MovieChat Forums > Some Like It Hot (1959) Discussion > Marilyn's "look" was in a real transitio...

Marilyn's "look" was in a real transition at this point

posted 9 years ago by scottstrades
1 reply | jump to latest

IMO, in a broad, general way, Marilyn's appearance, specifically her face and hair, can be split into two groups; the pre 1960s and the 1960s (60-62). I think she was by far most beautiful in the 1960s. Her pre 1960s look was pure "pin up" and accurately represented the prevailing tastes in women in the 1940s and 1950s. Her 1960s look ushered in a much more natural appearance that in some ways was a few years ahead of the times. The period during which SLIH was filmed was a crossover period (and to a lesser extent Let's Make Love, which tipped more towards the 1960s look). You could see the pre 1960s look, but you could also see her new look that would be more developed and beautiful in The Misfits and the footage shot for Something's Got to Give. I never found her attractive until I saw what she looked like in the 2-3 years before she died, which I think is beautiful.

Does anyone agree or disagree ?

[–] thepixinator 7 years ago

She was very sensual here, instead of having a more plastic kind of glamour. She was also pregnant, and miscarried, while shooting. Some of the beach scenes were really hard on her. In fact, the whole filming process was hard on her.
Much has been made of her inability to remember her lines. I never had kids, but a lot of my girlfriends told me they got the pregnancy stupids. One couldn't remember a conversation from ten minutes before. One forgot her own apartment number (it was two digits.). I just wish people had more compassion for Marilyn instead of snarking on her weaknesses.
She had several miscarriages in her life. I think her pregnancy and the multitude of sadnesses she had endured by this point in her life may have added to the depth and sensual nature of her beauty.