English Language Certificate

Marilyn Monroe

1|Page

Ta.le of contents
1. 1eneral information ' ,. 2iograph& . Childhood 4 4 Her first marriage 5 Career as a model 6 .. First appearance in a film . 6 .. The marriage with Joe i!aggio " .. # change of attit$de 1% .. The marriage with #rth$r !iller 11 Final &ears of her life 14 Her death 15 '. #wards 16 4. Her fa(o$rites . 1) . 5. *eactions to her death 1" . 6. +cenes from some of her most s$ccessf$l mo(ies . ,, . ). !aril&n-s famo$s s$.wa& scene (iewed from se(eral angles ,) ". !aril&n posing on the co(ers of some famo$s maga/ines ," 0. Concl$sion ,0

,|Page

Prologue
The 5%s decade was 3nown for man& things4 post5war affl$ence and increased choice of leis$re time acti(ities6 conformit&6 the 7orean 8ar6 middle5class (al$es6 the rise of modern 9a//6 the rise of :fast food: resta$rants and dri(e5ins ;Jac3 in the 2o< 5 fo$nded in 1051= !c onalds 5 first franchised in 1055 in es Plaines6 >?= and #@8 *oot 2eer Compan& 5 formed in 105%6 altho$gh it had alread& esta.lished o(er 45% dri(e5ins thro$gho$t the co$ntr&A6 a .a.& .oom6 the all5electric home as the ideal6 white racist terrorism in the +o$th6 the ad(ent of tele(ision and TB dinners6 a.stract art6 the first credit card ; iners Cl$.6 in 1051A6 the rise of dri(e5in theaters to a pea3 n$m.er in the late 5%s with o(er 46%%% o$tdoor screens ;where &o$ng teenaged co$ples co$ld find pri(ac& in their hot5rodsA6 and a &o$th reaction to middle5aged cinema. Clder (iewers were prone to sta& at home and watch tele(ision ;a.o$t 1%.5 million D+ homes had a TB set in 105%A. >n the period following 88>> when most of the films were ideali/ed with con(entional portra&als of men and women6 &o$ng people wanted new and e<citing s&m.ols of re.ellion. Holl&wood responded to a$dience demands 5 the late 104%s and 105%s saw the rise of the anti5hero 5 with stars li3e newcomers James ean6 Pa$l Eewman ;who de.$ted in the cost$me epic The +il(er Chalice ;1054AA and !arlon 2rando6 replacing more proper actors li3e T&rone Power6 Ban Johnson6 and *o.ert Ta&lor. F>n later decades6 this new generation of method actors wo$ld .e followed .& *o.ert eEiro6 Jac3 Eicholson6 and #l Pacino.G +e<& anti5heroines incl$ded #(a 1ardner6 7im Eo(a36 and !aril&n !onroe 5 an e<citing6 (i.rant6 se<& star. +tarlet !aril&n !onroe ;.orn in 10,6 and earlier 3nown as Eorma Jean 2a3er 5 2a3er was the last name of her mother:s first h$s.andA6 who had posed for pin5$p artistHpainter and photographer Iarl !oran .eginning in the late 4%s6 had appeared in a .it5role ;with a se<& wal3 and the line4 J+ome men are following meJA in D#:s ?o(e Happ& ;1040A 5 with the !ar< 2rothers in their last film as a team6 and in lots of 25mo(ies in .it roles6 $s$all& as a d$m. .londe. Dltimatel&6 she wo$ld .ecome the cent$r&:s most end$ring pop icon and se< s&m.ol. >n 10006 !aril&n was named the E$m.er Cne +e< +tar of the ,%th Cent$r& .& Pla&.o& !aga/ine and the +e<iest 8oman of the Cent$r& .& People !aga/ine.
'|Page

Marilyn Monroe

ate of 2irth
1 J$ne 10,66 ?os #ngeles6 California6 D+#

ate of eath
5 #$g$st 106,6 ?os #ngeles6 California6 D+# ;dr$g o(erdoseA

2irth Eame
Eorma Jeane 2a3er

Eic3name
The 2londe 2om.shell

Height
5: 5KJ ;1.66 m
4|Page

2iograph&
!aril&n !onroe was .orn Eorma Jeane !ortenson ;Jeane after Jean HarlowA on J$ne 16 10,66 in ?os #ngeles 1eneral Hospital. Prior to her .irth6 !aril&n:s father .o$ght a motorc&cle and headed north to +an Francisco6 a.andoning the famil& in ?os #ngeles. !aril&n grew $p not 3nowing for s$re who her father reall& was. Her mother6 1lad&s6 had entered into se(eral relationships6 f$rther conf$sing her da$ghter as to who it was who fathered her. #fterward6 1lad&s ga(e Eorma Jean ;!aril&nA the name of 2a3er6 a .o&friend she had .efore !ortenson. Po(ert& was a constant companion to 1lad&s and Eorma. 1lad&s6 who was e<tremel& attracti(e and wor3ed for *7C +t$dios as a film c$tter6 s$ffered from mental illness and was in and o$t of mental instit$tions for the rest of her life. 1race !c7ee6 a close friend of her mother too3 o(er the care of Eorma Jeane. J1race lo(ed and adored herJ6 recalled one of her co5wor3ers. 1race6 telling her...J on:t worr&6 Eorma Jeane. Lo$:re going to .e a .ea$tif$l girl when &o$ get .ig...an important woman6 a mo(ie star.J 1race was capti(ated .& Jean Harlow6 a s$perstar of the twenties6 and !aril&n wo$ld later sa&...Jand so Jean Harlow was m& idol.J +he ne(er grad$ated .$t attended Imerson J$nior High +chool in ?os #ngeles and then Ban E$&s High +chool in near.& Ban E$&s. 1race was to marr& in 10'5 and d$e to financial diffic$lties6 Eorma Jeane was placed in an orphanage from +eptem.er 10'5 to J$ne 10').1race freM$entl& (isited her6 ta3ing her to the mo(ies6 .$&ing clothes and teaching her how to appl& ma3e$p at her &o$ng age >n +eptem.er 1041 Eorma Jeane was again li(ing with 1race when she met Jim o$ghert&6 5 &ears her senior6 and 1race enco$raged their relationship. Dnfort$natel&6 when 1race:s h$s.and was transferred to the Iast Coast in 104,6 the co$ple co$ldn:t afford to ta3e 165&ear5old Eorma Jeane with them. Eorma Jeane had two options4 ret$rn to the orphanage or get married.

J1race !c7ee arranged the marriage for me6 > ne(er had a choice. There:s not m$ch to sa& a.o$t it. The& co$ldn:t s$pport me6 and the& had to wor3 o$t something. #nd so > got married.J
Cn J$ne 106 104, she got married with Jimm& o$ghert&6 whom she had .een dating for si< months. J+he was a sweet6 genero$s and religio$s girl6J Jimm& said. J+he li3ed to .e c$ddled.J 2& all acco$nts Eorma Jeane lo(ed Jimm&6 and the& were happ& together $ntil he 9oined the !erchant !arines and was sent to the +o$th Pacific in 1044. #fter Jimm& left6 Eorma Jeane too3 a 9o. on the assem.l& line at the *adio Plane !$nitions factor& in 2$r.an36 California6 to help the war effort .& st$ffing parach$tes. +e(eral months later6 photographer a(id Cono(er saw her while ta3ing pict$res of women contri.$ting to the war effort for Lan3 maga/ine. He co$ldn:t .elie(e his l$c3. Cono(er $sed her for the shoot and then .egan sending modeling 9o.s her wa&. The camera lo(ed Eorma Jeane6 and .& spring of 10456 she was M$ic3l& .ecoming 3nown as a Jphotographers dreamJ and had appeared on '' co(ers of national maga/ines. +he .egan st$d&ing the wor3 of legendar& actresses Jean Harlow and ?ana T$rner6 and enrolled in drama classes with dreams of stardom. 2& the time o$ghert& ret$rned in 10466 Eorma Jeane had a s$ccessf$l career as a model6 posing in .athing s$its and6 after .leaching her hair .londe6 .egan posing for pin$ps and glamo$r photos6 she dreamt of .ecoming an actress .+he di(orced Jimm& in J$ne of 1046.

J!& marriage didn:t ma3e me sad6 .$t it didn:t ma3e me happ& either. !& h$s.and and > hardl& spo3e to each other. This wasn:t .eca$se we were angr&. 8e had nothing to sa&. > was d&ing of .oredom.J
Bario$s shots made their wa& into the p$.lic e&e6 where some were e(ent$all& seen .& *7C Pict$res head Howard H$ghes. He offered !aril&n a screen test6 .$t an agent s$ggested that ,%th Cent$r&5 Fo< wo$ld .e the .etter choice for her6 since it was a m$ch .igger and more prestigio$s st$dio. +he was signed to a contract at N1,5 per wee3 for a si<5 month period and that was increased .& N,5 per wee3 at the end of that time when her contract was lengthened. +oon after6 Eorma Jeane d&ed her hair .londe and changed her name. +he selected her mother:s famil& name of !onroe. From this point on she wo$ld .e 3nown as !aril&n !onroe to all her fans. The rest6 as the sa&ing goes6 is histor&. !aril&n:s first mo(ie role was a .it part in 104):s The +hoc3ing !iss Pilgrim. Her ne<t prod$ction was not m$ch .etter6 a .it in the eminentl& forgetta.le +c$dda HooO +c$dda Ha&O ;104"A. Two of the three .rief scenes she appeared wo$nd $p on the c$tting room floor. ?ater that same &ear she was gi(en a somewhat .etter role as I(ie in angero$s Lears ;104)A. Howe(er6 Fo< declined to renew her contract6 so she went .ac3 to modeling and acting school. Col$m.ia Pict$res then pic3ed her $p to pla& Pegg& !artin in ?adies of the Chor$s ;104"A6 where she sang two n$m.ers6 one of them was J?adies of the Chor$sJ. Eotices from the critics were fa(ora.le for her6 if not the film6 .$t Col$m.ia dropped her. Cnce again !aril&n ret$rned to modeling. Johnn& H&de6 of the 8illiam !orris #genc&6 .ecame her mentor and lo(er in 10406 as she appeared in Dnited #rtists: ?o(e Happ& ;1040A. >t was also that same &ear she posed n$de for

the now famo$s calendar shot6 fact that was to stir contro(ers& later in her career as a s$perstar.

JHoll&wood is a place where the&:ll pa& &o$ a tho$sand dollars for a 3iss and fift& cents for &o$r so$lJ
The ne<t &ear pro(ed to .e a good &ear for !aril&n. +he appeared in fi(e films6 .$t the good news was that she recei(ed (er& good notices for her roles in two of them4 a small part in John H$ston-s crime drama The #sphalt J$ngle ;105%A from !1! and #ll #.o$t I(e ;105%A from Fo<6 where she pla&ed Cla$dia Caswell. I(en tho$gh .oth roles were .asicall& not m$ch more than .it parts6 mo(ie fans remem.ered her dit/& .$t (er& se<& .londe performance. >n 10516 !aril&n got a fairl& si/a.le role in ?o(e Eest ;1051A. The p$.lic was now getting to 3now her and li3ed what it saw. +he had an into<icating M$alit& of (olcanic se<$alit& wrapped in an a$ra of almost childli3e innocence. JClash 2& EightJ in 105, earned her se(eral fa(ora.le notices...#lton Coo3 of the Eew Lor3 8orld5 Telegram and +$n wrote...Ja forcef$l actress6 a gifted new star6 worth& of all that fantastic press agenc&. Her role here is not (er& .ig6 .$t she ma3es it dominant.J !onroe:s first leading part in a serio$s feat$re was to .e in J on:t 2other to 7noc3J6 also filmed in 105,6 where she pla&ed a somewhat mentall& $n.alanced .a.&sitter. Critics didn:t partic$larl& care for her wor3 in this pict$re6 .$t she made a m$ch more fa(ora.le impression later in the &ear in !on3e& 2$siness ;105,A6 where she was seen for the first time as a platin$m .londe6 a loo3 that .ecame her trademar3. The ne<t &ear she appeared in 1entlemen Prefer 2londes ;105'A as ?orelei ?ee. >t was her performance in 105':s Eiagara6 howe(er6 that deli(ered her to stardom. !aril&n pla&ed *ose ?oomis6 a .ea$tif$l &o$ng wife who plots to 3ill her older6 9ealo$s h$s.and ;Joseph CottenA. #fter her ne<t .ig film6 J1entlemen Prefer 2londesJ6 she and Jane *$ssell signed their names and placed their hands and feet

in the wet cement in front of the Chinese Theatre on Holl&wood 2o$le(ard...the same place she had (isited with 1lad&s and 1race6 &ears earlier as a child. How to !arr& a

!illionaire6 co5starring ?a$ren 2acall and 2ett& 1ra.le6 was also an instant s$ccess. Photopla& maga/ine (oted !aril&n the 2est Eew #ctress of 105'6 and at ,) &ears old she was $ndenia.l& the .est5lo(ed .londe .om.shell in Holl&wood.

!aril&n met Joe i!aggio in earl& 105,6 she was ,5 and he was '). i!aggio6 recentl& retired from .ase.all6 had e<pressed a desire to meet this famo$s star. 2& Fe.r$ar& the romance was in f$ll .loom.

J> was s$rprised to .e so cra/& a.o$t Joe. > e<pected a flash& Eew Lor3 sports t&pe6 and instead > met this reser(ed g$& who didn:t ma3e a pass at me right awa&O He treated me li3e something special. Joe is a (er& decent man and he ma3es other people feel decent6 tooOJ
Cn Jan$ar& 146 10546 !aril&n married .ase.all s$perstar Joe i!aggio at +an Francisco:s Cit& Hall. The wedding capt$red the headlines worldwide. The& had .een a co$ple for two &ears6 after Joe as3ed his agent to arrange a dinner date. J> don:t 3now if >:m in lo(e with him &et6J !aril&n said when the press got word of their relationship6 J.$t > 3now > li3e him more than an& man >:(e e(er met.J Joe was an e<tremel& 9ealo$s t&pe of g$& and resented her pop$larit& among other men. He desired a ho$sewife6 not a star of s$ch magnit$de...the marriage was in tro$.le from the .eginning. $ring the hone&moon6 the& (isited Japan6 and she was as3ed to (isit 7orea6 perform for the ser(ice men. i!aggio6 who sta&ed in Japan6 was not pleased with his wife:s decision d$ring what he wanted to .e an intimate trip. Her presence ca$sed a near5 riot among the troops6 and Joe was clearl& $ncomforta.le with tho$sands of men ogling his new .ride. +he performed ten shows o(er fo$r da&s in free/ing temperat$res entertaining o(er 6%6%%% soldiers6 man& who had ne(er seen a !onroe film... ha(ing .een in the ser(ice d$ring her rise to stardom... most had

seen still photos of her in

man& maga/ines and newspapers. +he was a h$ge s$ccess. +he e<plained her h$s.and-s a.sence .& the fact that he Phates crowds and glamo$r.Q

P...standing in the snowfall facing these &elling soldiers6 > felt for the first time in m& life no fear of an&thing6 > felt onl& happ&.Q
2ac3 home6 she wrote him a letter a.o$t her dreams for their f$t$re6 dated Fe.r$ar& ,"6 10544 J!& ad6 > don:t 3now how to tell &o$ 9$st how m$ch > miss &o$. > lo(e &o$ till m& heart co$ld .$rst... > want to 9$st .e where &o$ are and .e 9$st what &o$ want me to .e... > want someda& for &o$ to .e pro$d of me as a person and as &o$r wife and as the mother of the rest of &o$r children ;two at leastO >:(e decidedA...J Cn !a& ,06 !aril&n .egan filming JThere:s Eo 2$siness ?i3e +how 2$sinessJ. Thro$gho$t the s$mmer she was ill with .ronchitis and anemia. For the first time6 !aril&n .egan showing serio$s side5effects of the man& sleeping pills she had .een ta3ing for the last few &ears...often grogg&6 lethargic and cr&ing on the set. That was M$ic3l& followed .& The +e(en Lear >tch ;1055A6 which showcased her considera.le comedic talent and contained what is arg$a.l& one of the most memora.le moments in cinema histor&4 !aril&n standing a.o(e a s$.wa& grating and the wind from a passing s$.wa&6 .lowing her white dress $p. +e(eral h$ndred photographers6 along with ,%%% spectators gathered o$tside the Trans5?$< Theater in Eew Lor3 Cit& in the earl& morning ho$rs of +eptem.er 15th to see and record her as she posed for o(er two ho$rs for her adoring fans. >ronic this imagine was also the .rea3ing point of her marriage to Joe as !aril&n:s fame and se<$al image had .ecame a theme that ha$nted their marriage.

J> didn:t want to gi(e $p m& career6 and that:s what Joe wanted me to do most of all.J
>n the fall of 1054 !aril&n and Joe separated...later to di(orce. Cn Ccto.er 66 Jerr&

1iesler made a press anno$ncement and stated J...as her attorne&6 > am spea3ing for her and can onl& sa& that the conflict of careers has .ro$ght a.o$t this regretta.le necessit&.J 8ith the press ho$nding her6 !aril&n answered in a cho3ed (oice6 J>

can:t sa& an&thing toda&. >:m sorr&. >:m sorr&.J #fter the di(orce the& remained close friends. J8hen > married him ;JoeA6 > wasn:t s$re of wh& > married him= > ha(e too man& fantasies to .e a ho$sewife.J
>n 1055 she was s$spended .& Fo< for not reporting for wor3 on How to 2e Ber&6 Ber& Pop$lar ;1055A. >t was her second s$spension6 the first .eing for not reporting for the prod$ction of The 1irl >n Pin3 Tights. 2oth roles went to others. Her wor3 was slowing down6 d$e to her ha.it of .eing contin$all& late to the set6 her illnesses ;whether real or imaginedA and generall& .eing $nwilling to cooperate with her prod$cers6 directors6 and fellow actors. +he was read& to shed her Jshallow .londeJ image6 as she had grown tired of the roles the st$dio ga(e her to pla&. >t had gotten her into the spotlight6 .$t now that she had the opport$nit& and e<perience6 she wanted to .e a serio$s actress. +he wal3ed o$t on her contract with ,%th Cent$r& Fo< .eca$se she was Tired of .$..l&6 d$m. .londe role and too3 $p residence in Eew Lor3. Here she st$died at the #ctor:s +t$dio with ?ee +tras.erg. !r. +tras.erg and his famil& wo$ld pla& an important role in her life. +he was to renew her acM$aintance with #rth$r !iller6 in a ci(il ceremon& in 8hite Plains6 and ha(e an affair with him .efore their marriage o(er a &ear later. To !aril&n6 !iller represented the serio$s theater and an intellect that she fo$nd attracti(e. To !iller6 &ears later...J>t was wonderf$l to .e aro$nd her6 she was simpl& o(erwhelming. +he had so m$ch promise. >t seemed to me that she co$ld reall& .e a great 3ind of phenomenon6 a terrific artist. +he was endlessl& fascinating6 f$ll of original o.ser(ations...there wasn:t a con(entional .one in her .od&.J

#fter a &earlong stri3e6 the st$dio e(ent$all& ga(e in to her $nprecedented demands incl$ding stor& and director appro(al. Her new contract allowed her an incredi.le amo$nt of creati(e control that was considered re(ol$tionar& for an actress at that time. +o6 she ret$rned to Holl&wood in Fe.r$ar& 1056 and on the screen in the dramatic comed& 2$s +top ;1056A. +he pla&ed the role of a saloon singer 3idnapped .& a rancher who has fallen in lo(e with her. The film won her ra(e re(iews for her to$ching performance as Cherie the Chante$se6 finall& showing the critics that she co$ld pla& a straight dramatic role. #fter completing the film she ret$rned to Eew Lor3 in J$ne. !iller also ret$rned to Eew Lor3 after o.taining a di(orce in *eno6 Ee(ada. The& were married on J$ne ,06 1056 in 8hite Plains6 EL. Cit& Co$rt J$dge +e&mo$r *o.inowit/ presided o(er the h$shed ceremon& in the law office of +am +la(itt ;the wedding had .een 3ept secret from .oth the press and the p$.licA. >n reflecting on his co$rtship of !onroe6 !iller wrote6 J+he was a whirling light to me then6 all parado< and enticing m&ster&6 street5to$gh one moment6 then lifted .& a l&rical and poetic sensiti(it& that few retain past earl& adolescenceJ. The& also married on the 1st of J$l& in a Jewish ceremon&. The !illers departed for ?ondon soon after their marriage so that !aril&n co$ld start prod$ction on JThe Prince and the +howgirlJ with ?awrence Cli(ier6 which pro(ed less than impressi(e criticall& and financiall&. *$mors of her 1, | P a g e $nprofessional .eha(ior on this film are legendar&. Ta3e after

ta3e !aril&n had diffic$lt& remem.ering

e(en the simplest of lines. >t made mone&6 .$t man& critics panned it for .eing slow5 mo(ing. These two films allowed her to demonstrate her talent and (ersatilit& as an actress. 8hen ret$rning to the Dnited +tates from Ingland6 after finishing the shooting for The Prince and the +howgirl 6the co$ple disco(ered she was pregnant. Howe(er6 she s$ffered from endometriosis6 and the pregnanc& was fo$nd to .e ectopic. # s$.seM$ent pregnanc& ended in miscarriage. !aril&n had another miscarriage d$ring her common life with #rth$r !iller and ne(er had children. >t was pro.a.l& the hardest thing she had to deal with6 since she wanted and needed children so .adl&. !aril&n recei(ed f$rther recognition with the wildl& pop$lar comed& +ome ?i3e >t Hot with Jac3 ?emmon and Ton& C$rtis. +he pla&ed +$gar 7ane 7owalc/&36 a singer who hopes to marr& a millionaire in this h$moro$s film in which ?emmon and C$rtis pretend to .e women. The& are on the r$n from the mo. after witnessing the +t. Balentine-s a& !assacre and hide o$t with an all5girl orchestra feat$ring !onroe. Her health contin$ed to deteriorate d$e to increased dependenc& on dr$gs and in(ol(ement in an $nhapp& marriage. +he often came to the set late and was $na.le to remem.er her lines. irector6 2ill& 8ilder later said...J#n&one can remem.er lines6 .$t it ta3es a real artist to come on the set and not 3now her lines and &et gi(e the performance she did.J Her wor3 on the film earned her a 1olden 1lo.e #ward for 2est #ctress in a Comed&. Her ne<t film J?et:s !a3e ?o(eJ pro(ed to .e an $nremar3a.le film with m$ch p$.licit& o(er her .rief affair with co5star L(es !ontand. Her wor3 on the film earned her a 1olden 1lo.e #ward for 2est #ctress in a Comed&. Iarl& in 106%6 !aril&n was cons$lting with r. *alph 1reenson6 a prominent ps&choanal&st to Holl&wood stars. #s common d$ring this period6 he relied
1' | P a g e

hea(il& on dr$g therap&...ro$tinel& prescri.ing .ar.it$rates and tranM$ili/ers in addition to his ps&chotherap&. !aril&n had resorted to a stead& diet of sleeping pills and

14 | P a g e

champagne. +ome people .lame her 9o$rne& into ps&choanal&sis teamed with $sing Jthe methodJ st&le of acting she perfected in Eew Lor3. >n the method &o$ $se &o$r own emotions to act$all& feel what the character is going thro$gh. Considering the tra$matic childhood !aril&n end$red6 it sho$ld .e no s$rprise that all this digging into her ps&che made it diffic$lt for her to f$nction. #rth$r !iller tried to sa(e her. He wrote a film for her called The !isfits ;1061A where she co$ld f$lfill her life5long desire to .e a serio$s actress. He e(en paired her with her childhood idol Clar3 1a.le. 2$t it wo$ld not wor3. !aril&n had a .rea3 down d$ring the filming and .& the end of the shoot her marriage to #rth$r was o(er ;the& separated on Jan$ar& ,%6 1061A.

J!r. !iller is a wonderf$l man and a great writer6 .$t it didn:t wor3 o$t that we sho$ld .e h$s.and and wife.J
I(en more heart.rea3ing is the fact that this film wo$ld .e the last time either Clar3 1a.le or !aril&n wo$ld e(er appear on the screen. Cn Eo(em.er 5th6 the da& after JThe !isfitsJ was completed6 co5star Clar3 1a.le s$ffered a serio$s heart attac3 and died on Eo(em.er 166 106%. !aril&n felt a great deal of g$ilt6 commenting...J> 3ept him waiting...3ept him waiting for ho$rs and ho$rs on that pict$re.J I(el&n !oriart& remem.ered...J!aril&n was .eing .lamed for e(er&thing. #ll of her pro.lems were e<aggerated to co(er $p for irector H$ston:s gam.ling and the terri.le waste of mone& on that prod$ction. >t was eas& for her to .e made the scapegoat.J

>n 1061 !aril&n p$rchased a ho$se in the 2rentwood section of ?os #ngeles. #t the $rging of her ps&choanal&st6 r 1reenson6 she hired I$nice !$rra& as ho$se3eeper. !$rra&6 calling herself a n$rse6 had neither the training nor credentials. >t is s$spected that she was a Jsp&J for r. 1reenson who contin$ed

15 | P a g e

to

16 | P a g e

ha(e more and more control o(er !aril&n:s life6 seeing her almost dail& when she was in ?os #ngeles. For a time in 106,6 it seemed that !aril&n had p$t her life .ac3 on trac3. +he had shed 15 po$nds for her role in +omething:s 1ot to 1i(e6 and when she showed $p for hair and ma3e$p tests she was as .ea$tif$l as e(er. 2$t it was onl& a facade. C$t of '% shooting da&s !aril&n onl& appeared on the set 1' times. #ccording to an article in The Eew Lor3 Times6 the actress claimed that the a.sences were d$e to illness. +he was fired and s$ed for .reach of contract. !aril&n was de(astated. !artin declined to ma3e the film witho$t her. 8hen the& were $ns$ccessf$l in replacing her6 the st$dio M$ietl& made her an offer to come .ac3 to wor36 to complete J+omething-s 1ot to 1i(eJ with a salar& of N,5%6%%%6 which was two and a half times the original amo$nt. >t has .een claimed that !onroe was in(ol(ed with .oth *o.ert 7enned&6 and John F. 7enned&. Jeanne Carmen6 who claimed to ha(e .een a friend of !onroe-s also claimed she dated .oth. #t the President:s gala .irthda& cele.ration in !adison +M$are 1arden on !a& 106 106,6 !aril&n sang her now famo$s JHapp& 2irthda&J tri.$te to JF7. The dress she wore to that e(ent sold for 1.,6 million dollars in 10006 esta.lishing a new world record for the most e<pensi(e piece of clothing e(er sold at a$ction. !aril&n had .een seeing Joe i!aggio freM$entl& d$ring this time and had finall& agreed to remarr& him. The wedding date was set for #$g$st "6 106,. +adl&6 in a shoc3ing t$rn of e(ents on the earl& morning of #$g$st 56 106,6 '65 &ear5 old !aril&n died in her sleep at her 2rentwood6 California home. !$ch has .een spec$lated a.o$t the e(ents s$rro$nding her death and others in(ol(ement in
1) | P a g e

it. Her death6 officiall& r$led to .e pro.a.le s$icide .& dr$g o(erdose6 has .een the s$.9ect of m$ch spec$lation and conspirac& theor&. 2$t whate(er the ca$se...it is highl&

1" | P a g e

$nli3el& that it was s$icide. Possi.l& the res$lt of a tragic accidental dr$g o(erdose...and possi.l& administered .& someone other than !aril&n herself. The world was st$nned. !aril&n:s (i.rant spirit and .ea$t& made it impossi.le to .elie(e she was gone. # saddened Joe i!aggio made arrangements for the f$neral6 in(iting no one from the Holl&wood scene or press....$t onl& close friends and relati(es. #s he said...Jthe& had onl& h$rt !aril&n.J !aril&n !onroe was .$ried in what was 3nown at that time as the JCadillac of cas3etsJ 55 a hermeticall& sealing sil(er5finished 4" o/ ;hea(& ga$geA solid .ron/e J!asterpieceJ cas3et lined with champagne5colored satin5sil3= the cas3et had .een man$fact$red .& the 2elmont cas3et compan& in Col$m.$s6 Chio. 2efore the ser(ice6 the o$ter lid and the $pper half of the di(ided inner lid of her cas3et were opened so that the mo$rners co$ld get a last glimpse of !onroe. 8hite& +n&der had prepared her face6 a promise he had made her if she were to die .efore him. ressed in her fa(orite green Imilio P$cci dress6 she held a small .o$M$et of pin3 teac$p roses Cn #$g$st "6 106,6 !aril&n:s .od& was laid to rest in a pin3 mar.le cr&pt in the Corridor of !emories6 R,46 at 8estwood !emorial Par3 in ?os #ngeles6 California. !onroe had (isited the cemeter& more than once as a str$ggling actress .eca$se #na ?ower6 the ad$lt to whom she had .een closest d$ring her 9$(enile &ears6 had .een .$ried there in 104". ?ower was related to 1race 1oddard6 !onroe:s official g$ardian d$ring m$ch of her childhood. 8hen 1oddard committed s$icide in 105'6 !onroe6 .& then wealth&6 arranged for her .$rial at 8estwood. For o(er ,% &ears flowers were deli(ered wee3l& to her cr&pt from Joe...9$st as he had promised !aril&n when she told him of 8illiam Powell:s pledge to the d&ing Jean Harlow.

J> 3new > .elonged to the p$.lic and to the world6 not .eca$se > was talented or e(en .ea$tif$l6 .$t .eca$se > had ne(er .elonged to an&thing or an&one else.J
10 | P a g e

#wards

+he was crowned !iss California #rticho3e S$een in 104) 105, Photopla& #ward4 +pecial #ward 105' 1olden 1lo.e Henrietta #ward4 8orld Film Fa(orite Female 105' Photopla& #ward4 !ost Pop$lar Female +tar 1056 2#FT# Film #ward nomination4 2est Foreign #ctress for The +e(en Lear >tch ;105" 2ritish #cadem& #wardsA 1056 1olden 1lo.e nomination4 2est !otion Pict$re #ctress in Comed& or !$sical for 2$s +top 105" 2#FT# Film #ward nomination4 2est Foreign #ctress for The Prince and the +howgirl ; 105" 2ritish #cadem& #wardsA 105" a(id di onatello #ward ;>talianA4 2est Foreign #ctress for The Prince and the +howgirl 1050 Cr&stal +tar #ward ;FrenchA4 2est Foreign #ctress for The Prince and the +howgirl a(id i onatello Pri/e for 2est Foreign #ctress ;JThe Prince and the +howgirl6J 1050A 106% 1olden 1lo.e6 2est !otion Pict$re #ctress in Comed& or !$sical for +ome ?i3e >t Hot 1061 1olden 1lo.e6 8orld Film Fa(orite4 Female +tar on the Holl&wood 8al3 of Fame 61%4 Holl&wood 2l(d. 1000 she was ran3ed as the si<th greatest female star of all time .& the #merican Film >nstit$te in their list #F>:s 1%% Lears... 1%% +tars.
,% | P a g e

!aril&n !onroe Fa(o$rites

52e(erage4 om Perignon 105' 5Female +inger4 Illa Fit/gerald 5Film Performances4 The #sphalt J$ngle and on:t 2other to 7noc3 5!$sicians4 ?o$is #rmstrong6 Iarl 2ostic36 ?$dwig Ban 2eetho(en and 8olfgang #made$s !o/art 5Pla&wrights4 #rth$r !iller and Tennessee 8illiams 5*esta$rant4 *omanoff:s ;in Holl&woodA 5Perf$me4 Chanel Eo. 5 52ea$t& Prod$ct4 Ei(ea !oist$ri/er 5#ctresses4 1reta 1ar.o6 Jean Harlow6 1inger *ogers6 !arie ressler and Cli(ia eHa(illand 5#ctors4 Clar3 1a.le6 Charlie Chaplin6 Charles ?a$ghton6 8ill *ogers6 Car& 1rant6 John 2arr&more6 T&rone Power and *ichard 8idmar3 5Colors4 2eige6 2lac36 8hite and *ed 5#rtists4 1o&a6 Picasso6 Il 1reco6 !ichelangelo and 2otticelli 52oo34 How +tanisla(s3& irects .& !ichael 1orcha3o( 5!ale +inger4 Fran3 +inatra 5Photograph4 Cecil 2eaton:s photo of !aril&n in her white dress 5Pla&s4 # +treetcar Eamed esire and eath of a +alesman 5Poets4 John 7eats and 8alt 8hitman 5+tore4 2loomingdale:s 58riters4 F&odor osto&e(s3&6 J. . +alinger6 1eorge 2ernard +haw and Thomas 8olfe 5Personal 7orea *emem.rance4

,1 | P a g e

*eactions to her death

The C2+ 4" Ho$rs in(estigation
>n #pril ,%%66 C2+:s 4" Ho$rs presented an $pdated report .& #nthon& +$mmers on !onroe:s death. Thro$gh +$mmers6 4" Ho$rs gained access to a$dio tapes of inter(iews cond$cted .& the ?os #ngeles istrict #ttorne&:s office in 10",. #ccording to +$mmers: so$rces6 !onroe attended social e(ents at actor Peter ?awford:s .each home in +anta !onica6 California6 in the months .efore her death that also incl$ded President John F. 7enned& and #ttorne& 1eneral *o.ert F. 7enned&. The 4" Ho$rs report M$oted a former +ecret +er(ice agent as stating that it was Jcommon 3nowledgeJ among his colleag$es that there was an affair .etween !onroe and John 7enned&. *$mors of a relationship with *o.ert 7enned& were not confirmed. #ccording to newl& released F2> doc$ments6 !onroe was considered to .e a sec$rit& ris3. >n !arch of 106, !onroe (isited !e<ico on a (acation6 where she sociali/ed with #mericans who were openl& comm$nist. +$.seM$entl& a file was opened on her .& the F2>. +$mmers stated that6 contrar& to her p$.lic image as a d$m. .londe6 !onroe was passionate a.o$t politics and disc$ssed atomic testing iss$es with President 7enned& 9$st three months .efore the C$.an !issile Crisis. #ccording to the .roadcast6 ?awford told police that he spo3e to !onroe on the phone shortl& .efore her death6 that she so$nded grogg& and depressed6 and that she said to him6 J+a& good.&e to Jac36J J+a& good.&e to &o$.J Phone records of her long distance calls that e(ening were lost6 which was a ca$se of s$spicion. Former #ssistant istrict #ttorne& !i3e Carroll6 who cond$cted the 10", in(estigation6 said the& fo$nd Jno e(idence of an intentional criminal act6J and indicated that s$icide was the most li3el& ca$se of death. He stated6 JThe .ottles were there. +he was
,, | P a g e

$nconscio$s. +he had a histor& of o(erdose. >n fact6 she had a histor& of not onl& o(erdosing6 .$t of .eing res$scitated.J

Thro$gh Lo$r !ost 1rie(o$s Fa$lt

#$g$st 106 106, 5 ?os #ngeles Times

The death of !aril&n !onroe shoc3ed people6 with an impact different from their reaction to the death of an& other mo(ie star or p$.lic fig$re. #ll o(er the world people felt a pec$liar sense of personal in(ol(ement and of protest6 li3e a $ni(ersal cr& of JCh6 noOJ The& felt that her death had some special significance6 almost li3e a warning which the& co$ld not decipher...and the& felt a nameless apprehension6 the sense that something terri.l& wrong was in(ol(ed. The& were right to feel it. !aril&n !onroe6 on the screen6 was an image of p$re6 innocent6 childli3e 9o& in li(ing. +he pro9ected the sense of a person .orn and reared in some radiant Dtopia6 $nto$ched .& s$ffering6 $na.le to concei(e of $gliness or e(il6 facing li3e with the confidence6 the .ene(olence and the 9o&o$s self5fla$nting5fla$nting of a child or a 3itten who is happ& to displa& its own attracti(eness as the .est gift it can offer the world6 and who e<pects to .e admired for it6 not h$rt. >n real life6 !aril&n !onroe:s s$icide...or worse4 a s$icide that might ha(e .een an accident6 s$ggesting that6 to her6 the difference did not matter...was a declaration that we li(e in a world which made it impossi.le for her 3ind of spirit6 and for the things she represented6 to s$r(i(e. >f there e(er was a (ictim of societ&6 !aril&n !onroe was that (ictim...of a societ& that professes dedication to the relief of the s$ffering6 .$t 3ills the 9o&o$s.
,' | P a g e

Eone of the o.9ects of the h$manitarians: tender solicit$de6 the 9$(enile delinM$ents6 co$ld ha(e had so sordid and horrif&ing a childhood as did !aril&n !onroe. To s$r(i(e it and to preser(e the 3ind of spirit she pro9ected on the screen...the radiantl& .ene(olent sense of life6 which cannot .e fa3ed...was an almost inconcei(a.le ps&chological achie(ement that reM$ired a heroism of the highest order. 8hate(er scars her past had left were insignificant .& comparison. +he preser(ed her (ision of life thro$gh a nightmare str$ggle6 fighting her wa& to the top. 8hat .ro3e her was the disco(er&6 at the top6 of as sordid an e(il as the one she had left .ehind...worse6 perhaps6 .eca$se incomprehensi.le. +he had e<pected to reach the s$nlight= she fo$nd6 instead6 a limitless swamp of malice. >t was a malice of a (er& special 3ind. >f &o$ want to see her groping str$ggle to $nderstand it6 read the magnificent article in a recent iss$e of ?ife maga/ine. >t is not act$all& an article6 it is a (er.atim transcript of her own words...and the most tragicall& re(ealing doc$ment p$.lished in man& &ears. >t is a cr& for help6 which came too late to .e answered. J8hen &o$:re famo$s6 &o$ 3ind of r$n into h$man nat$re in a raw 3ind of wa&6J she said. J>t stirs $p en(&6 fame does. People &o$ r$n into feel that6 well6 who is she...who does she thin3 she is6 !aril&n !onroeT The& feel fame gi(es them some 3ind of pri(ilege to wal3 $p to &o$ and sa& an&thing to &o$6 &o$ 3now6 of an& 3ind of nat$re...and it won:t h$rt &o$r feelings...li3e it:s happening to &o$ clothing...> don:t $nderstand wh& people aren:t a little more genero$s with each other. > don:t li3e to sa& this6 .$t >:m afraid there is a lot of en(& in this .$siness.J JIn(&J is the onl& name she co$ld find for the monstro$s thing she faced6 .$t it was m$ch worse than en(&4 it was the profo$nd hatred of life6 of s$ccess and of all h$man (al$es6 felt .& a certain 3ind of mediocrit&...the 3ind who feels pleas$re on hearing a.o$t a stranger:s misfort$ne. >t was hatred of the good for .eing the good...hatred of a.ilit&6 of .ea$t&6 of honest&6 of earnestness6 of achie(ement and6 a.o(e all6 of h$man 9o&. *ead the ?ife article to see how it wor3ed and what it did to her. #n eager child6 who was re.$3ed for her eagerness...J+ometimes the ;fosterA families $sed to worr& .eca$se > $sed to la$gh so lo$d and so ga&= > g$ess the& felt it was h&sterical.J # spectac$larl& s$ccessf$l star6 whose emplo&ers 3ept repeating4 J*emem.er &o$:re not a star6J in a determined effort6 apparentl& not to let her disco(er her
,4 | P a g e

own

,5 | P a g e

importance. # .rilliantl& talented actress6 who was told .& the alleged a$thorities6 .& Holl&wood6 .& the press6 that she co$ld not act. #n actress6 dedicated to her art with passionate earnestness..6J8hen > was 5...> thin3 that:s when > started wanting to .e an actress...> lo(ed to pla&. > didn:t li3e the world aro$nd me .eca$se it was 3ind of grim....$t > lo(ed to pla& ho$se and it was li3e &o$ co$ld ma3e &o$r own .o$ndariesJ...who went thro$gh hell to ma3e her own .o$ndaries6 to offer people the s$nlit $ni(erse of her own (ision...J>t:s almost ha(ing certain 3inds of secrets for a moment6 when &o$:re actingJ....$t who was ridic$led for her desire to pla& serio$s parts. # woman6 the onl& one6 who was a.le to pro9ect the glowingl& innocent se<$alit& of a .eing from some planet $ncorr$pted .& g$ilt...who fo$nd herself regarded and .all&hooed as a ($lgar s&m.ol of o.scenit&...and who still had the co$rage to declare4 J8e are all .orn se<$al creat$res6 than3 1od6 .$t it:s a pit& so man& people despise and cr$sh this nat$ral gift.J # happ& child who was offering her achie(ement to the world6 with the pride of an a$thentic greatness and of a 3itten depositing a h$nting troph& at &o$r feet...who fo$nd herself answered .& concerted efforts to negate6 to degrade6 to ridic$le6 to ins$lt6 to destro& her achie(ement...who was $na.le to concei(e that it was her .est she was p$nished for6 not her worst...who co$ld onl& sense6 in helpless terror6 that she was facing some $nspea3a.le 3ind of e(il. How long do &o$ thin3 a h$man .eing co$ld stand itT That hatred of (al$es has alwa&s e<isted in some people6 in an& age or c$lt$re. 2$t a h$ndred &ears ago6 she wo$ld ha(e .een e<pected to hide it. Toda&6 it is all aro$nd $s= it is the st&le and fashion of o$r cent$r&. 8here wo$ld a sin3ing spirit find relief from itT The e(il of a c$lt$ral atmosphere is made .& all those who share it. #n&one who has e(er felt resentment against the good for .eing the good and has gi(en (oice to it6 is the m$rderer of !aril&n !onroe.

,6 | P a g e

+cenes from some of her most s$ccessf$l mo(ies

!aril&n fo$nd herself in some fast compan& in #ll #.o$t I(e. From left6 #nne 2a<ter6 2ette a(is6 !aril&n6 1eorge +anders.

!aril&n:s .it part in *ight Cross let her pla& opposite pop$lar leading man ic3 Powell6 .$t the pict$re was a minor one.

,) | P a g e

!aril&n e<celled in The #sphalt J$ngle as the nai(e .ea$t& who is the mistress of a croo3ed law&er.

Clash .& Eight is one of the .est of !aril&n:s earl& films. >n this scene6 she 3noc3s .ac3 a .eer with costar *o.ert *&an.

," | P a g e

Pegg&:s relationship with her .o&friend in Clash .& Eight is ro$ghl& ph&sical6 and she reacts to the .it of domination shown a.o(e .& ha$ling off and soc3ing her fella on the 9aw. To !aril&n6 the character:s (igor m$st ha(e .een sweet relief after the s$ccession of two5dimensional glamo$r5 girl roles.

1entlemen Prefer 2londes pro(ided a li(el& showcase for the singing and dancing of the .ea$tif$l costars.

!on3e& 2$siness cast !aril&n as a good5 loo3ing .$t incompetent secretar&. #ltho$gh peripheral to the main action of the plot6 !aril&n made the most of her am$sing scenes with star Car& 1rant.

,0 | P a g e

The show5stopping : iamonds #re a 1irl:s 2est Friend: n$m.er is the da//ling highlight of :1entlemen Prefer 2londes.:

on:t 2other to 7noc3 does ha(e its share of melodrama6 as in this scene6 in which the .a.&sitter threatens to .rain her well5 meaning $ncle6 pla&ed .& Ilisha Coo36 Jr.

'% | P a g e

!aril&n-s famo$s s$.wa& scene (iewed from se(eral angles

,) | P a g e

," | P a g e

!aril&n posing on the co(ers of some famo$s maga/ines

,0 | P a g e

Concl$sion
$ring her career6 !aril&n made '% films and left one6 +omething:s 1ot to 1i(e6 $nfinished. +he personified Holl&wood glamo$r with an $nparalleled glow and energ& that
enamored the world. #ltho$gh she was an all$ring .ea$t& with (ol$pt$o$s c$r(es and a genero$s po$t6 !aril&n was more than a :5%s se< goddess. # glo.al sensation in her lifetime6

!aril&n:s pop$larit& has e<tended .e&ond star stat$s to icon. Toda&6 the name J!aril&n !onroeJ is s&non&mo$s with .ea$t&6 sens$alit& and effer(escence. +he remains an inspiration to all who stri(e to o(ercome personal o.stacles for the goal of achie(ing greatness. Her apparent ($lnera.ilit& and innocence6 in com.ination with an innate sens$alit&6 has endeared her to the glo.al conscio$sness. +he dominated the age of mo(ie stars to .ecome6 witho$t M$estion6 the most famo$s woman of the ,%th Cent$r&.

'% | P a g e

2i.liograph&
8e. pages4 5 http4HHwww.imd..comHnameHnm%%%%%54H.io 5 http4HHwww.powerpassion.nlHmaril&nHmm.html 5 http4HHwww.ellensplace.netHmm.io'.html 5 http4HHwww.maril&nmonroe.caHcameraHa.o$tHfactsH.ioH 5 http4HHwww..iograph&.comHsearchHarticle.doTidU041,1,' 5 http4HHen.wi3ipedia.orgHwi3iH!aril&nV!onroeRJoeV i!aggio 5 http4HHwww.filmsite.orgH5%sintro'.html 5 http4HHwww.findagra(e.comHcgi5.inHfg.cgiTpageUgr@1*idU),5 5 http4HHwww..iograph&.comHdeathi(ersar&Hmaril&nVmonroeHmaril&nVmonroe 5 http4HHwww..ritannica.comHe.Harticle50%5'4''H!aril&n5!onroe

'1 | P a g e