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A Filmmaker's Guide to: Marilyn Monroe

Film Studies (Pt.110)

By Annie KapurPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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In this chapter of ‘the filmmaker’s guide’ we’re actually going to be learning about literature and film together. I understand that many of you are sitting in university during difficult times and finding it increasingly hard to study and I understand that many of you who are not at university or not planning on it are possibly stuck of what to do, need a break or even need to catch up on learning film before you get to the next level. This guide will be brief but will also contain: new vocabulary, concepts and theories, films to watch and we will be exploring something taboo until now in the ‘filmmaker’s guide’ - academia (abyss opens). Each article will explore a different concept of film, philosophy, literature or bibliography/filmography etc. in order to give you something new to learn each time we see each other. You can use some of the words amongst family and friends to sound clever or you can get back to me (email in bio) and tell me how you’re doing. So, strap in and prepare for the filmmaker’s guide to film studies because it is going to be one wild ride.

Marilyn Monroe

Who was she?

Born in LA in 1926, Marilyn Monroe initially started off as a model, becoming known for her pin-up style and her beauty. In 1947, she was in her debut role in the film "Dangerous Years" in which she portrayed a character called Evie. She filmed almost thirty films in her career and even though it was a short career, she made a huge difference.

What did she do in film?

Apart from pioneering the sexual liberation of females in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe is often overlooked in her talents because of her looks. I would like to state that Marilyn Monroe is possibly one of the greatest rom-com actresses of all time, with the amount she can do with her energy and basically play the unattainable female, she has created this incredible character that to this day, actresses try and fail to replicate.

Let's take a look at some of her greatest performances on the screen and what they did for her career:

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) dir. by Howard Hawks

Lorelei Lee is probably one of the most well-known and recognised characters in all of rom-com history. We know for a fact that Marilyn Monroe is the cause of this and I believe that without her in this role, it would not have been anywhere near as well-known as it is today.

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) dir. by Jean Negulesco

Portraying Pola in this film was one of the most underrated roles portrayed by Marilyn Monroe in my opinion. She basically played this woman looking for love who is conned, pushed around but never gives up. It was the perfect role for her to explore more of an open role in a leading position in rom-coms.

The Seven Year Itch (1955) dir. by Billy Wilder

Possibly one of the most famous films starring Marilyn Monroe is ironically the one where her character doesn't have a name. She is simply called 'the girl'. The scene over a radiator grill is basically one of the most iconic scenes in all of rom-com movie history. This was one of the greatest performances by Marilyn Monroe, hands down no argument.

The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) dir. by Laurence Olivier

Portraying Elsie in this, Marilyn Monroe did her best to play a woman woo'ed by kindness. Famously, Olivier did not like her at all thinking that she wasn't a real actress. However, I actually believe that a rom-com just did not work well for Olivier on screen as he is more into the stage than the screen. They had a simple personality clash but at what they are good at, they are as good as each other.

Some Like it Hot (1959) dir. by Billy Wilder

Possibly my personal favourite Marilyn Monroe performance because she really comes out of her shell to basically run the entire film, she portrays the famed "Sugar Cane" and carries a film by herself even though the likes of Jack Lemmon are co-starring. He performance is in classic Marilyn Monroe style and it looks like she has really found her niche and is the best at it in her era.

Conclusion

There is no argument about the fact that Marilyn Monroe became a cultural phenomenon after her death in 1962, but I think people often forget that she was a smart, brilliant and very talented woman as well. Without her, I mean, we would not have sexually liberated women in rom-coms. She was a beacon of hope for the movement into modernism and remains so today.

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About the Creator

Annie Kapur

190K+ Reads on Vocal.

English Lecturer

🎓Literature & Writing (B.A)

🎓Film & Writing (M.A)

🎓Secondary English Education (PgDipEd)

📍Birmingham, UK

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