August 2, 2005
Marilyn Monroe - The Final Days
Howie Green READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Since her death Marilyn Monroe has become the ultimate movie star icon, and the mystery surrounding her death continues to intrigue the public around the world. Every few years somebody manages to dredge up a new piece of information and build a new documentary about the actress' life and death.
Now available on a solo DVD "Marilyn The Final Days" has previously only been available in a boxed set called " Marilyn Monroe Diamond Collection." Produced by Patty Ivins, "Marilyn The Final Days" contains a well-documented and detailed account of the filming of Monroe's final aborted movie "Something's Got to Give" with lots of interviews with numerous folks who were there and knew Marilyn.
Co-star Cyd Charrise, scriptwriters, producers and others who worked on the film offer their comments on the production. The documentary contains a lot of behind the scenes footage shot on the set of the movie where we get to see the cast and crew having some fun (and not-so-fun) moments during the filming. A lot of what we see is the kind of stuff we have all seen in any of the many documentaries that have been done on Monroe. What makes 'Marilyn The Final Days" worth watching is a 37-minute reconstruction of "Something's Got to Give" done from the footage that was finished.
Ivins and crew got full cooperation of the Monroe Estate and full access to the 20th Century Fox vaults to work on the reconstruction of "Something's Got to Give". The completed footage had been locked away a vault since it was shot in 1962 and other than a few clips no one had seen it since. With the original script, director George Cuckor's notes and the latest digital technology, Ivins' crew edited together the completed footage featuring Monroe, Dean Martin, Cyd Charrise, Phil Silvers, Steve Allen and others.
"Marilyn The Final Days" tells the story of the final days of the screen queen using "Something's Got to Give" as the base for the story. Monroe was driving everyone crazy with her fragile mental state and her hit-or-miss work schedule. At the same time Liz Taylor was in Europe driving everyone crazy filming "Cleopatra" and 20th Century Fox, the studio that was producing both projects, was sinking into debt further and further every day. Since Monroe was in Hollywood they did what they could to keep tabs on her and let Taylor and crew go hog wild. The studio was banking heavily on the Monroe film to pay back some of the money they were spending on "Cleopatra". Monroe even agreed to film a nude swimming scene to help the film - the first nude scene ever by a major Hollywood star. Monroe was 36 when the film was shot and she looks spectacular.
The recreated footage of "Something's Got to Give" is a delight: funny and charming, Monroe and the cast members are all in such top form that it's sad when Cukor calls "Cut" at the end of the final scene, especially since Monroe strolls off the set and into film history. "Something's Got to Give" looks like a fun romantic comedy that would have been a nice stepping stone for Monroe to other projects. But when Monroe's absence from the studio finally drove the affable Dean Martin to walk off the set, the studio realized they couldn't continue. They shut down filming, fired Monroe and ended the project. The script was later retooled as a vehicle for Doris Day and was shot as "Move Over Darling" with Day and James Garner.
After the collapse of "Something's Got to Give" Monroe was devastated (somewhat surprising since she cause all the problems with the film.) Her friends and close associates recall how she went on a publicity campaign doing an extended interview for "Life" magazine, numerous photo shoots and was even able to rally 2oth Century Fox, Martin and Charrise to her side to resurrect the movie. Monroe renegotiated her contract with Fox and was looking forward to getting back to work.
Monroe's untimely and mysterious death relegated "Something's Got to Give" to the the Hollywood archives, so seeing the first 37 minutes of the movie is a must-see for Monroe fanatics. If nothing else it confirms the fact, despite endless rumors to the contrary, that when Monroe was able to show up for filming she was still able to dazzle the camera, and turn in an adorable and sexy performance.
?Marilyn The Final Days? also contains many extra features including photos, newsreels, hair, make up and costume tests and more.
Howie Green is a Boston-based artist and painter whose portrait of rapper Biggie Smalls appears on the album "Incredible". He is winner of Absolut Vodka's 25th Anniversary art competition and he painted 3 of the cows in the Boston Cow Parade. He recently painted a series of Pop Art Murals at the Dimock Center in Boston, MA and completed large art and mural installations in Delray Beach and Jacksonville, FL. He also recently painted the front entrance to Boston City Hall. His a multi-media designer and author of several books including "Jazz Fish Zen: Adventures in Mamboland" - and he once sang back-up for the opening act at a Shaun Cassidy concert in Madison Square Garden.
