I've just come across this post: http://9gag.com/gag/anYr58b/audrey-hepburn-vs-marilyn-monroe
Annoys me a great deal.
Because Marilyn Monroe's known as a sex symbol, and for her dumb blond roles, to most people she must have been an idiot.
Oh yeah?
All over the internet you can find photos of Marilyn Monroe reading:
https://www.google.no/search?q=marilyn+monroe+reading&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=G-RgVdyyBOiBywP6uoKQBA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ
Here are 2 articles about her reading:
http://www.openculture.com/2012/11/marilyn_monroe_reads_joyces_ulysses_at_the_playground.html
http://www.openculture.com/2014/02/marilyn-monroe-reads-walt-whitmans-leaves-of-grass.html
Open Culture has also published the list of the 430 books in her library:
http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/the-430-books-in-marilyn-monroes-library.html
Some of her most insightful quotes can be found here:
http://flavorwire.com/395121/30-of-marilyn-monroes-smartest-and-most-insightful-quotes/view-all
Or here:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe
(compare them to Audrey Hepburn's quotes, which, much as I love Audrey, are quite trite and banal).
Here are some of Marilyn's poems, or fragmentary, poem-like texts found in her notebooks:
http://www.brainpickings.org/2012/07/27/marilyn-monroe-fragments-poems/
Other sites have many other poems/ fragments:
http://moreintelligentlife.com/blog/ariel-ramchandani/five-things-fragments-marilyn-monroe
http://www.immortalmarilyn.com/HerPoetry.html
http://ellensplace.net/mm_poems.html
http://backlots.net/2013/08/05/the-poetry-of-marilyn-monroe/
Brain Pickings has also shared her resolutions, which show her wish for self-improvement:
http://www.brainpickings.org/2013/01/01/four-famous-new-years-resolution-lists-jonathan-swift-susan-sontag-marilyn-monroe-woody-guthrie/
About her, Arthur Miller, her 3rd husband, said:
"To have survived she would have had to be either more cynical or even further from reality than she was. Instead she was a poet on a street corner trying to recite to a crowd pulling at her clothes."
This is an article about Marilyn Monroe and her monsters, with excerpts from Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters by Marilyn Monroe:
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2010/11/marilyn-monroe-201011
And I've found this story about Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald:
http://www.kplu.org/post/how-marilyn-monroe-changed-ella-fitzgeralds-life
According to what I've noticed in the internet, people generally perceive Marilyn Monroe in 2 ways. Those in the 1st group see her as a dumb blond like the characters she portrayed, a selfish bitch, a whore, a slut, a talentless and scandalous star known for nothing but her physical appearance (which, to many of them, isn't even remarkable). To them, she's nothing but a sex symbol. Shallow, brainless. Look again at the photo above. I haven't pointed out that Marilyn didn't die from a drug overdose- she committed suicide. As a child she lived in foster homes and was sexually abused. When discovered and encouraged to become a model, she was working in a factory, and throughout all of her life Marilyn struggled with insecurities and depression. Then a day came when she couldn't bear it any longer, and lost the fight, she terminated her own life.
On my part, I do not think of Marilyn as a good actress, nor a good singer, nor a good poet, nor a good role model; and do not know how intelligent she really was, but methinks all the childhood trauma and hardships she went through made her a sensitive person. The scribblings in her notebooks, albeit unremarkable in terms of literary merit, do show that she's not as frivolous, shallow and superficial as some people think she was. She had sensitivity, depth of feeling and insight. The notes, too, show her determination to be better, as an actress, a singer and a person.
Those in the 2nd group see Marilyn as a kindred spirit, a role model, a philosopher of sorts. But Marilyn's not Sylvia Plath. Quoting her everywhere, these people, mostly girls, exploit her name and her image not any less than those in the 1st group do. Abusing her quotes, especially the "If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best", is their way of trying to justify their nasty, selfish, thoughtless behaviour and speak of themselves as vulnerable, insecure and scared even though they may very well be bullies in life, ready to take advantage of or trample on others when necessary. Very often, I believe these girls don't know much about Marilyn either and haven't seen her in anything except probably a few video clips on youtube.
Marilyn Monroe, or perhaps I should say Norma Jeane, was too complex for all that, as human beings are. Those 2 ways of looking are her are too simplistic, reductive. And I find it unfortunate that even long after her death, she's still being exploited.
Anyhow, to come back to the comparison at the beginning, I wonder: what's the point? Why denigrate Marilyn just to acclaim Audrey Hepburn? Audrey has her place, she's as much an icon as Marilyn, her face most people can recognise. Anywhere you can find pictures of Marilyn Monroe, you find, next to them, pictures of Audrey Hepburn. Why not mention the truly great actresses that are less known? Like Vivien Leigh? Katharine Hepburn? Bette Davis? Ingrid Bergman? etc.
Silly.
The trailer of "Grace of Monaco" has come out.
As I'm waiting for this film, I notice that in recent years Hollywood has been making biopics about screen legends, with some strange casting such as Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, Lindsay Lohan and then Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth Taylor... (there are also rumours about Naomi Watts playing Marilyn).
So I have fears that there will be a biopic about Vivien Leigh.
Here's why I'm against the idea:
1/ It is generally difficult to portray actors.
Depicting a literary character on screen is not easy, because readers have their own visions of the character, but at least the character doesn't exist and can be imagined and interpreted in multiple ways. It's more difficult to portray a real person, and then another level to portray actors, because when people come to Daniel Day-Lewis and say that he doesn't know what Lincoln sounded like, he can say "but neither do you", actors who portray other actors can't say that. Actors are too 'familiar', we can still watch their films, so when seeing such biopics, we scrutinise the manners, gestures, facial expressions, ways of walking... and, more than that, demand the actors in the biopics to capture the essence, the qualities of those they're portraying. Tackling film legends is also more demanding than, say, talkshow hosts, because we love film stars, perhaps even worship them.
Take Jennifer Love Hewitt as Audrey Hepburn for instance. There are some actresses who have Audrey's qualities, such as Anne Hathaway or Natalie Portman. Jennifer Love Hewitt doesn't have a blend of elegance and grace with a boyish, natural, lively, refreshing, 'crazy' look of Audrey, even her walking in the opening scene of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is completely wrong.
Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe does a better job, she gets right the voice, manners, facial expressions, gestures... In fact, she's a much more talented actress than the star she portrays. The tragic part is that she lacks the special factor that makes Marilyn Marilyn. Marilyn shines on screen, captivates the audience and makes everyone else disappear, Michelle Williams is the kind of ordinary girl who never stands out.
Cate Blanchett is perfect as Katharine Hepburn. Very, very few people can do so.
For the time being, I can't say anything about the casting of Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly. Nicole has enough poise, but I haven't seen enough to recognise Grace's essence.
2/ Nobody looks like her.
Is there more to be said? Look at her face!
Let me quote her Larry: "Apart from her looks, which were magical, she possessed beautiful poise; her neck looked almost too fragile to support her head and bore it with a sense of surprise, and something of the pride of the master juggler who can make a brilliant manoeuvre appear almost accidental. She also had something else: an attraction of the most perturbing nature I had ever encountered."
3/ It's difficult to imitate her manners, facial expressions, gesticulations, ways of talking..., (almost) impossible to capture her elegance, mischievousness, cat-like quality...
People who impersonate her also have the danger that they may end up being ridiculous.
In "My week with Marilyn", Julia Ormond looks nothing like Vivien and doesn't seem to bother to act like her.
4/ Portraying Vivien Leigh means at some point the actress must play some of her roles, at least Scarlett O'Hara and/ or Blanche DuBois, her 2 Oscar-winning performances.
Much more challenging than when one portrays someone like Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn or Hedy Lamarr, it requires immense talent. No, it's mission impossible.
I can't think of anyone that can do her justice. Some people on the internet suggest Julia Ormond, Rachel Weisz, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley...- I am appalled.
After all, why watch someone else playing her when we can watch her films instead?
5/ A biopic about her would obviously exploit her tragic life, her bipolar disorder, her turbulent relationship with Laurence Olivier...
Might include the stories of her as an adulterer, bisexual, nymphomaniac...
Generally, I tend to keep a certain distance from people I admire, in spite of my obsession, and don't want to hear details about a favourite actress's private life, especially her sex life. I don't even read Vivien Leigh biographies, and if I buy Kendra Bean's book, it's more because of the photos.
Remember my objection to Naomi Watts playing Diana? According to reviews, the film exploits Diana's life and paints her in a very ugly light. I fear that the same thing may happen if anyone makes a biopic about Vivien Leigh.
Just leave her alone.
PS: Wikipedia says Morgan Brittany portrayed Vivien Leigh 3 times. Seriously? I can't find any video on youtube. Can anybody find anything?
Have I said I love this film?
I watched "Breakfast at Tiffany's" the 2nd time last night. Of course it's not as great as "My fair lady", but it would be unfair to attribute the appeal of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to Audrey Hepburn's charm alone (though I don't deny that Audrey Hepburn's delightful in the role). One can compare this film to "Hors de prix".
Paul, compared to Jean, is better as a man- loving, kind, understanding, generous and proud. He has self-respect and pride, he has the guts to break off the relationship with 2E and change his life. Also better as a character, Paul's a conflicted, complex one.
Holly, too, is a better character than Irène. Lots of girls, including me, can relate to Holly, since even though I don't share with her the same interest in jewelry and luxury, even though Holly can be seen as superficial and mercenary, she's a runaway, an escapist, full of fear and afraid of facing reality. Having left home at a young age, she keeps running away without knowing that no matter where she runs, she always ends up running into herself. She doesn't dare to believe in happiness- many, I reckon, can relate to that. I particularly love the cat scene in the end, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is thus romantic without becoming sentimental. The character Irène doesn't have the same depth, and I doubt that the audience may love Irène as much as Holly.
One may wonder how the film might have turned out if Marilyn Monroe had accepted the role. I can't tell, but if "My fair lady" could be good whether with Audrey Hepburn or Julie Andrews or someone else as Eliza, I have a feeling that Audrey would be much better than Marilyn in this film (though Marilyn's Truman Capote's choice). Her performance in this film is a balance of charm and acting. Without charm, Holly wouldn't be iconic as it is, but Audrey Hepburn doesn't rely on charm alone, as in "My fair lady" and "Roman holiday" and perhaps even "Funny face". Truman Capote might have had Marilyn Monroe in mind whilst writing the story, and Holly does have the instability and vulnerability often associated with Marilyn, but Audrey does a nice job and becomes Holly in people's minds, depicting the naivete, vulnerability and dreamy escapism of Holly and at the same time having the sweetness and the natural quality Marilyn lacks. The fact that Audrey has charm and a cute face instead of sex appeal is another asset, which makes the friendship between her and Paul (aka baby Fred) possible, and though I do like Marilyn very much, I must confess that her way of acting, facial expressions and voice can be exhausting and irritating. It's not right to praise Audrey Hepburn as an incredible actress, she's definitely not on par with Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Bette Davis... but neither is it right to dismiss her talent and attribute her status to charm alone.
1 of her best scenes is the "Moon river" singing scene.
Plus, she and George Peppard have great chemistry.
[...]
I'd like to write more, but words are inadequate. Here are some lovely video clips:
Update on 17/4:
This is such a nice piece of writing that I must share the link here:
http://fritzlovesoscars.blogspot.no/2010/12/best-actress-1961-audrey-hepburn-in.html
This day 87 years ago (1/6/1926), Norma Jeane Mortenson was born. She later became known as Marilyn Monroe.
Lots of celebrities have portrayed her (Catherine Hicks, Michelle Williams, Naomi Watts, Charlotte Sullivan, Melody Anderson...), channelled her in photo shoots (Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore, Angelina Jolie, Lindsay Lohan, Elizabeth Banks, Courtney Stodden, Paris Hilton...) or seem to be influenced by her iconic style (Scarlette Johansson, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani...).
Yet I don't think anybody has done a better job than this Marilyn Monroe impersonator:
From the face to the style, from the voice to the mannerism, this is spot-on. Breath-takingly convincing. The only flaw is the weight, for the real Marilyn's thinner, but other than that this is the best impression I have ever seen. Worth checking out if you love Marilyn as I do. Absolutely stunning.
And yes, that's right, Jimmy James is a man.
