This Week's Goddess - Marilyn Monroe

Recently, several of the photo shoots I have done with my Integrity ladies have reminded me of one of the all time favorite glamour goddesses - Marilyn Monroe.

"Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend" from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

Read More About Marilyn Monroe

She began her career as the model Norma Jeane Baker and it was clear from the beginning that the camera loved her...

Norma Jean becomes Marilyn Monroe

Her modeling career quickly led to Hollywood. She was first signed by 20th Century Fox, but after her contract lapsed, Columbia Pictures signed her for 6 months and cast her as stage girl Peggy Martin in the B movie, "LADIES OF THE CHORUS."

"Anyone Can See I Love You" from LADIES OF THE CHORUS (1948)

Her next role was with the Marx Bros. in their last official film "LOVE HAPPY." Monroe reportedly got the role because the Producer asked her and two other actresses to walk past Marx during the audition and whoever he thought had the most seductive walk would get the part. Marilyn walked third and Marx told the Producer: "How could you possibly choose anyone but that last one?"

LOVE HAPPY (1949)

After Joseph L. Maciewicz noticed Marilyn in the THE ASPHALT JUNGLE (1950), he cast her in the bit role of Miss Casswell with Bette Davis in the Academy Award winning "ALL ABOUT EVE." You can hear her starting to use her signature saucy kitten voice in this scene.

ALL ABOUT EVE (1951)

Marilyn starred in several other dramatic roles in the early 1950's...

"Hometown Story" (1951)

As a streetwalker in a segment from FULL HOUSE (1952)

...but, it was her steamy performance as Rose Loomis, the wife of Joseph Cotten, in the 1953 film "NIAGRA" that the sexy, iconic, platinum-haired "Marilyn Monroe" officially appeared on screen.

The "Kiss" from NIAGRA (1953)

This now confident blonde cinematic bombshell then met the no-nonsense brunette bombshell, Jane Russell, and the two made a perfect match when they co-starred in the Howard Hawk's film spectacular: "GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES."

"Two Girls From Little Rock" from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953)

Later that year, she teamed with two other well-known screen divas, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable, which further rose her status as a true Hollywood goddess.

with Betty Grable

HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (1953)

with Bacall and Bogart

Marilyn continued to take on roles that touted her talents as an entertainer, a comedian and her acting chops:

"I'm Going To File My Claim" from RIVER OF NO RETURN (1954)

"Heatwave" from THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS (1954)

THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955)

Despite her success as a sexy bombshell and comedian, Marilyn wanted to be taken more seriously as an actress. She started studying with the Acting Studio and Lee Strasberg in 1955 and also started her own production company under contract with Fox. Her first production was BUS STOP for which she received praise from critics for her performance and was nominated for a Best Actress Academy award.

"That Old Black Magic" from BUS STOP (French dubb - 1956)

Next, Marilyn Monroe Productions released "THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL" - the adaptation of a stage play that originally starred Lawrence Olivier and his wife, Vivian Leigh in the leading roles on the stage in London. Olivier directed the film and co-starred with Monroe. Olivier reportedly had a difficult time dealing with Marilyn's unruly behavior during filming, but publicly praised Marilyn and her performance. The film was nominated for several BAFTRA awards and Marilyn won the Italy's Golden Plate award for Best Actress. It was the only film Marilyn starred in that was shot outside the United States.

THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL (1957)

During the production of BUS STOP and THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL, Marilyn met her 3rd husband, esteemed playwrite and screenwriter, Arthur Miller. Miller encouraged her to next star in the Biller Wilder' comedy smash SOME LIKE IT HOT with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dressed in drag as female musicians.

with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis

"Through with Love" from SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

Miller then wrote Marilyn the part of Rosyln Taber starring opposite Clark Cable and Montgomery Clift in John Huston's classic, "THE MISFITS." Sadly, her praised performance was attributed to the ups and downs she was experiencing in her own personal struggles at the time.

THE MISFITS (1962)

Her last filmed performance was in the never to be released Stanley Cukor film "SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE." Marilyn was fired from the picture due to her unpredictable behavior and inability to stick to the shooting schedule. She was later re-hired, but died before shooting could resume, so the film was never completed or released.

Something's Got To Give (1962)

She was found dead in her Brentwood apartment of an apparent drug overdose on August 5th, 1962:

Monroe Funeral - Narrated by John Huston

Despite her tragic end, she will forever be remembered for her stunning beauty and seemingly effortless glamour, her wonderful innocence, her brilliant smile, her portrayal of a doe-eyed dumb blonde who was anything but, and her amazing never-apologetic sexuality. She remains the one and only Marilyn.