Having risen above a dismal upbringing, Marilyn Monroe managed to
make her life as an adult immeasurably brighter than the one she had
suffered as a child. Throughout the 1950's, Monroe continually achieved
greater fame with each passing year until she captured an acclaim so
great that only a term as weighty as "legend" could be used to properly
describe her.
Cementing her reputation as a seasoned actress with such films as
Home Town Story (1951), As Young as You Feel (1951) and Monkey Business
(1952), Marilyn plodded through film after film, usually cast as the
stereotypical blonde bombshell. But her turn in Niagara (1953) brought
attention to the actress' depth after critical acclaim for her
well-crafted performance.
Garnering more than just accolades for her talents in 1953,
Monroe generated a media avalanche that made her a household name. In
print, Marilyn could be seen in a variety of publications (most notably
in the premiere edition of Playboy, which published previously
photographed pictures of her in the nude). On screen, she could be seen
not only in Niagara, but also in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to
Marry a Millionaire. Along with her constant popularity as a topic of
discussion on both radio and TV, Marilyn was everywhere.
Skyrocketing out of 1953 as one of the most famous stars in the
history of cinema, Marilyn achieved further public attention with her
marriage to New York Yankee's legend Joe DiMaggio in 1954. The union
proved to be a tumultuous one that ended in divorce nine months later,
but had little effect on her career. She could be seen in River of No
Return and There's No Business Like Show Business that same year.
In 1955, having grown tired of the mostly "dumb blonde" roles she
was being offered, Monroe decided to shift gears with a move to New York
City and a rigorous period of study with Lee Strasberg at the
world-famous Actors Studio. Ironically, while attempting to be taken
more seriously as an actress, one of her most famous "dumb blonde"
characters was being seen in theaters worldwide.
The Seven Year Itch (1955) featured Marilyn as a character billed
only as "The Girl" and became one of the most famous and successful
films of her career. Unfortunately, her solid performance in the piece
only led to further stereotyping.
Hungry for more parts that would truly exercise her artistic
abilities, Monroe lost patience with waiting for the proper roles to be
offered. In 1956 she became one of the first women in Hollywood to form
her own production company. In the same year, Marilyn Monroe Productions
produced Bus Stop, a film which featured what many believe to be her
finest performance. But the big event for Monroe in 1956 was not a film.
It was her marriage to legendary playwright Arthur Miller.
The following year, Marilyn Monroe Productions attempted yet another
release, but was not as successful. The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
not only starred Monroe, but also included Laurence Olivier performing
as both co-star and director. The film opened to luke-warm box office
and so-so reviews that were commonly attributed to a lack of chemistry
between the future "Sir Laurence" and Marilyn.
At the height of her career, Marilyn Monroe's next film would not be
released until 1959. And as the decade approached its end, Marilyn was
developing a problem with another type of chemistry.
Go
to Rewind the Fifties Home
