The Girl Page 25

  “If I keep it there much longer,” “though that doesn’t mean,” and “That would make a good photograph.” Thomas Wiseman, “I’ve Nothing Against Women—But I Prefer Men Says Marilyn,” Evening Standard, March 3, 1956.

  “I like Arthur very much.” Maxwell, “Marilyn Confesses to Elsa Maxwell: I’ll Never Be the Same.”

  Joshua Logan spoke many times about his way of directing Marilyn in letters between Laurence Olivier and Logan. Letter from Olivier to Logan, June 9, 1956, and letter from Logan to Olivier, June 20, 1956, both Logan Box 31, Folder 13, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Also of interest, “Director of Bus Stop, Joshua Logan, Interview About Marilyn Monroe,” YouTube video, 2:29, posted by Marilyn Monroe Video Archive, August 22, 2013, https://youtu.be/YC-rwQLWnZ0.

  Marilyn’s illness and details of scenes filmed in her absence. Letter from Joshua Logan to George Axelrod, April 16, 1956, Logan Box 99, Bus Stop Production, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Logan on Don Murray’s future. Letter from Joshua Logan to William Inge, April 16, 1956, Logan Box 99, Bus Stop Production, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Logan swearing on set. “Marilyn Monroe—The Making of Bus Stop 1956 [Backstory: Bus Stop, AMC Productions, 2001],” YouTube video, 23:06, posted by Marilyn Monroe History, February 10, 2015, https://youtu.be/LOxCP5RXMSI.

  Marilyn swiping Murray across the face. Ibid.

  Concern that certain scenes may be too risqué. Memo from Frank McCarthy to Buddy Adler, May 16, 1956, Logan Box 99, Bus Stop Production, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Don Murray on trying to keep Marilyn covered up. Earl Wilson, “Memories of Marilyn,” Times Recorder, April 15, 1973.

  Marilyn playing her role charmingly and Logan’s concern film was too long. Letter from Joshua Logan to George Axelrod, April 16, 1956, Logan Box 99, Bus Stop Production, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Photographs of Marilyn posing for Joshua Logan can be seen in Strasberg and Comment’s Marilyn Monroe: Girl Waiting. The book also includes a letter from Logan documenting how the photo shoot took place.

  Nedda Logan’s favorite scene. Telegram from Buddy Adler to Joshua Logan, July 5, 1956, Logan Box 99, Bus Stop Production, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Logan on working with Marilyn. Letter from Joshua Logan to Lee and Paula Strasberg, April 9, 1963, Logan Box 35, Folder 15, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Alan Dent review of Bus Stop. “The World of Cinema: That Girl,” Illustrated London News, November 3, 1956.

  New York Times on Bus Stop and “fools the skeptics.” “Marilyn Rings the Bell,” Aberdeen Evening Express, September 10, 1956.

  “If that part about my being a symbol of sex is true.” Martin, “Confessions of Marilyn Monroe: Part One.”

  “[She is] the only phenomenon.” “Movies Are Declining,” Aberdeen Evening Express, September 26, 1956.

  “I didn’t avoid the film.” Rahna Maughan, “Meet the Goddess,” Screenland, March 1958.

  William Inge reaction to final film. Undated, Logan Box 99, Bus Stop Production, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Chapter Eight: The Woman Who Impacted the World

  “I don’t know exactly.” “Marilyn Protests as Picture Jumps from Calendar to Glassware,” Lima (OH) News, December 18, 1952.

  Meeting with Dr. Robert Williams. “Doctors Study Picture of Marilyn Monroe,” Belfast News-Letter, May 3, 1955.

  Grantham and District Young Farmer’s Club meeting. “Cross Between African Farmer’s Wife and Marilyn Monroe!” Grantham Journal, December 23, 1955.

  “The thing that always takes the trick.” “Marilyn Would Take a Trick,” Aberdeen Evening Express, October 11, 1956.

  Plans for the Marilyn Monroe aircraft. “Jet Design Secret Aired by Magazine,” Los Angeles Times, September 8, 1955; “The Marilyn Shape Makes Planes Faster,” Courier and Advertiser, September 12, 1955.

  Nautilus atomic submarine. Riese and Hitchins, The Unabridged Marilyn.

  “Figures are dreary.” “Miss Monroe Teams Up with Mr. Therm,” Yorkshire Post and Leeds Mercury, March 5, 1954.

  Boy who sold Marilyn’s phone number. Gene Sherman, “Cityside,” Los Angeles Times, January 21, 1954.

  “With Jane Russell and Marilyn.” “Candid Quotes of the Week,” Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle, December 2, 1954.

  “I don’t know whether.” “Hard on Marilyn,” Portsmouth Evening News, October 14, 1954.

  “Marilyn Monroe is a good walker” and “Which is news if only.” Ed Weisman, “You, Too, Can Walk Like Marilyn,” Aberdeen Evening Express, June 30, 1956.

  Dior uplift panty girdle. Olga Curtis, “Fashion Reporter Tests Dior’s Latest Style Garment,” Tipton (IN) Daily Tribune, July 10, 1957.

  Penny Wilson winning a Marilyn look-alike competition. “MM on Ice,” The Stage, July 26, 1956.

  Cheryl Ooms impersonation of Marilyn. “List Winners of Events at Steger Fete,” Chicago Heights Star, August 14, 1956.

  Joan Ferchaud wins Marilyn look-alike competition. Anniston (AL) Star, August 27, 1957.

  Pauline Spanos wins trip to New York. “Ready for the Show,” Lowell (MA) Sun, April 5, 1959.

  Marilyn Monroe hen. “Mary Jane Beats Marilyn Monroe in Egg Contest,” Lovington (NM) Leader, October 24, 1954.

  “The ultimate triumph of alliteration.” “The Literific: Fun in Debate at ‘Queens,’” Belfast News-Letter, October 21, 1954.

  “Ill-mannered and boorish behavior.” “University Notes: The ‘Literific,’” Belfast News-Letter, October 29, 1954.

  “Then there are other phenomena.” “Peer Backs Films Against TV,” Courier and Advertiser, January 22, 1954.

  “They’re indecent.” “Marilyn Monroe Pictures Burned by Malta Censors,” Los Angeles Times, August 28, 1954.

  Censorship in New Delhi. “Marilyn’s Movie Cut by Censors in India,” Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1954.

  “Arousing temptation to lasciviousness.” “No Temptation,” Northern Whig and Belfast Post, December 22, 1954.

  Star of Fire Gem Company problems. Riese and Hitchins, The Unabridged Marilyn.

  Trinidad film censors. “Marilyn Posters Are Banned,” Aberdeen Evening Express, January 16, 1956.

  Japanese ladies copying Marilyn. “Copying Marilyn Monroe,” Belfast News-Letter, February 5, 1954.

  “And what did he put?” “Moonrakings,” Wiltshire Times, February 20, 1954.

  Olivier/Logan correspondence. Letter written by Laurence Olivier to Joshua Logan, June 9, 1956, and Logan’s reply, June 20, 1956, Logan Box 31, Folder 13, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  “When Arthur’s parents told me.” Maxine Block, “The Two Faces of Marilyn Monroe,” Screenland, January 1959.

  “A political whing-ding.” “Will Mr. M. Rewrite the Monroe Story?”

  Miller’s contempt-of-Congress charge. “Marilyn’s Fiancé May Face Contempt Charge,” Aberdeen Evening Express, June 22, 1956; “Marilyn Monroe to Marry Before London Visit,” Belfast News-Letter, June 22, 1956.

  “The happiest day” and “I’m sure everything will work out.” Stan Mays, “Marilyn Hugs in Street,” Daily Mirror, June 23, 1956.

  Death of Mara Scherbatoff. “Coroner Exonerates Marilyn,” Aberdeen Evening Express, August 22, 1956.

  “There’s been a terrible accident!” Christopher Dobson, “Marilyn,” Daily Express, June 30, 1956.

  “Somebody should question you” and “Well, we just had a terrible accident on this road.” “Marilyn and Arthur Miller at a Press Conference,” YouTube video, 3:47, posted by Iconic, November 17, 2010, https://youtu.be/b_P2FFIVV8A; “Marilyn Monro
e at Press Conference in Support of Her Husband Arthur Miller—‘Contempt of Congress,’” YouTube video, 1:32, posted by Marilyn Monroe Video Archives, January 10, 2016, https://youtu.be/pY7DHZ4oDzI; Christopher Dobson, “Marilyn.”

  “It’s as much a surprise.” “Marilyn,” Daily Sketch, June 30, 1956.

  “There was no question of controlling onlookers.” Dobson, “Marilyn.”

  “I guess they suddenly decided to go through with it.” John Gold, “Marilyn Monroe Weds in Pink Sweater,” Evening News, June 30, 1956.

  Cecil Beaton portrait from Joshua and Nedda Logan. Letter from Nedda Logan to Lee Strasberg, March 5, 1969, and letter from Lee Strasberg to Nedda Logan, March 11, 1969, Logan Box 35, Folder 15, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  “Awakened intellectually.” Scott, “Marilyn Monroe Says She’s Happy, but Has Not Changed,” Middlesborough Daily News, October 23, 1958.

  Chapter Nine: The Power Struggle

  “I would like to do Pygmalion.” “Miss Monroe Wants to Do ‘Pygmalion,’” Daily Telegraph, July 16, 1956.

  “To espouse the Method.” Marowitz, “Paganism in the West End.”

  “She is quite enchanting.” “Express from London,” Aberdeen Evening Express, September 29, 1956.

  Sybil Thorndike’s methods for happiness. David Lewin, “Marilyn Monroe Talks as She Seldom Has,” Daily Express, May 6, 1959.

  “Apart from closing theatres.” Eric Johns, “Sybil Thorndike Looks Back,” Theatre World, June 1954.

  “She has obviously come to England.” “Marilyn Monroe, the Minister and the Sage,” Belfast News-Letter, July 17, 1956.

  “I tried to walk like her down the corridor.” “Express from London,” Aberdeen Evening Express, October 20, 1956.

  “A bit stuck-up, but nevertheless” and “It was dull working for them.” Alan Arnold, “Marilyn: A Bit Stuck-Up but Charming,” Sunday Dispatch, November 18, 1956.

  “I’m telling you, they couldn’t.” Thomas Wiseman, “Marilyn, Weeping Thinks of Frank and Coca-Cola,” Aberdeen Evening Express, December 5, 1956.

  “Marilyn Monroe! I am not kidding.” Nigel Nicholson, “Alma Would Like to Be Marilyn,” Aberdeen Evening Express, July 27, 1956.

  “I would love to see her.” “O’Casey to Meet Marilyn?” The Stage, July 26, 1956.

  O’Casey turning down Olivier’s invitation. Christopher Murray, Sean O’Casey: A Biography.

  In 1959, Dame Edith Sitwell told the BBC’s Face to Face program about meeting Marilyn and Miller during the London trip.

  “The truth is she was very interested.” Thomas Wiseman, “The Two Worlds of Arthur Miller,” Aberdeen Evening Express, October 9, 1956.

  “I am familiar with Lysistrata.” “Marilyn Too Busy for Radio Part,” Belfast News-Letter, August 11, 1956; “Marilyn Sorry, but Too Busy,” Northern Daily Mail, August 11, 1956.

  Vivian Blaine’s Vegas invitation. Edwin Schallert, “Drama,” Los Angeles Times, October 12, 1955.

  Offer of Maiden Voyage. Letter from Arthur Miller to Kermit Bloomgarden, September 20, 1956, and letter from Bloomgarden to Miller, October 1, 1956, Kermit Bloomgarden Papers, Box 52, Folder 25, Wisconsin Historical Society.

  “[Marilyn] had the courage to challenge the big movie moguls.” Maxwell, “Marilyn Confesses to Elsa Maxwell: I’ll Never Be the Same.”

  “It was remarkable.” Arnold, “Marilyn: A Bit Stuck-Up but Charming.”

  “Definitely not.” Ibid.

  “What a terrible picture!” Alan Arnold, “Tension Between Marilyn and Olivier,” Sunday Dispatch, November 11, 1956.

  “When a director says, ‘Marilyn.’” Gourlay, “Marilyn Incorporated.”

  “The most interesting event.” “Over the Footlights,” Theatre World, October 1956.

  “A very warm person” and “We shan’t live in Hollywood.” Wiseman, “The Two Worlds of Arthur Miller.”

  “You!” Arnold, “Tension Between Marilyn and Olivier.”

  “An Italian marble sphinx.” Strasberg, Marilyn and Me: Sisters, Rivals, Friends.

  “[Olivier] is the greatest actor” and “I have nothing lined up.” “Marilyn Monroe Says Goodbye to Britain,” Belfast News-Letter, November 21, 1956.

  “She will be president.” “Marilyn Monroe Forms British Film Company,” Belfast News-Letter, November 17, 1956.

  Firing of Milton Greene. “Star Scores Associate,” New York Times, April 12, 1957; “Miss Monroe Ousts Business Associate,” New York Times, April 17, 1957; “Marilyn Monroe Sued,” New York Times, July 12, 1957; “Stock to Miss Monroe,” New York Times, February 27, 1958.

  “He knows perfectly well.” “Marilyn Monroe Feuds with Milton H. Greene,” Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1957. A similar quote appeared in the Daily Express, April 12, 1957.

  Laurence Olivier made aware of Milton’s producing ambitions. June 9, 1956 Logan Box 31, Folder 13, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Chapter Ten: The Human Being

  “Sounded like an ad for a woman’s magazine.” Strasberg, Marilyn and Me: Sisters, Rivals, Friends.

  “Miss Sellars wonders.” Looker-on, “Whispers from the Wings,” Theatre World, August 1957.

  “Does Marilyn Monroe.” Readers’ questions column, Modern Screen, October 1958.

  “It is getting used to it—happiness and belonging.” Lewin, “Marilyn Monroe Talks as She Seldom Has.”

  “What people don’t realize about Marilyn.” David Lewin, “Marilyn and Miller… Bound to Come Unstuck!” Daily Express, November 12, 1960.

  “It really didn’t start out that way.” Erskine Johnson, “It’s Like Reading Marilyn’s Mail,” Rhinelander Daily News, September 3, 1960.

  “No one ever knows how.” Erskine Johnson, “Hollywood Today,” Uniontown (PA) Evening Standard, September 2, 1960.

  “You know what I think about Marilyn?” Erskine Johnson, “Marilyn Monroe Views Clift in a Unique Light,” Reno Evening Gazette, September 3, 1960.

  Henry Hathaway on seeing Marilyn on the set of The Misfits. Kobal, People Will Talk.

  “Arthur taught me a lot.” David Lewin, “The Girl Who Took On Too Much,” possibly Daily Express, August 1962.

  Miller’s letter of resignation is dated November 23, 1960.

  “She was absolutely wonderful.” Lionetti interview, March 29, 2017.

  Anna Sten on Marilyn. Kobal, People Will Talk.

  Notes from Golden Boy. Lot 260, Marilyn Monroe handwritten lines from a scene, property from the Estate of Lee Strasberg, sold at Julien’s in November 2016.

  Notes from Streetcar. Lot 255, Marilyn Monroe notebook with notes from acting class, property from the Estate of Lee Strasberg, sold at Julien’s in November 2016. The scene is mentioned in Strasberg’s Marilyn and Me: Sisters, Rivals, Friends.

  “At the Actors Studio.” Lewin, “Marilyn Monroe Talks as She Seldom Has.”

  “I’ve still a lot to learn.” Gourlay, “Marilyn Monroe on Middle Age.”

  “I want to lead a drive to do something.” Louella Parsons, “Louella Parson’s Good News,” Modern Screen, October 1952.

  Marilyn’s support for the Fox coffee vendor. Gary Vitacco-Robles, Icon: The Life, Times, and Films of Marilyn Monroe: Volume 2, 1956 to 1962 and Beyond.

  Isidore Miller’s comments about Marilyn’s charity come from “Remembrance of Marilyn” by Flora Rheta Schreiber. Published in Wagenknecht’s Marilyn Monroe: A Composite View. Note: the article was originally published in Good Housekeeping, January 1963.

  “She was shy.” Lionetti interview, March 29, 2017.

  “All I know is that I’ll be back in New York soon.” Jonah Ruddy, “Now That I Am 35,” Daily Mail, June 5, 1961.

  Marilyn’s statement and telegrams on the firing from Something’s Got to Give. Arthur P. Jacobs Collection, June 1962, Charles Von der Abe Library, Loyola Marymount University.

  “Maybe she was tough,” “I was deeply, deeply fond,” and
“She was difficult to work with.” The Progress, August 6, 1962.

  “It was a tremendous shock to me.” Arthur Miller to Robin Stafford, “Why I Say Marilyn Did Not Kill Herself,” Daily Express, August 7, 1962.

  Miller’s thoughts on Marilyn’s death were also mentioned in a letter from Miller to Joshua Logan, August 14, 1962, Logan Box 29, Folder 17, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  “If she was simple.” John Gold, “Luck… That Is What Marilyn Needed,” Aberdeen Evening News, August 7, 1962.

  “The spirit of Marilyn/Norma Jeane.” E-mail from Kathleen Felesina, director of fund development, Uplift Family Services, April 11, 2017. For more information, please visit: http://upliftfs.org/about/hollygrove.

  “The Anna Freud National Centre.” Quote from Professor Peter Fonagy, chief executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, provided by Tim Linehan, head of communications, on March 2, 2017. For more information, please visit: http://www.annafreud.org.

  Marilyn helping young people deal with their problems. Description of the Marilyn Monroe Memorial Fund, circa March 1963, Logan Box 35, Folder 15, Joshua Logan Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  Nicole Kidman on female directors. “Risk Taker: Nicole Kidman,” YouTube video, 22:43, posted by Women in the World, October 10, 2015, https://youtu.be/jO-soyHpgW0.

  Epilogue: Passing the Torch

  All quotes were taken from interviews by the author, except the following:

  “I think [Marilyn] was just trying.” “Emma Watson: My Life Is Like Marilyn Monroe’s,” Daily Mirror, November 20, 2011.

  “I have always been drawn to Marilyn.” Will Lawrence, “Michelle Williams: I Was Born to Play Marilyn,” Telegraph, November 10, 2011.

  “What makes her so riveting.” “Gloria Steinem on Marilyn Monroe | American Masters: In Their Own Words,” YouTube video, 2:39, posted by American Masters PBS, June 23, 2016, https://youtu.be/fvDz-WCUv20.