Marilyn Monroe | Hollywood Yesterday

How to Marry a Millionaire: Behind the Scenes Picture of Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable

January 27, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall

Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall starred in the wonderful 1953 comedy How to Marry a Millionaire (directed by Jean Negulesco). It wasn’t necessarily the best movie ever made, but it was a great one that showcased three of Hollywood’s most glamorous and beloved stars.

You could even make a case (which I do!) that it was a blissful celebration of these three remarkable actresses. Each different, each unique, and each iconic. I like to think of this film as a tribute to each star, which is why it grinds my gears to see only one of the actresses on dvd covers (usually Marilyn).

Why not spotlight all three, right?!

The fun and colorful movie also stars William Powell, David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Fred Clark, and Cameron Mitchell.

You can find How to Marry a Millionaire (Amazon link) on dvd for your collection or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Marilyn Monroe: The Asphalt Jungle Promotional Pictures (Gorgeous!)

November 21, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, The Asphalt Jungle

Do you have any old Hollywood favorites you just know people think, “Oh… of course you like them…” when you mention them? Stars who are so iconic you fear they really aren’t taken seriously? That’s how it is when I name some of my favorites (such as Marilyn, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, James Stewart…). I’m afraid people think I love them because of their image or because of their stardom.

Far, far from it.

I love these stars because of their talent, the films they left us, and the colorful legacies they earned. These particular stars have actually been done a bit of a disservice by their great popularity. People tend to think of them as images or icons, when they were so much more.

I saw a Twitter conversation once where an individual said… (I’m paraphrasing because it’s been over a year and my brain has an “expiration date” with such things!)… “I just LOVE Marilyn Monroe.” Then another individual asked what their three favorite Marilyn Monroe films were.

You guessed it, the Marilyn Monroe lover had never seen a single of her films and even asked the person to name some because they didn’t know any!

ARRRGGGHHH!!!!

Marilyn Monroe, The Asphalt Jungle

All of this came back to me this morning when I was getting these pictures ready to post. One of the films the person named was The Asphalt Jungle and I was impressed. I think I half-expected them to name the glossy, more famous ones – so when they named this excellent, less-popular film, I knew we were dealing with one of us… a true fan of old movies and Marilyn.

The Asphalt Jungle (Amazon link to the movie on Prime Video) was a 1950 film-noir/drama with an outstanding cast and director (John Huston): Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen (love her!), Louis Calhern, James Whitmore, and Marilyn Monroe.

If you’ve never seen The Asphalt Jungle, I highly recommend it.

Marilyn Monroe, The Asphalt Jungle

Marilyn Monroe, All About Eve Publicity Photos

November 11, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, All About Eve

Relatively early in her career, Marilyn Monroe starred alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names and brightest stars. If it unnerved her, she never let it show. Personally, I think she often (make that VERY often) stole entire scenes and films from her more respected co-stars.

Seriously, don’t even get me started on how many times it happened!

I love her in All About Eve – another film that wasn’t “her” film, yet one in which her presence was very much felt.

If you’ve never seen this wonderful movie (starring Bette Davis, George Sanders, Anne Baxter, Thelma Ritter AND Marilyn Monroe), you can find it on Prime Video (link to the movie on Amazon Prime) or buy the dvd (Amazon link) for your personal collection.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch Promotional Pictures

October 13, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe seems like the perfect choice for a Tuesday’s pictures of the day – what better way to snap out of the Tuesday doldrums than seeing her beautiful face.

She’s kind of like human sunshine, I think.

You can find The Seven Year Itch (link to the dvd) on Amazon.

Marilyn Monroe: Adorable Behind the Scenes Picture

September 24, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, Behind the Scenes

I love this adorable photo of Marilyn Monroe behind the scenes of There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954, directed by Walter Lang). She looks so relaxed and happy – two states of being I wish she had always, always, always enjoyed.

The cast of There’s No Business Like Show Business (link to the dvd on Amazon) also included Ethel Merman, Donald O’Connor, Dan Dailey, and Mitzi Gaynor. What an outstanding cast!

Marilyn Monroe: Ladies of the Chorus (1948)

July 12, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, Ladies of the Chorus

One of my most-frequented preaching stumps I climb on, in the world of Old Hollywood, is the one where I scream to the masses…. “Marilyn Monroe was a darn good actress – and not just a beautiful face and crazy great figure!”

She gave each role exactly what it required… she did her job and did it superbly. As I often say… okay, preach… she, Elvis Presley, and John Wayne often come under fire from people who just don’t get it. They did NOT have to be… or need to be… Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, or Charles Laughton. They did precisely what they were paid to do… precisely what the public wanted them to do… and did it so beautifully and so flawlessly that they not only helped make Hollywood what it is today – their names and their faces are remembered long after they’ve left us.

When people try to compare stars to one another or try to shortchange their impact or success, they rob themselves of a lot of entertainment and, frankly, give the rest of us a headache!

Okay, I’ll step down off of the preaching stump now… heck, if you’re here on a Marilyn Monroe post, you probably already know all of this. If we’re being honest, it’s not the first time I’ve preached to the choir, though.

I get very passionate about Old Hollywood and inexplicably defensive of its stars. Especially my favorites!

Ladies of the Chorus (1948) is a really fun movie and Marilyn is adorable. It was directed by Phil Karlson. The main thing you have to get past is the fact that the beautiful actress, Adele Jergens, who plays Marilyn’s mother was actually only 9 years older than her!

Look at the picture below to get an idea of how crazy this was.

When it comes to finding the dvd, I’ve learned that you’re better off buying a Marilyn Monroe movie collection (Amazon link to a Marilyn Monroe Collection that includes Ladies of the Chorus). It is almost impossible to find a single copy of the movie – at least I was unable to. A collection is a better way to go, anyway – the more Marilyn, the better!

Adele Jergens and Marilyn Monroe, Ladies of the Chorus

Marilyn Monroe: Stunning Publicity Photo for All About Eve

May 10, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, All About Eve

The beautiful picture above is a publicity still for the 1950 movie All About Eve. The film was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who was also the screenwriter. The all star cast included Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Marilyn Monroe, Celeste Holm, Barbara Bates, Thelma Ritter, and Gary Merrill.

You can find All About Eve on DVD on Amazon or watch it on Prime.

Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe: How to Marry a Millionaire Publicity Photo

April 29, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) had an all-star cast: Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and William Powell to name a few. The film certainly paid off – it’s colorful, witty, and simply a lot of fun.

Two of the best things about the movie, in my opinion, are pictured here: Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable. While the entire cast is fantastic, these two pretty much steal the show.

You can find How to Marry a Millionaire on dvd on Amazon or watch it on Amazon Prime. If you watch is soon, tell Marilyn and Betty they’ll be seeing me again very soon. Every now and then I want nothing more than to just sit down with this movie and escape into their world for a bit.

I highly recommend it!

Marilyn Monroe: Beautiful, Intelligent, and More Talented Than Even She Knew

April 20, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe

As a Marilyn Monroe fan, it always grinds my gears when she isn’t given her due. Yes, she was uncommonly beautiful and certainly deserves to be remembered as one of the great beauties of all time. However, she was so much more than just beautiful. She was very bright and exceptionally well-read.

By all indications she had a great sense of humor, too.

Like all humans, she had her faults – don’t we all?! And her faults, seemingly, led to her leaving us far too soon. I don’t want to focus on any faults she may have had or personal demons she fought (all of these beloved stars fought their own demons in their own ways).

I’d much rather spend my time celebrating her wonderful talent, brains, and beauty. Sadly, Marilyn Monroe never gave herself the credit she deserved for her acting – she seemed to have been very insecure about her talent and it all but breaks my heart. I wish she could have seen the charisma and personality she brought to each role and each film.

I can’t think of one single Marilyn Monroe film that wasn’t better simply because she was in it. As far as that goes, there were quite a few that were ONLY good because of her! She is the only reason I’d recommend anyone watch The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) and she was my favorite part of How to Marry a Millionaire. She was adorable in each of these movies, and in so many others.

Each star (whether it was John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, or Elvis or Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, or Lucille Ball) was hired to play a particular type of character and to fulfill (literally) a particular type of role. When I hear people say that Elvis was “… no James Stewart” or that Marilyn was “… no Bette Davis,” I kind of want to snap, “THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO BE!” Generally, I point out to them (usually calmly… usually) that – on the other side of the coin – James Stewart was not Elvis and would have been particularly ill-suited to have starred in any of his films! For that matter, it is doubtful Bette Davis would have had the same presence Marilyn did in How to Marry a Millionaire or a few other films.

Each star should be celebrated and appreciated for who they were. Not who they weren’t.

Okay, I’m ranting now like a parrot without a cracker in sight and for this I apologize. I get very passionate about these wonderful stars. I’ve spent a lifetime respecting, appreciating, and adoring them and I get defensive for them. Heck, once I even came close to getting into an online argument over an actor I don’t even particularly like!

If you aren’t familiar with Marilyn Monroe’s films, I hope you’ll check them out. She was a wonderful actress – I only wish she had believed it.

Marilyn Monroe: The Seven Year Itch

March 14, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe, Behind the Scenes of The Seven Year Itch

Marilyn Monroe is primarily remembered as a great beauty icon (and as beautiful as she was, it’s certainly understandable!). However, she was also a very good actress – better, in fact, than she ever gave herself credit for. Her roles were not the type that called for a “Greta Garbo” or “Barbara Stanwyck” performance – they called for a “Marilyn Monroe” performance and she hit it out of the park every single time.

So many people watch stars and compare them to other actors or actresses. For example, they’ll watch Elvis and say, “He’s no Henry Fonda!” or “He isn’t the actor James Stewart was!”

My answers are always the same….

No. He wasn’t Henry Fonda. He was Elvis.

No. He wasn’t the actor James Stewart was. He didn’t have to be!

I hear the same thing with John Wayne – almost weekly. But here’s the thing. Are Elvis and John Wayne as remembered today as Henry Fonda and James Stewart.

Of course they are!

Is Marilyn Monroe as remembered today as well as Greta Garbo and Barbara Stanwyck?

Certainly!

Each star had their own types of roles and their own types of screen images – they knew what the public wanted from them and (this may upset their critics, but so be it)… they gave the public what they wanted just as well as ANY star did.

Marilyn’s roles were perfect for her and she was perfect for them. I may be in the minority, here, but that doesn’t scare me in the least, so I’ll just say it – I believe she could have handled “deeper” roles that were given to other actresses. I believe that if she had been given one that she completely felt challenged by, she would have stepped up to the plate.

That’s just my opinion, but my confidence in her talent is unwavering.