MovieChat Forums > Monkey Business (1952) Discussion > Marilyn...

Marilyn...

posted 15 years ago by denis-38
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This is one of Marilyn's most relaxed early performances. She is adorable here, and seems to be in the movie more than she is, because director Howard Hawks--he would guide her to even greater effect in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"--has her popping in and out all through "Monkey Business.". And for history's sake, Miss Laurel was her first truly "dumb blonde." She is just a old man's sweet mistress in "The Asphalt Jungle" and Miss Caswell in "All About Eve" is no dummy--just an actress on the make. Her other small roles afterward were manipulative blondes, but not stupid. In fact, no other MM character except the hillbilly "singer" Cherie in "Bus Stop" would be as dumb as Miss Laurel.

One cannot let the subject of MM go without commenting on her figure in "MB." She is a little plump, which I don't mind, and wears the most aggressive push-up bra of her career. Her bosoms--in the pleated dress with the fitted top--look like they are about to blast into outer space. It's funny how her voluptuous body said one thing, but her sweet face said something else entirely. She was a sex-symbol who didn't have much sex(onscreen) How could she? Who knew what to do and how to approach her with that conflicting persona? That's why her nameless "Girl" in "The Seven Year Itch" is the perfect role for how her image developed (tho not my favorite MM flick) She's an untouchable fantasy, to be looked at and to be desired, but never touched.

She is better when she is touched--as in "Niagara" or even "Bus Stop" (Tho in the latter, Cherie has clearly been through the mill!) But her movies rarely allowed her to play any kind of a real woman.

[–] csu16387 14 years ago

Agree about her performance in The Seven Year Itch. I still believe that film contains her best comedic performance. Despite her great work with Billy Wilder, however, I'm not crazy about either film she made with him.

I also believe that director Howard Hawks was surprised by the sex symbol status Marilyn Monroe was given. He believed she was anything but that.

Yes, Monroe's performance is fine and a warm up to her memorable role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. I particularly liked her scenes with Cary Grant. It would have been really nice if they had worked together again, but knowing Monroe's tardiness (though not intentionally trying to show up anyone), would Grant have been patient with her?

"Now what kind of man are YOU dude?"

[–] denis-38 12 years ago

Dear csu....Grant probably would have lost his mind. However, he did say nice things about their one experience, and commented that she "seemed very shy, and when the crew would whistle at her, appeared to be embarrassed."

I caught "North by Northwest" the other night and wondered how MM might have handled the Eva Marie Saint role?

[–] zuzupetal_99 13 years ago

I enjoyed reading your post, denis, and agreed w/ just about everything you said. The only exception is that I didn't find MM plump at all; the contrary - I thought her figure was absolutely flawless! It's very interesting how you said her body - which looks built for sex - doesn't match her face at all - it's so sweet, so innocent and fragile, much like her personality I would think. I think that's the real allure of her though, is that paradox. I am a woman, so seeing a woman w/ a bombshell figure doesn't do much for me besides maybe spark some jealousy, lol. But there was something more to MM that draws in both men & women - she comes across as likeable yet completely misunderstood. I think a lot of people, especially women, are interpreted wrong & feel misunderstood & misused, and perhaps that is why I care so much about MM since although she was so beautiful, had some of those same issues plaguing her & then some. But about that paradox, it reminded me of a classic line from Roger Rabbit, when Jessica says "I'm not bad - I'm just drawn that way!"

What also struck me about your post, is where you talked about MM really portraying the dumb blond here - I too picked up on that while watching that today, and wondered too if this was the first time she really played that role, and was perhaps the one that pinned her down into that image. I've watched a lot of her films and read about her, yet she never really comes across as dumb so much in her other roles, and I didn't think in real life at all, as her role here.

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] denis-38 12 years ago

Dear Zuz...well, let's say she's not as sleek as would be in "Blondes" "How To Marry a Millionaire" and "River of No Return."

To be honest, as beautiful as she was in 1962, I thought she had dieted too much;she was coming close to being downright thin. Not a good look for a woman well into her 30's. I thought she carried a few extra pounds quite fetchingly.

Listen, I adore her in "Let's Make Love" bursting out of her flimsy "Specialization" gown. As Billy Wilder said, "So we're back to the women of Rubens, what's wrong with that?"

[–] prplayer 8 years ago

she was built for sex

so many movies, so little time