Marilyn Remembered Fan Club Updates

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PORTRAIT EXHIBITION IN LONDON

There’s a new FREE Milton H. Greene portrait exhibition called “Up Close with Marilyn” happening in London, United Kingdom this year between Friday 11th May – Saturday 24th June.

“Proud Galleries is pleased to present ‘Up Close with Marilyn: Portraits by Milton H. Greene’, an exhibition of rare photographs of Marilyn Monroe, captured by celebrated photographer Milton H. Greene. Milton photographed the versatile characters Marilyn performed for the camera, shooting the actress in 52 different settings resulting in an archive of over 5000 images. Projecting intimate vulnerability whilst commanding the attention of her audience, Marilyn’s ability to construct and control her public image reinforced her position as one of Hollywood’s most admired and publicised 1950s movie stars. The large-scale photographic prints included in this collection exhibit Marilyn in overwhelming detail, encapsulating the glamour, charisma and unique charm that contributed to her stratospheric success and enduring legacy. Marilyn Monroe is arguably the most photographed personality of the 1950s; famed for her intoxicating sexuality wrapped in an aura of almost childlike innocence. By the time she had filmed her first movie at the age of 21, Marilyn had already experimented with her now famous bleached hair, but it was not until she turned 30 that she legally changed her name from Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe. Whilst she is remembered for a baby doll rendition of Happy Birthday and holding down her blowing white skirt in front of paparazzi, Marilyn was far from the ‘dumb blonde’ she performed. Through a contemporary lens, Marilyn has become a symbol of not only sex appeal, but empowerment and womanhood as she embraced the camera in a way that no celebrity had dared to do before. Milton’s poised and elegant depictions demonstrate Marilyn’s ability to create an entirely different character in front of the lens with just a simple glance, whether she is seductively posing in a negligee or hiding a coy smile with her hand. ‘Up Close with Marilyn: Portraits by Milton H. Greene’ allows the viewer to indulge in the fantasy of ‘Marilyn’ that she so effortlessly created for those who met her enthralling gaze.”

For dates and times of the exhibition, please head here: https://www.list.co.uk/event/21010490-up-close-with-marilyn-portraits-by-milton-h-greene/

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL DOUGLAS

Today we are wishing actor Paul Douglas (April 11th 1907 – September 11th 1959) a very happy birthday.

Douglas was an American movie star, who made his debut in films in 1936 and worked consistently up until his untimely death at 52 in 1959.  Some of his film credits include: “A Letter To Three Wives” (1949) and “Panic In The Streets” (1950.)  But it was his role in the classic film noir drama “Clash By Night” (1952) as the bumbling, but loveable Jerry D’Amato starring alongside Barbara Stamwyk, Robert Ryan and Marilyn Monroe, that he will be best remembered.  Douglas also shared the same billing with Marilyn in the 1952 comedy “We’re Not Married!”

Douglas had been cast as Mr Jeff D. Sheldrake, an iconic character in the equally iconic film “The Apartment” (1960) which was Directed by Billy Wilder and co-starred Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.  It would go on to be nominated for 10 Academy Awards (winning 5, including Best Picture.)  But tragically, Douglas died suddenly of a heart attack in 1959 and the role was recast and given to Fred MacMurray.



Here he is with Marilyn at the 1953 Photoplay Awards.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTE DAVIS


Remembering the incomparable Bette Davis, born on this date in 1908.

Bette Davis had a long and illustrious career spanning 7 decades.  She won the Academy Award for ‘Best Actress‘ twice, was the first person to accrue ten Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Insitute.

Some of her most well known films include “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?” “Now Voyager,” “Dark Victory,” and “The Virgin Queen.”  But it is undoubtably her role as Margo Channing in “All About Eve” that film goers and Marilyn fans remember most as Monroe had a small, but most definitely memorable role as the light headed, but charming Miss Caswell.

Davis said in her autobiography about “All About Eve,”
 “I can think of no project that from the outset was as rewarding from the first day to the last. It is easy to understand why. It was a great script, had a great director, and was a cast of professionals all with parts they liked. It was a charmed production from the word go.”

She is buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills in California.  Her tombstone reads “She did it the hard way.”

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MARCH 21ST: ROSIE THE RIVETER DAY


March 21 has been declared Rosie the Riveter Day. Marilyn herself worked in such a role at Radioplane! During World War II, thousands of women worked in a factory jobs because men were called upon to serve in the war. Thanks to women working for the war effort at home, the United States was able to keep up with manufacturing goals to produce ships, airplanes, jeeps and tanks.