The ‘pulchritudinous and punctual’ Marilyn Monroe sings Happy Birthday, Mr. President … and more

After reading about Marilyn Monroe and watching some of her movies over her birthday weekend, I felt like sharing these video clips.

 

Marilyn sang on Saturday, May 19, 1962, for President John F. Kennedy at a celebration of his 45th birthday, 10 days before his actual birthday (Tuesday, May 29).

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Marilyn sings in “Some Like It Hot,” from 1959, directed by Billy Wilder.

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Marilyn sings “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the musical “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” directed by Howard Hawks and choreographed by Jack Cole. To read more about Cole and his career, visit dance critic Debra Levine’s wonderful arts meme.

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And, while reading about Marilyn, I was struck by her insightful notes on Fox’s final cut of “The Prince and the Showgirl” (1957, Laurence Olivier): “I am afraid that as it stands it will not be as successful as the version all of us agreed was so fine. Especially in the first third of the picture the pacing has been slowed and one comic point after another has been flattened out by substituting inferior takes with flatter performances lacking the energy and brightness that you saw in New York. Some of the jump cutting kills the points, as in the fainting scene.

“The coronation is as long as before if not longer, and the story gets lost in it. American audiences are not as moved by stained glass windows as the British are, and we threaten them with boredom. I am amazed that so much of the picture has no music at all when the idea was to make a romantic picture. We have enough film to make a great movie, if only it will be as in the earlier version. I hope you will make every effort to preserve our picture.”

In the end, no changes were made to the picture.

From “The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe” by J. Randy Taraborrelli

(Note: Film noir horoscopes will return next month.)

More Marilyn at the Cinematheque in Hollywood

Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier

The American Cinematheque will show a Marilyn Monroe double feature at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The movies are: 1957’s “The Prince and the Showgirl” (co-starring and directed by Sir Laurence Olivier) and Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot” from 1959.

At 6:30 p.m., in the lobby, Susan Bernard will sign copies of her book, “Marilyn: Intimate Exposures.” The book consists of 125 photos by her father Bruno Bernard. The photos, ranging from 1946 to 1954, include 40 previously unpublished images. There will be a discussion between films with Susan Bernard.

Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh will appear at the Egyptian’s screening of “My Week with Marilyn,” directed by Simon Curtis, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11.

General admission is $11; members pay $7. The Egyptian is at 6712 Hollywood Blvd.