September 28, 2013 /

MARILYN – THE PROCESS

something's got to give dean martin marilyn monroe

I’m going over notes on the edit – but look at that, I managed to post something. Thanks for dropping in.

A lot has been written about Marilyn’s last film—her clashes with Cukor, the support of Dean Martin—but what I thought was interesting about this footage was her consummate skill, and the glimpse it affords of what it’s like to turn it on, over and over, performing for the camera. The scene as it’s cut together shows the polish, but it’s very illuminating to see the process… Side note, her rapport with the child actors is something I find particularly touching.

Something’s Got to Give is an unfinished 1962 American feature film, directed by George Cukor for Twentieth Century-Fox and starring Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse. A remake of My Favorite Wife (1940), a screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, it was Monroe’s last work; from the beginning its production was disrupted by her personal troubles, and after her death on August 5, 1962 the film was abandoned. Most of its completed footage remained unseen for many years.

Twentieth Century-Fox overhauled the entire production idea with mostly new cast and crew and released their My Favorite Wife remake, now titled Move Over, Darling and starring Doris Day, James Garner, and Polly Bergen, 16 months later…

Several weeks before principal photography began, the cast and crew gathered for wardrobe tests on a set that was a fully lit recreation of George Cukor’s Beverly Hills home. Production designer Gene Allen had sent a crew of men to Cukor’s home at 9166 Cordell Drive to photograph the house and pool areas of the estate. According to Allen, Cukor was photographed in the set’s courtyard with the intent of using the photo as his 1962 Christmas card.

via Something’s Got to Give – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Marilyn: The LIFE Covers, 1952-1962 | LIFE.com

Lawrence Schiller for LIFE

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Tags1962 acting actor actress behind the scenes Beverly Hills Dean Martin design director film Gene Allen George Cukor history Hollywood Life Covers Los Angeles Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe's last film Movie Star nudity on set performing for the camera photography pool Production Designer set design Something's Got to Give

22 Comments

  1. French Girl in Seattle
    September 28, 2013

    Excellent. As a big admirer of Marilyn’s I was so touched, as you were, to see her in the clip where she interacts with the kids but you only see her face. You are right: This is a fascinating take into the acting process. Turn it on. Turn it off. This takes a lot more skill than I would have imagined (but then again, I always thought Marilyn was as talented, and often underestimated, as they come…) Veronique – French Girl in Seattle

    • Vickie Lester
      September 29, 2013

      It takes incredible focus and access to emotion, I’m always blown away when I watch this footage.

  2. silverscreenings
    September 28, 2013

    This is all fascinating footage. She’s quite touching in the scene with the children. If anyone says to me she can’t act I will pull out this footage. She’s mesmerizing here.

    • Vickie Lester
      September 29, 2013

      Smart, beautiful, funny, supremely talented, and, as Aaron Sorkin would say, liquid sex.

  3. Elyse
    September 28, 2013

    Wonderful footage. But Dino in Cary Grant’s role?

    • Vickie Lester
      September 29, 2013

      I always loved Dino, but I see your point, he was more of an entertainer than a movie star, and nobody—before or since—had Cary Grant’s comedic timing or emotional range.

      • Elyse
        September 29, 2013

        Exactly!

  4. theperfumeddandy
    September 29, 2013

    Dearest V
    What a treat… for us that is, not poor Marilyn. Those endless takes, the grouchy Mr Cukor, all the more miraculous that she maintains such a pleasant demeanour and looks so radiant.
    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

  5. The Scented Hound
    September 29, 2013

    Thanks for the video. It’s so easy to see why Marilyn was such a star, she was so incredibly enigmatic. However, I don’t see here as a mother.. was this the only picture that she was set to play a mother?

  6. teamgloria
    September 30, 2013

    she has the kind of face that makes you believe there really is something called IT and not just Clara Bow Had It.

  8. dino martin peters
    October 22, 2013

    Miss Lester, no actress more beguiling then Miss Monroe and no actor more beguiling then our most beloved Dino. Thanks for an excellent post accentin’ the greatest flick that never made it to the silver screen. Know that your efforts are bein’ shared this day with all the pallies gathered ’round ilovedinomartin.

    • Vickie Lester
      October 22, 2013

      Mr. Peters,
      This is me, thankin you, from the bottom of my heart.
      xox, V

      • dino martin peters
        October 22, 2013

        Miss Vickie, I am humble by your deep appreciato….’gain thanks so kindly for homagin’ our Dino in this way.

      • Vickie Lester
        October 24, 2013

        I am going to hop over to your pad and see if I can figure out how to follow Dino’s goings on.

      • dino martin peters
        October 24, 2013

        Miss Vickie, likes if you have any problemos, just let me know. Our current Dino-devotion is accentin’ the existentialistic nature of our most beloved Dino!

Comments are closed.