Posts Tagged with Marilyn Monroe

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REVIEW: “THE LITTLE BOOK OF MARILYN” BY MICHELLE MORGAN

MICHELLE MORGAN, a name that in recent years has become a staple in every Marilyn fan’s vocabulary.  Over on our “Marilyn Remembered” Facebook group, one of the most commonly asked questions is “what is your favourite Marilyn biography?” and an overwhelming amount of people will always answer with the same response: “Marilyn Monroe: Private And Undisclosed” by Michelle Morgan (2007).  Not since Donald Spoto’s 1993 mammoth book titled “Marilyn Monroe: The Biography” have fans universally come together and heaped praise on such a well researched, loving tribute to Monroe’s life and career.

Michelle Morgan is no stranger to researching and writing about Miss Monroe, “The Little Book Of Marilyn” will be the author’s 5th title release in regards to Monroe’s life and legacy: “Marilyn’s Addresses” (1995) “Marilyn Monroe: Private And Undisclosed” (2007) “Before Marilyn” (2015) and “The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch And The Birth Of An Unlikely Feminist” (2016) have all received rave reviews and the Marilyn community have come to trust Morgan as one of the most reputable Monroe authors out there.

“The Little Book Of Marilyn” is quite simply, an utter delight!  “Let Your Inner Marilyn Shine!” the back cover reads and it’s not wrong.  This 216 page, handbag sized treat is a treasure trove of style advice, beauty tutorials, lifestyle tips and everything you need to know to be your own best version of the glamourous Hollywood star.

“The Little Book Of Marilyn” is such a visual treat, from the eye catching front cover, to the stunning high quality photographs, both in colour and in black and white, this is a book that you will continue to pull off your book shelf again and again simply just to browse through, because it looks THAT good!

The book has seven chapters, each more glamorous and as exciting than the last! (look out for the tutorial on how to create your very own bathroom tile, exactly like Marilyn’s own in her 5th Helena Drive home!)
Chapter 1: Her Story
Chapter 2: Inspiration
Chapter 3: Style
Chapter 4: Beauty
Chapter 5: Life Skills
Chapter 6: Personal Effects
Chapter 7: Walk With Marilyn

One of the highlights of this book, is how much Michelle has involved members of the Marilyn online community.  If you frequent the many online fan clubs and websites dedicated to Monroe, you are bound to recognise so many famliar names and faces, which gives the book a very intimate, personal feel, as if you’re all sat round a coffee table, having a good old natter about our girl!  Marilyn Remembered founder Greg Schriener and leadership team member Scott Fortner are highlighted in the book, as are many other members of the club, including Fraser Penney, Megan Owen, Hanna Nixon, Suzie Kennedy, Marisa Vanderpest, Leslie Summey, Vanessa Roden, Rebecca Swift, Emma Mitchell, Jessica Kiper, Katy Kinloch, Kaylie Minzola, Ashley Clark and Laura Kallio.

Furthermore, what is also great about this book is its universal appeal.  You don’t need to be a die hard student of Monroe to enjoy it, you may just be a casual fan who admires Marilyn’s style, or you may have a relative or a friend who loves Old Hollywood glamour and wants advice on vintage clothing, hair, make up etc.

In conclusion, this book gets a massive (glamorous!) thumbs up.  It’s bright, bubbly, fun sized and a loving tribute to Marilyn.  Your book shelf is going to look very dull without it!

“The Little Book Of Marilyn” is out now (25th July 2019 in the UK) retailing for $12.15 and £12.99 (UK) and Published by Running Press.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle Morgan is the author of many Hollywood related books, including “The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and The Birth Of The Unlikely Feminist.”  She has spoken at the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum; and appeared in several documentaries, including “Artists in Love: Marilyn and Arthur.”  Michelle lives in Northamptonshire.

Website:  http://michellemorgan.co.uk/

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE CUKOR

“She had this absolute unerring touch with comedy… she acted as if she didn’t quite understand why it was so funny. Which is what made it so funny.”

Happy Birthday George Cukor, who was born on July 7th 1899.

Cukor directed Marilyn on two of her motion pictures: “Let’s Make Love” and her final and unfinished picture “Something’s Got To Give.” Cukor was an American film director, mainly concentrating on comedies and literary adaptations. Cukor racked up an impressive list of film credits in his lengthy career, including “Little Women” (1933) “Dinner At Eight” (1933) “David Copperfield” (1935) “A Star Is Born” (1954) and eventually winning an Oscar for his work on “My Fair Lady” in 1964.

Cukor was one of the select group of approved Directors on the list that Marilyn handed FOX Studios in late 1955. Although she had never worked with him, she was impressed by his reputation, In 1960, Cukor and Marilyn got their chance to work together on “Let’s Make Love” As ever with Marilyn, tension reigned on set. After the event Cukor admitted: “I had no real communication with her at all… and very little influence. All I could do was make a climate that was agreeable to her.” He also recognised her greateness. He found her to be “quite dazzling on screen, and at the end of the picture very generous to everyone she had worked with.”

The partnership of Cukor and Monroe came round again when they worked on “Something’s Got To Give” together. Even though Cukor was Marilyn’s suggestion to the studio as a potential director, any faith she had in him was starting to vanish as they disagreed on script changes and he struggled to cope with her lengthy absences from the set. The film however would never come to its completion, after the closing down of the production in 1962, shortly before Monroe’s untimely passing.

Cukor died of a heart attack on January 24th 1983 and is interred in Grave D, Little Garden of Constancy, Garden of Memory (private) Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale California.

Source: The Marilyn Encyclopedia

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REMEMBERING WALTER MATTHAU

Remembering Walter Matthau who passed away July 1st 2000.

Although his name isn’t instantly thought of when it comes to Marilyn, they do have a connection. Matthau was one of the original choices for the role of “Richard Sherman” in “The Seven Year Itch” and even went as far as to record a screen test (linked below.)
The role eventually went to Tom Ewell and the rest is history.

Although it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Richard Sherman, as Tom Ewell did such a fantastic job, I’m sure Walter Matthau would have put his own unique stamp on it!

WATCH WALTER MATTHAU’S SCREEN TEST FOR “THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH” HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwyod0Fg-Dw

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLES COBURN

Today we are wishing Charles Coburn a very happy birthday on what would have been his 142nd birthday.  Coburn was an American actor.   He won an Academy Award for his performance in “The More The Merrier” (1943), as well as receiving two nominations for “The Devil And Miss Jones” (1941) and “The Green Years” (1946).

Marilyn fans will best remember him for his performance as the loveable “Piggy” in the 1953 musical comedy “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” as well as starring alongide Monroe in one of her earlier supporting roles “Monkey Business” with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers.


For his contributions to motion pictures, in 1960, Coburn was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 6268 Hollywood Boulevard.

Coburn dies of a heart attack on August 30th 1961, leaving behind a wife and seven children.