Marilyn Monroe | Hollywood Yesterday

Marilyn Monroe and Victor Moore, The Seven Year Itch

August 16, 2021 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe and Victor Moore, The Seven Year Itch

Legendary director Billy Wilder and Marilyn Monroe didn’t team up often (unfortunately), but when they did, hilarity ensued. The Seven Year Itch is an especially good comedy that, for whatever reasons, isn’t quite as well known as their other film, Some Like it Hot. As far as I’m concerned, both are absolute masterpieces!

You can find The Seven Year Itch on dvd (on Amazon) or watch on Prime Video.

Marilyn Monroe and Victor Moore, The Seven Year Itch

Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Promotional Photos

August 14, 2021 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are so wonderful in their iconic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) roles, it’s one of those films I just wish everyone would see! Unfortunately the commercial success and popularity of a movie sometimes work against it. Even the most prolific film watchers turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to a movie they’ve seen talked about in excess. I’ve seen it happen (unfortunately) with this film as well as Singin’ in the Rain, It’s a Wonderful Life, and All About Eve – movies I think no one should ever pass up!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes also stars one of my absolute favorite character actors, Charles Coburn. The man was extraordinary in everything, including this movie.

You can find Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

August 8, 2021 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

When I first watched Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (many years ago), I honestly expected Marilyn Monroe to completely steal all of the sparkle and attention from Jane Russell. It was, to be fair, my first Jane Russell film and my millionth (counting first time and rewatches) Marilyn Monroe film – so I didn’t really have anything to draw upon.

I was floored, honestly, by the fact that Jane Russell (literally and figuratively) kept step with Marilyn throughout the entire movie. This isn’t simply a Marilyn Show, it’s a Marilyn AND Jane Show and it is a complete delight. Not just a delight, mind you, a complete delight.

If you’ve never seen this gem, I hope you’ll see it really soon. The movie was directed by Howard Hawks and also stars two of my absolute favorite character actors, Charles Coburn and the wonderful Norma Varden.

You can find Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The Beautiful and Iconic Marilyn Monroe: BOTD in 1926!

June 1, 2021 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe

One of the most beautiful, talented, and iconic stars of all time was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926 in Los Angeles, California. As Marilyn Monroe she would become a star known the world over… to this day!

One of the things I love the most about Marilyn Monroe is the fact she refused to reside in any type of mold others expected her to conform to. She was far more talented than anyone expected her to be (far more talented than she, herself, even realized) and was a very intellectual, well-read woman. She was incredibly bright and seemed to possess endless compassion for others.

Marilyn Monroe

Something that’s easy to lose sight of when talking about Marilyn Monroe is how incredibly young she was when she first began making movies and when insane fame hit her from all sides. The kind of press and attention she received would have been so difficult for anyone to handle – but especially someone so young. She also didn’t have a strong network of loved ones to surround and protect her, either.

Marilyn is one of those stars who I find myself the most “protective” about. She gave the world so much and her fame and popularity consumed her. Something we all tend to forget is just how young she was when she died in 1962 – just 36 years old.

May she continue to rest in peace and in the knowledge that she still has so many of us who love her. Quite a lot!

Marilyn Monroe, Niagra

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

January 27, 2021 By Joi

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.

How to Marry a Millionaire Movie Poster:

How to Marry a Millionaire Movie Poster (Amazon link)

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

November 21, 2020 By Joi

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

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

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

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

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!