Title: Marilyn Monroe - Beyond The Legend
Original air date (or production date): 1986
Nationality: US
Duration: 60 mins
Presented by: Richard Widmark
Produced by: Gene Feldman & Suzette Winter
Directed by: Gene Feldman
Review:
This is a biographical documentary, including interviews with Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lazlo Willinger, John
Springer, Celeste Holm, Joshua Logan, and Don Murray. It was made in 1986. It is a very sympathetic look at
Marilyn's life, with all the usual footage plus Marilyn's scene from 'Dangerous Years'. It was nice to hear from all
these people who knew and liked Marilyn. It was also quite sad at times, because most of them are no longer with
us. It doesn't cover the controversies surrounding Marilyn's death but gives a rounded picture of her life and
personality, and why she is still a legend.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Title: Marilyn Monroe-The Mortal Goddess
Original air date (or production date):1996
Nationality: USA
Duration: 91 minutes
Presented by: Peter Graves
Produced by: Hillary Atkin
Directed by: Kevin Burns
Additional information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400113/fullcredits
Interviewees include Jim Dougherty, James Haspiel, Susan Strasberg, Donald Spoto, Evelyn Moriarty, Don Murray,
Sheree North, Jim Bacon, Hugh Hefner, Gloria Steinem and Eli Wallach.
Review:
The documentary is called Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess. It is also available on Region 1 DVD, which also
includes 20 theatrical trailers. It is also one of the most frequently shown documentaries on the Biography Channel,
which just goes to show how popular our girl is.
This is indeed an official studio biography, so it is big-budget. As with every biography, they have manipulated the
facts to suit their own agenda. But I still feel that this documentary is well worth watching, for the sheer volume of
footage (it is 91 minutes long), including movie clips and newsreels, and the many interviews with people who knew
or admired Marilyn, such as Jim Dougherty, James Haspiel, Susan Strasberg, Donald Spoto, Evelyn Moriarty, Don
Murray, Sheree North, Jim Bacon, Hugh Hefner, Gloria Steinem and Eli Wallach.
They showed Marilyn blowing her lines on the set of her last, incomplete film (‘Something’s Got To Give’), and
implied that she was unfit to work. But it is unfair to show outtakes that would never have been included if the film
had been completed. While I don't know if it would have been a great movie, that is no reflection on Marilyn. She
looks great, and there is just as much footage where she performs wonderfully. They just chose not to show it.
There was also one part where they said that 'her many infidelities' led to her being unable to have children. But
they completely ignored the fact that Marilyn suffered from endometriosis all her adult life. My feeling is that if you
ignore the commentary, there is much to enjoy here. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars, for the extensive footage and
interviews. But it loses a point because of the inaccuracies in the commentary.
Title: Making The Misfits
Original air date (or production date): 2001
Nationality: US
Duration: 55 minutes
Presented by: Brian Dennehy
Produced by: Margaret Smilow
Directed by: Gail Levin
Additional information: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/misfits/misfits.html
Review:
For anyone who likes The Misfits, this is a must-have. Interviewees include Arthur Miller, Eli Wallach, Nan Taylor,
Inge Morath, Eve Arnold, and Angela Allen. There is also some rare footage from the location.
There was a nice story about how Arthur came out from watching the rushes, and said 'Wasn't Marilyn fantastic in
her close-up?' In fact there were three other actors on camera, but Arthur only had eyes for his wife.
Sad points included Gable's death, of course, and the collapse of Arthur and Marilyn's marriage. Angela Allen said
that Marilyn treated Arthur 'despicably', but then she was very unhappy at the time. It's sad that their relationship
had to end in such ugliness, but this is what often happens when people fall out of love.
Definitely one of the best documentaries out there and well worth watching. The Misfits is one of my favourite
Marilyn movies, because despite its flaws, and the pain it caused for everyone, it is probably her most fully realised
performance. It gives me a tantalising hint of the great actress she could have become - although what she
achieved was remarkable enough.
Overall note: 4 out of 5 Stars
Title: The Prince, The Showgirl And Me
Original air date (or production date):2003
Nationality: British
Duration: 60 minutes
Presented by: Colin Clark
Produced by: Basil Comely/BBC
Directed by: Claire Beavan
Review: This documentary is presented by Colin Clark, who wrote the book of the same. It is based on his diaries
during filming of 'The Prince And The Showgirl'. Clark was third assistant director, a gopher to Sir Laurence Olivier.
Clever use of vintage footage gives you a good idea of what is was like to make a movie in England at the time. Its
tone is initially light-hearted, but that changes when Marilyn Monroe arrives. Olivier was intimidated by her fame,
and didn't know how to handle this fragile star.
MM was never alone, always surrounded by either Paula Strasberg, Milton Greene or her new husband, Arthur
Miller. They all thought they knew what was best for Marilyn, and vied with each other for her attention.
'The Prince And The Showgirl' was the first and only film to be produced by Marilyn's own company. Olivier, who
was directing as well as co-starring, quickly took control of the picture, leaving Marilyn and her camp out in the cold.
The crew, according to Clark at least, were loyal to Olivier, and despised Marilyn. Her lateness and nerves
worsened, as did her dependence on pills.
And yet Marilyn gave a charming, natural performance, stealing the film from Olivier. Although she had very little
training, her mastery of film technique was superior to his. She worked well with cameraman Jack Cardiff, who
photographed her beautifully. There is a wonderful old interview with Dame Sybil Thorndike who talks warmly of
Marilyn as 'a darling girl ... I never had any trouble with her'.
It is a very enjoyable documentary, and sympathetic to Marilyn. My only criticism is of the last five minutes, when
Clark claims to have become intimate with MM, even sharing her bed. This wasn't mentioned in the original text (a
racier sequel, ‘My Week With Marilyn’, followed the success of Clark’s first book) and I felt frankly suspicious of his
claim.
Overall note: 4 out of 5 Stars.
The World's Most Photographed: Marilyn Monroe
Review
Title: The World's Most Photographed: Marilyn Monroe
Original air date: 3rd August 2005
Nationality: British
Duration: 30 minutes
Presented by: Neil Pearson
Produced by: BBC
Directed by: Unknown
Additional information: Interviewees include - Donald Spoto; Steve Crist (editor of De Dienes' Marilyn); Tom Kelley
(an old clip); James Haspiel, Larry Shaw, Edith Shaw, Meta Stephens (children of Sam Shaw); Bruce Davidson;
George Barris.
For more info on the programme, series, exhibition and book, click here
Review
This is a very enjoyable and well-made documentary charting Marilyn Monroe's love affair with the camera. I found
the interviews with Bruce Davidson and George Barris very moving. They seem like kind, sensitive men and I feel
Marilyn would have been at ease with them.
It was also interesting to hear from Sam Shaw's children. Did you know his son Larry was an assistant on the SYI
photo shoot? Or that Sam once found Marilyn bathing in a tub filled with ice-cubes?
Conover, De Dienes and Kelley are also mentioned. Of the major photographers, Greene and Stern weren't
covered.
Overall: 4 out of 5 Stars
Title: The Final Day
Original air date (or production date):1999
Nationality: British
Duration:60 minutes
Presented by:
Produced by: David Jamieson
Directed by: David Jamieson
Additional information: Ralph Roberts, Evelyn Moriarty, James Bacon, Norman Mailer, Colin Clark, Bob Slatzer, Don
Wolfe, Henry Weinstein, Ernest Cunningham, Michael Selsman, Mickey Song, Greg Schreiner, Eric Monroe
Woodard, David Brown.
I saw this documentary on the Biography Channel - www.thebiographychannel.co.uk
Review: This is really a look at the conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn's death. I'm not an expert on the
scientific analysis of what Marilyn may have consumed that evening, so I won't comment on that. It didn't really go
into much detail over what happened on the afternoon of August 4th, which seems crucial to me.
It is well worth watching for the impressive (though not unfamiliar) list of interviewees. Marilyn's friends, Evelyn
Moriarty and Ralph Roberts, were instantly likeable. Bob Slatzer was interviewed alone in a car park, Watergate-
style. But they couldn't find a single person to corroborate that he knew Marilyn.
I don't really buy into the conspiracy theories, but I found it an interesting documentary, with some great interviews
but not enough detail.
Overall note: 3 out of 5 stars - 2 stars for the interviews, but only 1 star for investigation.
Original air date (or production date): 1986
Nationality: US
Duration: 60 mins
Presented by: Richard Widmark
Produced by: Gene Feldman & Suzette Winter
Directed by: Gene Feldman
Review:
This is a biographical documentary, including interviews with Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lazlo Willinger, John
Springer, Celeste Holm, Joshua Logan, and Don Murray. It was made in 1986. It is a very sympathetic look at
Marilyn's life, with all the usual footage plus Marilyn's scene from 'Dangerous Years'. It was nice to hear from all
these people who knew and liked Marilyn. It was also quite sad at times, because most of them are no longer with
us. It doesn't cover the controversies surrounding Marilyn's death but gives a rounded picture of her life and
personality, and why she is still a legend.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Title: Marilyn Monroe-The Mortal Goddess
Original air date (or production date):1996
Nationality: USA
Duration: 91 minutes
Presented by: Peter Graves
Produced by: Hillary Atkin
Directed by: Kevin Burns
Additional information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400113/fullcredits
Interviewees include Jim Dougherty, James Haspiel, Susan Strasberg, Donald Spoto, Evelyn Moriarty, Don Murray,
Sheree North, Jim Bacon, Hugh Hefner, Gloria Steinem and Eli Wallach.
Review:
The documentary is called Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess. It is also available on Region 1 DVD, which also
includes 20 theatrical trailers. It is also one of the most frequently shown documentaries on the Biography Channel,
which just goes to show how popular our girl is.
This is indeed an official studio biography, so it is big-budget. As with every biography, they have manipulated the
facts to suit their own agenda. But I still feel that this documentary is well worth watching, for the sheer volume of
footage (it is 91 minutes long), including movie clips and newsreels, and the many interviews with people who knew
or admired Marilyn, such as Jim Dougherty, James Haspiel, Susan Strasberg, Donald Spoto, Evelyn Moriarty, Don
Murray, Sheree North, Jim Bacon, Hugh Hefner, Gloria Steinem and Eli Wallach.
They showed Marilyn blowing her lines on the set of her last, incomplete film (‘Something’s Got To Give’), and
implied that she was unfit to work. But it is unfair to show outtakes that would never have been included if the film
had been completed. While I don't know if it would have been a great movie, that is no reflection on Marilyn. She
looks great, and there is just as much footage where she performs wonderfully. They just chose not to show it.
There was also one part where they said that 'her many infidelities' led to her being unable to have children. But
they completely ignored the fact that Marilyn suffered from endometriosis all her adult life. My feeling is that if you
ignore the commentary, there is much to enjoy here. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars, for the extensive footage and
interviews. But it loses a point because of the inaccuracies in the commentary.
Title: Making The Misfits
Original air date (or production date): 2001
Nationality: US
Duration: 55 minutes
Presented by: Brian Dennehy
Produced by: Margaret Smilow
Directed by: Gail Levin
Additional information: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/misfits/misfits.html
Review:
For anyone who likes The Misfits, this is a must-have. Interviewees include Arthur Miller, Eli Wallach, Nan Taylor,
Inge Morath, Eve Arnold, and Angela Allen. There is also some rare footage from the location.
There was a nice story about how Arthur came out from watching the rushes, and said 'Wasn't Marilyn fantastic in
her close-up?' In fact there were three other actors on camera, but Arthur only had eyes for his wife.
Sad points included Gable's death, of course, and the collapse of Arthur and Marilyn's marriage. Angela Allen said
that Marilyn treated Arthur 'despicably', but then she was very unhappy at the time. It's sad that their relationship
had to end in such ugliness, but this is what often happens when people fall out of love.
Definitely one of the best documentaries out there and well worth watching. The Misfits is one of my favourite
Marilyn movies, because despite its flaws, and the pain it caused for everyone, it is probably her most fully realised
performance. It gives me a tantalising hint of the great actress she could have become - although what she
achieved was remarkable enough.
Overall note: 4 out of 5 Stars
Title: The Prince, The Showgirl And Me
Original air date (or production date):2003
Nationality: British
Duration: 60 minutes
Presented by: Colin Clark
Produced by: Basil Comely/BBC
Directed by: Claire Beavan
Review: This documentary is presented by Colin Clark, who wrote the book of the same. It is based on his diaries
during filming of 'The Prince And The Showgirl'. Clark was third assistant director, a gopher to Sir Laurence Olivier.
Clever use of vintage footage gives you a good idea of what is was like to make a movie in England at the time. Its
tone is initially light-hearted, but that changes when Marilyn Monroe arrives. Olivier was intimidated by her fame,
and didn't know how to handle this fragile star.
MM was never alone, always surrounded by either Paula Strasberg, Milton Greene or her new husband, Arthur
Miller. They all thought they knew what was best for Marilyn, and vied with each other for her attention.
'The Prince And The Showgirl' was the first and only film to be produced by Marilyn's own company. Olivier, who
was directing as well as co-starring, quickly took control of the picture, leaving Marilyn and her camp out in the cold.
The crew, according to Clark at least, were loyal to Olivier, and despised Marilyn. Her lateness and nerves
worsened, as did her dependence on pills.
And yet Marilyn gave a charming, natural performance, stealing the film from Olivier. Although she had very little
training, her mastery of film technique was superior to his. She worked well with cameraman Jack Cardiff, who
photographed her beautifully. There is a wonderful old interview with Dame Sybil Thorndike who talks warmly of
Marilyn as 'a darling girl ... I never had any trouble with her'.
It is a very enjoyable documentary, and sympathetic to Marilyn. My only criticism is of the last five minutes, when
Clark claims to have become intimate with MM, even sharing her bed. This wasn't mentioned in the original text (a
racier sequel, ‘My Week With Marilyn’, followed the success of Clark’s first book) and I felt frankly suspicious of his
claim.
Overall note: 4 out of 5 Stars.
The World's Most Photographed: Marilyn Monroe
Review
Title: The World's Most Photographed: Marilyn Monroe
Original air date: 3rd August 2005
Nationality: British
Duration: 30 minutes
Presented by: Neil Pearson
Produced by: BBC
Directed by: Unknown
Additional information: Interviewees include - Donald Spoto; Steve Crist (editor of De Dienes' Marilyn); Tom Kelley
(an old clip); James Haspiel, Larry Shaw, Edith Shaw, Meta Stephens (children of Sam Shaw); Bruce Davidson;
George Barris.
For more info on the programme, series, exhibition and book, click here
Review
This is a very enjoyable and well-made documentary charting Marilyn Monroe's love affair with the camera. I found
the interviews with Bruce Davidson and George Barris very moving. They seem like kind, sensitive men and I feel
Marilyn would have been at ease with them.
It was also interesting to hear from Sam Shaw's children. Did you know his son Larry was an assistant on the SYI
photo shoot? Or that Sam once found Marilyn bathing in a tub filled with ice-cubes?
Conover, De Dienes and Kelley are also mentioned. Of the major photographers, Greene and Stern weren't
covered.
Overall: 4 out of 5 Stars
Title: The Final Day
Original air date (or production date):1999
Nationality: British
Duration:60 minutes
Presented by:
Produced by: David Jamieson
Directed by: David Jamieson
Additional information: Ralph Roberts, Evelyn Moriarty, James Bacon, Norman Mailer, Colin Clark, Bob Slatzer, Don
Wolfe, Henry Weinstein, Ernest Cunningham, Michael Selsman, Mickey Song, Greg Schreiner, Eric Monroe
Woodard, David Brown.
I saw this documentary on the Biography Channel - www.thebiographychannel.co.uk
Review: This is really a look at the conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn's death. I'm not an expert on the
scientific analysis of what Marilyn may have consumed that evening, so I won't comment on that. It didn't really go
into much detail over what happened on the afternoon of August 4th, which seems crucial to me.
It is well worth watching for the impressive (though not unfamiliar) list of interviewees. Marilyn's friends, Evelyn
Moriarty and Ralph Roberts, were instantly likeable. Bob Slatzer was interviewed alone in a car park, Watergate-
style. But they couldn't find a single person to corroborate that he knew Marilyn.
I don't really buy into the conspiracy theories, but I found it an interesting documentary, with some great interviews
but not enough detail.
Overall note: 3 out of 5 stars - 2 stars for the interviews, but only 1 star for investigation.
| Film and Documentary Reviews |
| By Tara Hanks |
