50 years with Marilyn without Marilyn

Exactly fifty years ago, on August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was gone. The circumstances of the death of one of the greatest stars of cinema are still unclear. Some talk about the incorrectly calculated dosage of sleeping pills, others about suicide, others believe that the “lover of America” has become a victim of political intrigue. Be that as it may, Monroe left prematurely, being at the peak of her glory, having managed to conquer the hearts of millions, but remaining a mystery to most.



Monroe successfully embodied the main myths of the United States: the myth of the American dream and the myth of the "man who made himself" ("Self-Made Man"). Born on the ruins of an unlucky marriage, devoted in infancy with her own mother, wandering from one foster family to another, she from childhood was used to relying exclusively on her own strength. Having gained a bold dream to conquer the whole world, she only owes herself to the fact that from an ordinary girl named Norm Jin turned into Marilyn Monroe, the most luxurious beauty of all times and peoples.



The phenomenon of Marilyn Monroe is based on a certain duality, amazing inconsistency. In a nutshell, this feature is expressed by the phrase of the hero of the last film with Monroe's participation “restless”: “On the one hand, it looks like a naive and stupid child, and on the other ... did you see how she twists her ass?”
In an incomprehensible way, children's innocence and uncontrollable sensuality, sweet shyness and inimitable immediacy, defenselessness and equanimity, impulsiveness and self -control, imaginary naivety and equally imaginary vicinity were intertwined in Marilyn.



The brown -haired woman by nature, Monroe, like no other, managed to prove the thesis that gentlemen prefer blondes. She perfectly succeeded in the role of frivolous beauties with a vague past and uncertain future, but in such a role only a small share of the talent of the actress was expressed. All her life she dreamed of deep dramatic roles. Probably, it is thanks to this that even glamorous girls in her performance are not as simple as they seem at first glance. Monroe easily broke the stereotypical representations of the viewer, letting him know that platinum hair, delicious forms and languid voice do not at all deny the presence of intelligence and quick wits.



On the set, the actress was famous for her bewitching photogenicity and total inability to remember the necessary text. The camera did not stop loving her even on the sixtieth oak tree of the same scene. The public monroe stood out with frank outfits, effectively emphasizing all the best than nature gave the actress. Everyday Monroe preferred to dress suspiciously modestly. Unwashed in choosing the costume was a sense of taste and emphasized femininity.



They argued about Monroe endlessly, some scolded her on which the light was standing for vulgarity and excessive relaxation, others extolled to heaven for the same. Someone spoke about her as a “symbol of endless femininity”, the other saw in her only a “small child”. In one of her songs, the actress proclaimed diamonds with her best friends. However, judging by the vast library remaining after Monroe, she considered books real her friends.



Millions considered Marilyn perhaps the happiest person on earth, while she suffered from depression, loneliness and inability to fully realize her talent. If you turn to her diaries, you can notice that despair there always alternates with life affirmation, despondency - with a violent thirst for activity. Marilyn lived in the struggle, primarily in the fight against herself.
The element of Monroe was a change. Throughout her life, she did not get tired of growing and self -improve. Having won the status of the largest movie star, she went to the lessons of stage skills in the famous acting studio. And having received a high appreciation of the head of Lee Stusberg, I thought about making a movie herself.



Marilyn was often not the highest opinion of men, but she could not imagine her life without them. That's why most of her friends were representatives of the stronger sex, including Truman Kapote, Darril Zanuk. Friends often became lovers. These, according to rumors, included Marlon Brando, Yves Montan, Paul Newman, John and Robert Kennedy, Frank Sinatra. True, Marilyn saw a real man only in rare exceptions, like Raja Kapoor, Lawrence Olivier and Clark Gabel. Monroe not only delighted all of the above, but also brought to the white knee.



In our memory, the image of Marilyn Monroe consists of seemingly uncomplicated details: from a charming smile and scarlet lungs, porcelain leather and lovely mole on the cheek, from a voluminous hairstyle of blond hair and expressive, attracting like a magnet, eyes, from an exciting gait and a dress with an intriguing neck Voices and sparkling laughter. The relaxed unity of these elements gave birth to a unique image, which forced some to lose their heads, others to turn green about envy, and together both to change their life before the obvious evidence of the possibility of achieving perfection. Not tired of changing, Monroe was able to give her image a variety of intonations, the sound of which was sometimes so meaningful that it gave rise to the symbols of the era, and Monroe herself erected to the status of an icon of time.



In the “restless” heroine Monroe is lamented by the fact that people die without conveying their experience, their knowledge and skills to others. Monroe, despite the early death, taught others a lot. Films with her participation, her portraits, her songs give us an example of selfless happiness and joy of life. They still serve as a confirmation that even the most daring dreams can become a reality. To do this, you only need to believe in yourself and in your strength. Oh yes, if you are a girl, then it is advisable to have a couple of stilettos with you.



5 films with Marilyn Monroe, who are worth watching:

01. " Niagara " (Henry Hathaway, 1952)

“Niagara” is a picture in which Monroe elevated Monroe to the rank of cinema stars of the first magnitude. In addition, this is one of the few tapes where Marilyn, in her own words, "did not play an impassable fool." The film is a vivid example of a “pink” or “sunny” noir. In accordance with the doctrine of the genre, there is a riot of the most terrible human passions and the painful atmosphere of madness and fatalism, a criminal plot and a couple of murders, an incorrect fatal beauty and a man entangled with networks, as well as incredibly saturated colors in the spirit of “echoing the eye”.

02. " Gentlemen prefer blondes " (Howard Hawks, 1953)


Monroe finally consolidated her acting glory in this picture, while at the same time having approved the role of a short blonde, which she could not completely overcome. In the picture, all kinds of human and social vices are extremely fun and mischievously. At the same time, the disappointing pattern of the structure of our world is stated: gentlemen prefer blondes, and those in turn prefer diamonds.

03. " Itching seventh " (Billy Wilder, 1955)


It is in this film that the most famous image of Monroe is captured - a beauty in a snow -white dress inflated by the wind. However, the tape should be watched not only for this scene. The charm of the film is a common ironic and condescending intonation, which tells that all men are very, very large and incorrigible villains, and girls, whatever they were, are always innocent victims of the stronger sex.

04. " Some love hotter " (" In jazz only girls ") (Billy Wilder, 1959)


The tape “Some loves a hotter”, chastely named at the Soviet box office “In jazz only girls”, became the peak of Monroe's career. Perhaps it was here that she played her best and most famous role. Like many times earlier, her heroine, nicknamed the Darling, is looking for a millionaire, but, falling into a cunning whirlpool of events, loves love. In this story, told with sincere fun and enthusiasm, there is something insanely charming, touching and a sad drop, which exalts it to the scale of a movie masterpiece for all times. In addition, it is here that the familiar “I Wanna Be Loved by You” sounds with her wonderful and unique “Pu-BUP-PI-Du”.

05. " Restless " (John Houston, 1961)


The painting “restless” revealed the facets of Monroe’s talent unknown to most viewers and portended a new round in her work. However, the first truly dramatic role that the actress always dreamed about, alas, turned out to be her last role in general. The film was criticized immediately after the release and has not been appreciated so far. Meanwhile, the tragic image of a divorced unhappy girl embodied here, was as close as possible to a real mono, suffering, lonely, eager for love and understanding.