Marilyn Monroe passed away 6o years ago on August 4th, 1962. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she starred in over 30 movies in her career that spanned only 15 years. From her debut movie “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim” in 1947 to the unfinished “Something’s Got to Give” in 1962, she usually portrayed the sexy, naive blonde. A role she cultivated like no other and used to her advantage, but a role she also disliked.
Foster homes & marriage.
Norma Jeane had a troubled childhood, where she never came to really know her father, and she didn’t have fond memories of her mother either. Monroe allegedly recalled that her mother Gladys Monroe tried to choke her as a baby, before she gave her to foster parents for seven years. Gladys took Norma Jeane back home for about a year before she was admitted to a mental institution.
From then on Norma Jeane was moved between her mother`s best friend Grace McKee and foster parents. In fact, she was relocated 11 times. She also spent a full year at the Children’s Aid Society Orphanage in L.A which she recalled as a traumatizing experience. Later on, Monroe would also testify she was the victim of abuse and rape at the age of 11. Only in 1938 young Norma Jeane found a stable home at Ana Lower`s, a kind hearted, well off widow. In 1939 Norma Jeane enrolled at Emeron High School.
An average student she showed a passion for writing and contributed to the school paper. A shy, young girl she used to stutter when asked to recite. When Ana Lower got sick Norma Jane moved back to her first foster parents, the Goddards in 1941 and enrolled at Van Nuys High School. But a year later the Goddards wanted to move to West Virigina and to avoid Norma Jane`s return to the orphanage, arranged her wedding to James Dougherty, their neighbour`s son.
On June 19th, 1942, two and a half weeks after her 16th birthday Norma Jeane Mortenson married James Dougherty, five years her senior. She had to leave school as the law at the time forbid married under-aged to get an education.
Encouraged by Conover she signed with the Blue Book Agency in 1945 and soon became a much sought after model. Upon the agency`s advice she straightened and colored her hair blonde. By 1947 she would grace the covers of multiple international magazines.
The making of a Hollywood star.
A year later in 1946 Ben Lyon, the talent scout for 20th Century Fox arranged her first screen test which landed her a six months contract at USD 75 per week. The contract stipulated that she had to be single which led her to divorce James. It was also then that she changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
Her few first roles in 1947 starting with “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim” where not much of a success. Hence her contract was not renewed but the studio sent her to the Actors’ Laboratory where she took acting classes.
In 1948 Marilyn Monroe was signed by Columbia Pictures for a six months period that included acting classes with Natascha Lytess who helped her land her first leading role in the film musical “Ladies of the Chorus”. The B-Picture won her good reviews in the “Motion Picture Herald”. Her new agent Johnny Hyde, whose marriage proposal she turned down, and had a platonic relationship with until his death in 1950, got her a small part in the Marx Brother´s “Love Happy” movie. Her impressive appearance promted the producers to send her on the movie promotional tour throughout the US and the film premiere in New York.
A short while after she contacted photographer Tom Kelley who took a series of nude photos that would catch up with her later in her career.
1950-52: The breakthrough.
Starting 1950 Marilyn starred in small parts in a couple of movies including “All About Eve”, where she impressed in her role as an ambitious rising actress which landed her a seven year contract with 20th century Fox and for the first time a steady income.
While playing smaller parts in various movies, she took courses in Literature and Art at the University of California.
In March 1952 one of the Tom Kelley nude photos was published in a calendar. Her witty response to a Time Magazine journalist, “It’s not true I had nothing on. I had the radio on.” probably saved her career that was just beginning to take off. The photo reappeard in Playboy in December 1953 and ultimately established Monroe as a sex symbol. and also led to probably her most famous quote ” I only wear Chanel No.5″ when asked by a journalist what she wears in bed.
In her first big leading role in “Dont Bother to Knock” she portrays a psychopathic nanny. It is one of the rare parts where she does not portray the sexy, naive blonde. 1952 also won her the first awards, including the Photoplay Award as the most popular star.
International Stardom
In January 1953 “Niagra” was released and made Marilyn who plaed a wreckless wife an international star.
The 20th Century Fox photo campaigns of Marilyn in fabulous costumes found criticism by Hollywood legend Joan Crawford which prompted 20th Century Fox to shoot a campaign with Monroe dressed in a potatoe sack, headlined “Even in a potato sack Marilyn Monroe looks good.”
One of her most iconic and rememberd parts is that of Lorelei Lee in Howard Hawk`s “Gentlemen prefer Blondes”, alongside Jane Russell whose pay was 10 times that of hers. Monroe`s performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” has been replayed, re adapted and copied until date. Following the success, Russel and her where invited to add their hand and shoe prints at Hollywood´s famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
With her part as Pola in “How to Marry a Millionaire” and her trip to sing for the soldiers in South Korea, Monroe replaced Betty Grable as the most popular pin-up-girl of US soldiers.
In 1953 and 1954 Monroe was the biggest money maker for 20th Century Fox, yet tensions were rising. Monroe was able to sign a contract with RCA Records which allowed her to record and release songs under her own name with several record companies. in 1954 she was given the leading role in “The 7 year itch” which would proof to be her biggest success, partly through the legendary scene of her white dress blowing up while standing on top of a subway grating.
It was also in 1954 that she married retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio who she had met on a blind date in 1952. Joe´s jealousy was too much to take and the couple divorced nine months later. For 20 years until his death he would send red roses three times a week to her grave.
Method Acting
In December 1954 her and photographer Milton Greene founded the “Marilyn Monroe Productions Inc.” At this time she was the fourth prominent actress in Hollywood alongside Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson and Norma Shearer to form her own production company. 20th Century Fox was quick to sue her but soon settled and released her from her seven year contract.
She now attended classes at the Actors Studio to learn the art of the much industry despised Method Acting. Her teacher Lee Strasberg and his wife Paula became her mentors and advisors on film roles that often led to problems on the set.
On March 12th, 1956 she legally changed her name from Norma Jeane Mortenson to Marilyn Monroe. In the same year she left for London do shoot alongside Laurence Olivier in “The Prince and the Showgirl”, the only film ever producrd by Marilyn Monroe Productions. Despite good reviews in Europe the movie was not a commercial success and Monroe bought out Milton Greene.
Third time around:
On June 29th 1956 Marilyn wed the famous author and playwrite Arthur Miller who she looked upon as her guardian and father figure. She was ready to be a housewife and have a family but suffered three miscarrages caused by Endometriosis. After too many fights, often caused by Marilyn`s dependence on drugs, the couple divorced in January 1961.
Her role in 1958 “Some like it Hot” and her performane of “I Wanna Be Loved by You” are epic and earned her a Golden Globe. But by then Marilyn had started to depend on tranquilziers and alcohol that lead to endless rows with director Bily Wilder and also caused one of her miscarriages.
Monroes last movie, Misfits, alongside Clark Gable who died briefly after filming, was a commercial flop, but finally had given Monroe the chance of a character role.
1962: The tragic end.
April 1962 she started filming “Something’s Got to Give” considered daring for it`s time. Her epic perfomance at JFK`s birthday party at Madison Square Garden, in an equally daring dress delayed filming. Marilyn died before completing the movie.
Marilyn Monroe died on Saturday August 4th, 1962, aged 36. Her death date is often marked as August 5th , the day she was found.
Her psychiatrist Ralph R. Greenson had visited her in her home in Brentwood in the afternoon on August 4th and returned in the early monring following a call from Monroe`s housekeeper who couldn`t open her room. Greenson broke the window at around 3.30 am and officially declared her dead at 3.50 am. The coroner´s report stated an overdose of barbiturates and the time of death between 8.30 pm and 10.30 pm the night before. Given the high amount of barbiturates found in her blood, the cause of death was registered as suicide. Until date theories of muder by Monroe`s doctors, John and Robert Kennedy or the mafia conntinue to circulate.
For decades, rumors have swirled about Marilyn Monroe’s involvement with both President John F. Kennedy and his younger brother, Senator Robert F. Kennedy. However, there was no evidence substantiating the rumors of an affair between Monroe and Robert Kennedy — that is, until 2016, when a letter came up for auction via Julien’s Auctions.
The letter, from the Kennedys’ younger sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, to Monroe, reads, “Understand that you and Bobby are the new item,” and “We all think you should come with him when he comes back East!”
Monroe`s funeral was held on August 8th among a small circle of friends and family. She was put to rest in a coffin made out of bronze at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in a green Emilio Pucci dress and made up for the last time by her longtime makeup artist Whitey Snyder.
Marilyn Monroe´s fame continues until date. Befitting she told Life magazine on August 3rd, 1962 just a day before her death :
“If fame goes by, so long, I’ve had you, fame. If it goes by, I’ve always known it was fickle. So at least it’s something I experience, but that’s not where I live.”
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