Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962) was an American actress who appeared in 29 films between 1946 and 1961.[1][2] After a brief career in modeling she signed short-term film contracts, first with 20th Century Fox, then Columbia Pictures, and appeared in minor roles for the first few years of her career. In 1950, she made minor appearances in two critically acclaimed films, The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve.[3] The parts in the two films were against many of the roles into which she was typecast, that of the dumb blonde. Margot A. Henriksen, her biographer with the American National Biography, considers the typecast "an unfair stereotype that bothered her throughout her career".[2]

Her major breakthrough came in 1953, when she starred in three pictures: the film noir Niagara, and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. Sarah Churchwell, Monroe's biographer, notes that "unconscious, rather than conscious, sexuality would become the Marilyn hallmark after 1953",[4] and the actress became one of the most popular and recognizable people in America.[2] In 1955 Monroe appeared in the Billy Wilder–directed comedy The Seven Year Itch, in which she becomes the object of her married neighbor's sexual fantasies. In it, Monroe stands on a subway grate with the air blowing up the skirt of her white dress; it became the most famous scene of her career.[5]

After appearing in Bus Stop (1956),[6] Monroe founded her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, in 1955; the company produced one film independently, The Prince and the Showgirl (1957).[7] Monroe then appeared in Some Like It Hot (1959) and The Misfits (1961). She was suspended from the filming of Something's Got to Give in June 1962, and the film remained uncompleted when she died in August.[2] Although she was a top-billed actress for only a decade, her films grossed $200 million by the time of her unexpected death in 1962.[8]

Monroe won, or was nominated for, several awards during her career. Those she won included the Henrietta Award for Best Young Box Office Personality (1951) and World Film Favorite (1953),[9][10] and a Crystal Star Award and David di Donatello Award for The Prince and the Showgirl (1958).[11] She was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960,[12] and a Golden Palm Star was dedicated at the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 1995.[13] In the 1999 American Film Institute's list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, she was ranked as the sixth greatest film actress;[14] three of the films in which she appeared—Some Like It Hot, All About Eve, and The Asphalt Jungle—have been added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry,[15] and the former earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress.[10] She continues to be considered a major icon in American popular culture in the decades following her death.[16]

Filmography

In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

In How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Posing for photographers to promote The Seven Year Itch (1954)

In Some Like It Hot (1959)

Monroe completed 29 films in her career. In 1962, she was filming her 30th film, Something's Got to Give, when she was fired by the studio; she died before it was completed with others in the role.[17][18]

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1947Dangerous YearsEvie [19]
1948Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!BettyUncredited[20]
Ladies of the ChorusPeggy Martin [21]
1949Love HappyGrunion's client [22]
1950A Ticket to TomahawkClaraUncredited[23]
The Asphalt JungleAngela Phinlay [24]
All About EveMiss Claudia Casswell [25]
The FireballPolly [26]
Right CrossDusky Le DouxUncredited[27]
1951Home Town StoryIris Martin [28]
As Young as You FeelHarriet [29]
Love NestRoberta Stevens [30]
Let's Make It LegalJoyce Mannering [31]
1952Clash by NightPeggy [32]
We're Not Married!Annabel Jones Norris [33]
Don't Bother to KnockNell Forbes [34]
Monkey BusinessLois Laurel [35]
O. Henry's Full HouseStreetwalkerAppeared in The Cop and the Anthem segment[36]
1953NiagaraRose Loomis [37]
Gentlemen Prefer BlondesLorelei Lee [38]
How to Marry a MillionairePola Debevoise [39]
1954River of No ReturnKay Weston [40]
There's No Business Like Show BusinessVictoria Hoffman [41]
1955The Seven Year ItchThe Girl [42]
1956Bus StopCherie [43]
1957The Prince and the ShowgirlElsie MarinaProduced by Marilyn Monroe Productions[a][44]
1959Some Like It HotSugar Cane Kowalczyk [45]
1960Let's Make LoveAmanda Dell [46]
1961The MisfitsRoslyn TaberFinal film role[47]

Box Office Ranking

See also: Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll

YearPlace
19536th (No. 1 Female Star)
19545th (No. 1 Female Star)
195511th (Third Female Star)
19568th (No. 1 Female Star)
195920th (Eight Female Star)
1950–59No.1 Female Star from 50"s

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1953The Jack Benny ProgramHerself [48]
1954The Bob Hope ShowHerself [49]
1955Person to PersonHerselfInterview with Edward R. Murrow[50]
1962President Kennedy's Birthday SaluteHerselfSinging "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"[51]

Awards and nominations

Monroe (left) and Jane Russell at Grauman's Chinese Theater, 1953

YearAwardFilmCategoryResultRef.
1951Henrietta Award–Best Young Box Office PersonalityWon[9]
1952Photoplay Award–Fastest Rising Star of 1952Won[52]
1952Look Award–Most Promising Female Newcomer of 1952Won[53]
1953Henrietta Award–World Film Favorite: FemaleWon[10]
Photoplay Award–Most Popular Female StarWon[54]
1954Photoplay AwardGentlemen Prefer Blondes and
How to Marry a Millionaire
Best ActressWon[55]
1956BAFTA AwardThe Seven Year ItchBest Foreign ActressNominated[56]
Golden Globe AwardBus StopBest Motion Picture Actress in Comedy or MusicalNominated[10]
1958BAFTA AwardThe Prince and the ShowgirlBest Foreign ActressNominated[57]
David di Donatello AwardThe Prince and the ShowgirlBest Foreign ActressWon[58]
1959Crystal Star AwardThe Prince and the ShowgirlBest Foreign ActressWon[59]
Laurel AwardThe Prince and the ShowgirlTop Female Comedy PerformanceFourth place[59]
1960Golden Globe AwardSome Like It HotBest Motion Picture Actress in Comedy or MusicalWon[10]
Laurel AwardSome Like It HotTop Female Comedy PerformanceSecond place[60]
1962Henrietta Award–World Film Favorite: FemaleWon[10]

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ The Prince and the Showgirl was the only film made by her company.[7]

References

  1. ^ Spoto 2001, p. 677; Lefkowitz 1995, p. 120.
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Henriksen, Margot A. "Monroe, Marilyn". American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved July 15, 2016. (subscription required)
  3. ^ Churchwell 2004, pp. 59–60.
  4. ^ Churchwell 2004, p. 61.
  5. ^ Spoto 2001, pp. 283–84.
  6. ^ Spoto 2001, p. 352.
  7. ^ Jump up to:a b Schneider 2011, p. 92.
  8. ^ Hertel, Howard; Heff, Don (August 6, 1962). "Marilyn Monroe Dies; Pills Blamed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  9. ^ Jump up to:a b Rollyson 2014, p. 87.
  10. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f "Marilyn Monroe". Golden Globes. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  11. ^ Spoto 2001, p. 409; Vogel 2014, p. 131.
  12. ^ "Marilyn Monroe". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "Palm Springs Walk of Stars" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "AFI's 50 Greatest American Screen Legends". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  16. ^ Chapman 2001, pp. 542–543; Hall 2006, p. 468.
  17. ^ "Something's Got to Give (1962)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  18. ^ Spoto 2001, pp. 681–82.
  19. ^ "Dangerous Years". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  20. ^ "Scudda-hoo! Scudda-hay! (1948)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  21. ^ "Ladies of the Chorus". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  22. ^ "Love Happy". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  23. ^ "A Ticket to Tomahawk". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  24. ^ "Asphalt Jungle". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  25. ^ "All About Eve". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  26. ^ "The Fireball". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  27. ^ "Right Cross". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  28. ^ "Home Town Story". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  29. ^ "As Young As You Feel". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  30. ^ "Love Nest". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  31. ^ "Let's Make It Legal". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  32. ^ "Clash by Night". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  33. ^ "We're Not Married!". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  34. ^ "Don't Bother to Knock". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "Monkey Business". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  36. ^ "O. Henry's Full House". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  37. ^ "Niagara". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  38. ^ "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  39. ^ "How to Marry a Millionaire". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  40. ^ "River of No Return". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  41. ^ "There's No Business Like Show Business". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  42. ^ "The Seven Year Itch". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  43. ^ "Bus Stop". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  44. ^ "The Prince and the Showgirl". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  45. ^ "Some Like It Hot". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  46. ^ "Let's Make Love". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  47. ^ "The Misfits". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  48. ^ Burkhead 2013, p. 142.
  49. ^ Hyatt 2006, p. 142.
  50. ^ Rollyson 2014, p. 149.
  51. ^ Rollyson 2014, p. 263; Vogel 2014, p. 163.
  52. ^ Vogel 2014, p. 21.
  53. ^ Kidder 2011, p. 42.
  54. ^ Rollyson 2014, p. 106.
  55. ^ Super 2005, p. 367.
  56. ^ "Foreign Actress in 1956". British Film Institute. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  57. ^ "Foreign Actress in 1958". British Film Institute. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  58. ^ Spoto 2001, p. 409.
  59. ^ Jump up to:a b Vogel 2014, p. 131.
  60. ^ Vogel 2014, p. 143.

Sources