Golden Age of Hollywood
Marilyn Monroe
The beautiful (and very talented) Marilyn Monroe is always a great subject for the Picture of the Day. This is from a wardrobe test for As Young as You Feel (1951).
As I always say, this actress was more than just an uncommonly beautiful face – she was very, very talented and so much fun to watch in every role she ever brought to life. She was a very fine actress and this is a hill I am willing to die on!
Marilyn Monroe
The beautiful (and very talented) Marilyn Monroe is always a great subject for the Picture of the Day! This is from a wardrobe test for As Young as You Feel (1951).
Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
The Marilyn Monroe Gentlemen Prefer Blondes promo picture, above, pretty much takes my breath away each time I look at it. I mean, come on. It’s stunning!
One of the things I love most about their continued popularity is the fact they are gaining passionate new fans each year as younger generations fall under their spell.
The Marilyn Monroe scarf isn’t just fashionably gorgeous, it’s the perfect way for fans of Marilyn Monroe to let the world know that she’s still on their minds and in their hearts.
Click through the picture or either of the links for more information. This beauty would make a great Mother’s Day or Christmas gift. And, yes, as a matter of fact, I do think about Christmas year round! We have a pretty large family, so if I stand a chance of getting everything I want to get for everyone, I have to start early and keep going all year.
The wonderful thing is, it makes Christmas last year-round.
Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth (just to name two) are actresses that are so famous for their beauty that their talent often goes uncelebrated. As a huge fan of each, that drives me nuts. They were as talented as they were beautiful and… maybe, just maybe… if they had been just a little less shiny and stunning, this would be a fact more would realize.
It is what it is, however. I guess there are worse things than being remembered for your beauty!
“In Hollywood a girl’s virtue is much less important than her hairdo. You’re judged by how you look, not by what you are. Hollywood’s a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for kiss, and fifty cents for your soul. I know, because I turned down the first offer often enough and held out for the fifty.” – Marilyn Monroe
I am glad that Marilyn’s intelligence is garnering more and more attention. She was a very, very bright woman and the fact that people are realizing that makes me smile a big toothy smile.
If you’ve never seen Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire (as the adorable Pola Debevoise), I hope you’ll check it out as soon as possible. While Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable are two of the best actresses from Old Hollywood (and certainly two of my favorites), Marilyn steals the show right out from under them. Her portrayal of Pola is just perfect and she’s one of the main reasons the movie is as enjoyable as it is.
Marilyn Monroe, How to Marry a Millionaire
Marilyn is equally mesmerizing in The Prince and the Showgirl – but I would only recommend watching that particular movie if you fast forward through everything that isn’t a Marilyn Monroe scene! Seriously, I detest that movie so much it isn’t even funny. Marilyn? Adorable. But Laurence Olivier somehow manages to turn in a ridiculously horrible (cringe-worthy, if we’re being honest) performance as The Regent. I understand trying to play the role “high brow,” but his character was more dead than alive! Wonderful actor – at times stunningly so – but this movie is not his best performance. Whether he was having personal problems, hated his co-star, or simply didn’t like the movie – I have no idea (of course, professionalism should be able to rise above any of these distractions).
“I’m not interested in money, I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe
At any rate, she steals the movie – as she is so apt to do.
I adore the actress and the more I read about her, the more I realize that she battled a lot of things in life but none quite like she battled herself. In the end, she lost to herself, and that’s a tragedy that I can’t fully comprehend.
I’ve often read about the many stars who weren’t kind to Marilyn but (as a HUGE Barbara Stanwyck fan) I love the fact that one of the few names she singled out as being sweet to her was Barbara Stanwyck. I believe that says a lot about Ms Stanwyck.
However, it also says a lot about Marilyn Monroe. Barbara Stanwyck had a keen eye for talent and for people who were worth her time. She didn’t suffer fools well (I guess none of us really do, do we?!), and the fact that she saw something in Marilyn that made her want to extend herself is actually quite a complement.
If you aren’t familiar with Marilyn Monroe’s movies, I hope you’ll start enjoying them one at a time. Yes… even that one!
“I used to say to myself, ‘What the devil have you got to be proud about, Marilyn Monroe?’ And I’d answer, ‘Everything, everything’.” – Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe (How to Marry a Millionaire)
A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night.
A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing.
An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine.
Dogs never bite me. Just humans.
Dreaming about being an actress, is more exciting then being one.
Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
Fame will go by and, 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.
First, I’m trying to prove to myself that I’m a person. Then maybe I’ll convince myself that I’m an actress.
Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.
I am invariably late for appointments – sometimes as much as two hours. I’ve tried to change my ways but the things that make me late are too strong, and too pleasing.
Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.
The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.
The thing I want more than anything else? I want to have children. I used to feel for every child I had, I would adopt another.
There was my name up in lights. I said, ‘God, somebody’s made a mistake.’ But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, ‘Remember, you’re not a star.’ Yet there it was up in lights.
I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.
I have feelings too. I am still human. All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent.
I have too many fantasies to be a housewife. I guess I am a fantasy.
I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle.
I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.
I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.
I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it.
I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one.
I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.
I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.
I love a natural look in pictures. I like people with a feeling one way or another – it shows an inner life. I like to see that there’s something going on inside them.
I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else.
I restore myself when I’m alone.
I’m very definitely a woman and I enjoy it.
I’ve been on a calendar, but I’ve never been on time.
I’ve never dropped anyone I believed in.
If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never have got anywhere.
If I’m a star, then the people made me a star.
It’s all make believe, isn’t it?
It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone – so far.
It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.
It’s often just enough to be with someone. I don’t need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You’re not alone.
Men are so willing to respect anything that bores them.
To put it bluntly, I seem to have a whole superstructure with no foundation. But I’m working on the foundation.
What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course.
My work is the only ground I’ve ever had to stand on. I seem to have a whole superstructure with no foundation but I’m working on the foundation.
No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they’re pretty, even if they aren’t.
The man’s name is synonymous with fine acting and for good reason.
Oddly enough, however, the name Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with beauty and sex appeal (again, for good reason) but it’s the rare bird who’d associate her with good acting, let alone great acting.
I guess I’m among the rarest of birds.
Marilyn Monroe was so much more than just a beautiful face. Her intelligence led to her ability to bring so much to each character she portrayed. She simply knew what each character would feel and how they would react to everything and everyone around them.
The Prince and the Showgirl is one of my personal favorite Marilyn Monroe performances, which kind of sucks because Laurence Olivier’s performance makes me cringe. I understand he’s portraying royalty, here, but I’d have preferred royalty with a pulse!
His performance is one of my least favorites in any movie, to be honest. Leslie Howard in Gone With the Wind is right up there, too. The thought of both characters being appealing to ANYONE is hard to buy into.. and yet both characters had beautiful ladies fawning over them.
Please!
Somehow, in spite of a lackluster, stiff performance by one of the greatest actors of all-time, The Prince and The Showgirl is still a pretty cute and enjoyable movie. It is, of course, primarily thanks to MM and her adorable portrayal of the “showgirl.” In fact, the entire rest of the cast (aside from the legend) did a fine job – even those who had only one or two scenes.
I’ve read that MM and LO did not get along at all – he took all kinds of exception to her frequent tardiness and “moods.” I don’t want to believe that this affected his performance, however, because he was the very definition of a professional. Their relationship actually makes me want to read “The Prince, the Showgirl, and Me: Six Months on the Set With Marilyn and Olivier” by Colin Clark.
Book Description: When Colin Clark left college in the 1950s, he got a job as a gofer on the set of the movie The Prince and the Showgirl, starring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier. The film should have been a box office smash, but even before cameras rolled, things began going wrong–and Clark recorded it all in this beguiling, fly-on-the-wall diary.
New and used copies are available on Amazon, so I’m going to order one SOON.
When I watch The Prince and The Showgirl I always come away with the same question…. “Why is he making his character so painful to watch?!?! Is he trying to win her over or bore her to tears?!”
Marilyn is so fun, lively, and energetic – she makes the screen sizzle and pop when she’s on it. Then, here he comes… dragging the movie, as a whole, down with him.
If you’ve never seen the movie, I hope you’ll watch it soon and see what you think. As I’ve said a million times, old movies and old performances are worth watching even when we don’t love or even like them. There’s always something good or worthwhile about every single movie and in this particular movie, MM and a very strong, lively cast make it worth watching.
In spite of you know who.
The Nine Chris Consani Posters
This set would be a gorgeous way to bring the fun of the Golden Age of Hollywood into your own home – they’d also make pretty darn amazing gift ideas for other fans of Marilyn, Humphrey, James, and Elvis.
Click through the link or picture for more information.
The beauty above is Silent Film star Mildred Davis. She was a frequent co-star (and longtime wife) of legendary actor Harold Lloyd. She’s one of my favorite silent film actresses and one I can’t understand not being a household name!
There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.
Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)
We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)
The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)
The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)
The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)
Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)
El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)
Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)
The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)
Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)
To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)
Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)
Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)
The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)
More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews
Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…
Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
