Marilyn Monroe had a contract with 20th which provided Director Approval. Once 20th announced MM for a movie 20th had to also assign one of Ms. Monroe's approved Directors, ( The list was small but what Directors!: Hitchcock, Wyler, Huston, Wilder, Cukor and a few others). The studio also had to roll production within 40 days of announcing the film or Ms. Monroe would get paid and this great star had one of the first of the Play Or Pay Deals. Previously Ms. Monroe got paid off for The Blue Angel and Goodbye Charlie because the studio either could not supply the approved Director or start production within 40 days. Smart Lady. George Cukor approved by Marilyn Monroe was the Director on this film.
Cukor has a reputation of great work with women stars: Garbo, Crawford, Shearer, Loren, Hepburn, Leigh, et al. Joan Fontaine was especially kind to Cukor in her autobiography. ( One star who wasn't a fan of Cukor was the irascible Bette Davis).
Has anyone ever done a book on the back story to Somethings Got To Give? It would be interesting. We were all told that Ms. Monroe was fired because MM was giving a poor performance as if "acting under water" Instead we see the unfinished film and outtakes and Ms. Monroe looks gorgeous maybe the most beautiful of her career and splendid in her acting. Marilyn Monroe's "Greta Garbo" scenes are hilarious. MM's frisky skinny dip scene is sexy and again proof the Star was in total control. Lovely lady.
Marilyn Monroe was scheduled to resume Somethings Got To Give with her cast mates Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse but under Jean Neguelsco's direction. Good deal. I am not sure the relationship between George Cukor and Ms. Monroe was ever that great. And Mr. Cukor made some snide comments about MM after her Death joining in the chorus of those at the time trying to demean the Great Star. 20th was allowing Elizabeth Taylor and cast to run up huge overtime bills for Cleopatra but made the Great Star who made them millions upon millions with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Bus Stop, Niagra, The Seven Year Itch and her other famous 20th Century Fox films insisted that the crews of her film have MM's birthday party at the studio after hours.
Marilyn Monroe photographed by the great Franz Planner and costumed by a genius Jean Louis and looking better on screen than she had since Some Like It Hot, and beautifully performing Her role, this movie would have been a smash hit.
How we miss you Marilyn!
The Greatest Star
Cukor has a reputation of great work with women stars: Garbo, Crawford, Shearer, Loren, Hepburn, Leigh, et al. Joan Fontaine was especially kind to Cukor in her autobiography. ( One star who wasn't a fan of Cukor was the irascible Bette Davis).
Has anyone ever done a book on the back story to Somethings Got To Give? It would be interesting. We were all told that Ms. Monroe was fired because MM was giving a poor performance as if "acting under water" Instead we see the unfinished film and outtakes and Ms. Monroe looks gorgeous maybe the most beautiful of her career and splendid in her acting. Marilyn Monroe's "Greta Garbo" scenes are hilarious. MM's frisky skinny dip scene is sexy and again proof the Star was in total control. Lovely lady.
Marilyn Monroe was scheduled to resume Somethings Got To Give with her cast mates Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse but under Jean Neguelsco's direction. Good deal. I am not sure the relationship between George Cukor and Ms. Monroe was ever that great. And Mr. Cukor made some snide comments about MM after her Death joining in the chorus of those at the time trying to demean the Great Star. 20th was allowing Elizabeth Taylor and cast to run up huge overtime bills for Cleopatra but made the Great Star who made them millions upon millions with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Bus Stop, Niagra, The Seven Year Itch and her other famous 20th Century Fox films insisted that the crews of her film have MM's birthday party at the studio after hours.
Marilyn Monroe photographed by the great Franz Planner and costumed by a genius Jean Louis and looking better on screen than she had since Some Like It Hot, and beautifully performing Her role, this movie would have been a smash hit.
How we miss you Marilyn!
The Greatest Star