Marilyn Monroe | Hollywood Yesterday

Marilyn Monroe on the Set of Clash by Night

September 23, 2021 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe

These wonderful pictures of Marilyn Monroe on the set of Clash by Night show something I have always said… she was at her most beautiful without all the glam and glitz. She didn’t need anything to give her more beauty – she came fully equipped with all she’d ever need!

Clash by Night (1952, directed by Fritz Lang) was Marilyn’s big break and, in my opinion, she did a wonderful job. If you can share the screen with one of the greatest actresses/actors of all time (Barbara Stanwyck) and not get swallowed alive, you have done something!

You can find the wonderful Clash By Night on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Amazon Prime.

Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, and Marilyn Monroe: Behind the Scenes of Clash by Night

September 8, 2021 By Joi

Barbara Stanwyck and Paul Douglas

I’ve seen nearly all of Barbara Stanwyck’s films at least once and one that always grabs me by the lapels is Clash by Night (1952, directed by Fritz Lang). The storyline is gritty and spellbinding and the performances are just as gritty and spellbinding. Then again, when an outstanding director meets an outstanding cast, this is pretty much what you’d expect.

The cast includes Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan, Marilyn Monroe, and J Carrol Naish. Each gives a “filmography highlight” type of performance and, while I’d be hesitant to single any of them out – I do have to mention Paul Douglas’ phenomenal performance and Marilyn Monroe’s ability to hang with the more seasoned stars SO early in her career. The beautiful actress was haunted by insecurities when it came to acting, so knowing all she had to personally overcome to step in front of a camera always impresses the daylights out of me (so, how Kentuckian… on a scale of one to bless their hearts was that saying?!?!).

Another performance that also impresses me (but in no way surprises me) is Barbara Stanwyck’s. I’m used to greatness by the legendary actress, but she filmed this role under a great of stress – she was going through a divorce at this time, yet remained completely focused on her work and, as always, highly professional.

Director Fritz Lane would say of her: “She’s fantastic, unbelievable, and I liked her tremendously. When Marilyn missed her lines—which she did constantly—Barbara never said a word.” (I hasten to add that this was extremely early in Marilyn’s career AND she was, again, greatly incombered by insecurities.)

You can find the wonderful Clash By Night on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Amazon Prime.

Marilyn Monroe, Clash By Night

Marilyn Monroe, Behind the Scenes Pictures from The Seven Year Itch (1955)

August 19, 2021 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe

Two of the best kinds of photos are Marilyn Monroe pictures and Behind the Scenes pictures from film or tv. When the pictures happen to be BOTH, sign me right up!

These wonderful Marilyn photos were taken while she was filming the 1955 comedy The Seven Year Itch, directed by the wonderful Billy Wilder. Wilder would also direct MM in Some Like it Hot a few years later.

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

Marilyn Monroe, behind the scenes of The Seven Year Itch

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!

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.