama, In Love and War (1958). This film was a success, which convinced Fox to cast North, in the musical comedy, Mardi Gras (1958). This film was a modest box-office success, but the studio decided not to renew North's contract.

North's next film role wouldn't come until she landed a role in, Destination Inner Space (1966). This low-budgeted science-fiction film was a box-office failure. Over the next few years North performed in the movies: The Trouble with Girls (1969) with, Elvis Presley, Charley Varrick (1973), and as John Wayne's long-lost love in the actor's final film, The Shootist (1976). She had supporting roles in two Charles Bronson movies, Breakout(1975) and Telefon(1977).

In the 1990s, she appeared as Kramer's mother, Babs Kramer, in two episodes of the TV series Seinfeld. North's last onscreen role came in the film, Susan's Plan(1998).



Blonde actresses, were considered attractive and desirable and relied on her looks rather than on intelligence.

Rosalie Duthe

This way of thinking may have started with the, French courtesan named Rosalie Duthe, who performed in a 1775 play Les curiosites de la Foire, she had the habit of pausing a long time before speaking, appearing not only stupid but mute.

Marilyn Monroe

The film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, is the perfect example of the appeal of blondes. The film starred Marilyn Monroe as the blonde and Jane Russell as her wise brunette friend. Marilyn Monroe, does show a certain amount of wit and expresses her attitude in her song, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend".



And when her fiance's father asked her why she pretends to be dumb, she answers, "men prefer it this way".

Goldie Hawn

Another perfect example is Goldie Hawn, who is best known(early years) as the giggling "dumb blonde", stumbling over her lines, especially when she introduced Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In "News of the Future".





Hitchcock and Tippi Hendren in The Birds.

 Even the director Hitchcock, had preference for blonde actress whose sex appeal was "indirect", he felt sex should not be advertised. In Vertigo James Stewart forces a woman to dye her hair blonde. One of Hitchcock's earliest films, The Lodger (1927), features a serial killer who stalks blonde women. Blonde actress Anny Ondra starred in Hitchcock's first sound film, Blackmail (1929).

Mary Pickford

Hitchcock said he used blonde actresses in his films, because of a tradition that began with silent star Mary Pickford. The director said that blondes were "a symbol of the heroine". He also thought they photographed better in black and white.

In Family Plot, Karen Black plays a kidnapper who wears a blonde wig and sunglasses as a disguise. Other well known blondes include: Tippi Hendren in The Birds, Dany Robin in Topaz, Barbara Leigh-Hunt in Frenzy, Janet Leigh in Psycho, and Grace Kelly in Rear Window.

There were many more beautiful blonde actresses (listed below) who may have changed the "blonde stereotype" and created a more sophisticated blonde for movie goers...

Judy Holliday.

Holliday began her career as part of a night-club act, before working in Broadway plays and musicals. Her success in the 1946 stage production of Born Yesterday as "Billie Dawn" led to her being cast in the 1950 film version, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. She was best known for her performance on Broadway in the musical Bells Are Ringing, winning a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and reprising her role in the 1960 film.

In 1954, she starred with then-newcomer Jack Lemmon in his first two films: It Should Happen to You and Phffft! She was able to change her mood quickly from comic to serious is one, that would touch your heart."

Jean Harlow.

Harlow starred in many films, designed to showcase her magnetic sex appeal and strong screen presence, before making the transition to more developed roles and achieving massive fame under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Harlow's, enormous popularity and "laughing vamp" image were in distinct contrast to her personal life, which was full of disappointment and tragedy.

Mae West

Known for her bawdy double entendres and was one of the more controversial movie stars of her day. West, encountered many problems with censorship.

Carole Lombard.

She is best known for her comedic roles in the screwball comedies of the 1930s. She was the highest-paid star in Hollywood in the late 1930s, earning per year more than five times the salary of the US President.

Graham Greene, praised her for her faster-than-thought delivery. A Platinum blonde, with a heart-shaped face, delicate, impish features that performed expressively through her well known classics, Twentieth Century and My Man Godfrey."

Grace Kelly.

In October 1953, with the film, Mogambo, she became a movie star, a status confirmed in 1954 with a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award nomination as well as leading roles in five films: The Country Girl, in which she gave a deglamorized, Academy Award-winning performance. She retired from acting at 26 for her duties as Princess Grace of Monaco.

Betty Grable.

Her famous bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. Grable, was known for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood. Grable's legs were insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London.

Despite being known for her beauty, Grable was a woman of talent. She performed in many wonderful musical films of the 1940s: Down Argentine Way (1940), Moon Over Miami (1941), Springtime in the Rockies (1942), Coney Island (1943), Pin Up Girl (1944), and The Dolly Sisters (1945), Mother Wore Tights(1947). By the 1950s, Grable was still making films: Wabash Avenue (1950), Meet Me After the Show (1951), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955), her last film. She retired from the movie industry in 1955, and never returned.

Doris Day.

She was known for the "girl-next-door" image and was capable of performing in comedy, romance and heavy drama, she performed in 39 films, released 29 albums. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Pillow Talk, won a Golden Globe, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Legend Award from the Society of Singers, and, in 1989, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures.

Kim Novak.

She came well known for her performance in the film, Picnic(1955) and went on to perform in, The Man with the Golden Arm, Pal Joey, Bell, Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, The Notorious Landlady, Kiss Me, Stupid, and The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders. However, she may be best known for her performance in the film, Vertigo(1958). Novak retired from acting in 1991.




Marilyn Monroe



Flickchick is also celebrating "Blonde Bomshells", this month. Please click here to read her article.

Marilyn Monroe Contacts John Edwards during Gloria Vanderbilt Reading

John Edwards claims to have been contacted by Marilyn Monroe while doing a psychic reading for fashion icon Gloria Vanderbilt, who is Anderson Cooper's mother. Vanderbilt claims to have been friends with Marilyn, and expresses that, "The whole world in some way identifies with her." Cooper states that he was unaware of his mother being friends with Marilyn Monroe.

View the first video clip here.

View the second video clip here.

“Marilyn and I” in Paris, October 29, 2011 - January 7, 2012

“Marilyn and I”

An exhibition of photographs by Yury Toroptsov
Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche in Paris
29 October 2011 – 7 January 2012

On October 29, 2011 through January 7, 2012 photographer Yury Toroptsov will be presenting an exhibition of his photographs "Marilyn and I" in Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche department store in Paris. A bilingual exhibition catalogue (Verlhac Editions) with a foreword by Catherine Deneuve will be launched as well.

"In 1999 I had a chance to attend as a spectator “The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe” auction at Christie's in New York. I was intrigued by a masterfully orchestrated ritual in a room filled with people determined to shell out thousands of dollars for the right to own a piece of Hollywood’s most iconic woman. It is at Christie's that I first started wondering about the elements of the exceptional longevity and modernity of Monroe’s myth.

A rare opportunity presented itself in 2005, six years after the Christie's auction. A collector friend bought a summer dress from a private wardrobe of Marilyn Monroe. The access I was granted to the relic allowed me to begin my own exploration of Monroe’s legend. With the borrowed dress of Marilyn folded in my photographer's bag I went out to record the stories and meet the people who 50 years after Monroe's death still feel an emotional connection to the star."

Pulitzer-Prize winning film critic Roger Ebert said "I enjoyed the imagination and wit of your project, and I tweeted about it."

Saatchi Online Magazine's Ana Finel Honigman wrote: "Contemporary urban culture may be largely secular, but we still have our saints and martyrs. Celebrities, revered as quasi-religious icons, inflame our imaginations with an awe that overrides their fundamental humanity. Yury Toroptsov demonstrates in his work, the relics of fame carry as much magic as holy articles might to the faithful."

For more information about the book and the exhibition, visit the web site of the artist www.toroptsov.com.

Some Like It Hot(1959).

Some Like It Hot(1959). Directed by Billy Wilder. Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and George Raft.

Two struggling musicians, Joe and Jerry, witness a gang murder. When the Chicago gangster, "Spats", sees them, the two friends run for their lives and decide it is time to leave town. Finding a job, in a all woman band, they have to disguise themselves as women.

Calling themselves Josephine and Geraldine, they board a train headed for Florida. Joe and Jerry both become charmed by "Sugar Kane", the band's vocalist and ukulele player. Joe woos Sugar while wearing second disguise as a millionaire heir to Shell Oil, mimicking Cary Grant's voice perfectly.

Millionaire, Osgood Fielding III, woes Jerry in his Daphne disguise. One night, Osgood asks Daphne out to his yacht. Joe talks Daphne, into going on a date with Osgood while he goes on the yacht with Sugar. That night Osgooing proposes to Daphne who, is flattered, accepts, hoping he can receive a large settlement from Osgood after their wedding ceremony.

When the gangsters arrive at the same hotel, Spats and his gang see Joe and Jerry. After several humorous chases and witnessing Spats and his gang murdered, Jerry, Joe, Sugar, and Osgood escape to the millionaire's yacht.

Joe, thinks it is time to reveal his true identity to Sugar, telling her that she would be getting the "fuzzy end of the lollipop". Jerry, tries to break it off with Osgood, telling him that, he can "never have children." Osgood, still is determined to go through with the marriage. Finally, Jerry removes his wig and shouts, "I'm a man!", where Osgood says... "Well, no body's perfect."

Video: Train scene.

Fun Facts:

Billy Wilder referring to Marilyn Monroe while making the movie: "We were in mid-flight, and there was a nut on the plane." Indeed, Wilder publicly blasted Monroe for her behavior, and she was not invited to the wrap party.

The resort scenes were filmed entirely at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. One reason why Billy Wilder chose this location was Marilyn Monroe's ongoing personal problems. He wanted a location where she could live on site and not have to be transported.

Tony Curtis has said that he asked Billy Wilder if he could imitate Cary Grant for his stint as the millionaire in the movie. Wilder liked it and they shot it that way. Apparently, Grant saw the parody of himself and stated, "I don't talk like that."

Marilyn Monroe was pregnant during the filming, as a result she looked considerably heavier. She had no known children and several miscarriages in her life. Due to her pregnancy, most of the publicity still photos were posed for by both Sandra Warner (who had an uncredited role as one of the band members) and Monroe's frequent stand-in Evelyn Moriarty with Monroe's head superimposed later.

The railroad passenger car that was used in this movie (Clover Colony) is now at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it can be used in excursion/local service.

When Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon first put on the female make-up and costumes, they walked around the Goldwyn Studios lot to see if they could "pass" as women. Then they tried using mirrors in public ladies rooms to fix their makeup, and when none of the women using it complained, they knew they could be convincing as women. There is a scene on the train recreating this moment.

Jerry Lewis was offered the role of Jerry/Daphne but declined because he didn't want to dress in drag. When Jack Lemmon received an Oscar nomination for the role that Lewis gave up, Lewis claims he sent him chocolates every year to thank him and now regrets not taking the part.

Monroe's Sugar, is very lovable, especially when she sings: Running Wild, I'm Through With Love and "boop-boop-a-doop" her signature song, "I Wanna Be Loved by You."

Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, were tastefully, hilarious playing a couple of drag queens.

Joan Shawlee (c.1929 - March 22, 1987). Her best known roles were small roles in Jack Lemmon and Billy Wilder films. Her most famous role was as, Sweet Sue in the 1959 comedy classic, Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. She also performed as Sylvia in the 1960 classic, The Apartment, which also starred Lemmon. She performed as Amazon Annie in the 1963 sex comedy, Irma La Douce, which starred Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. She had a recurring role on TV in The Dick Van Dyke Show as Buddy's wife Pickles.