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Checking Premises Statements and My Position
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999
Marilyn Monroe
Thomas M. Miovas, Jr.
>I did not understand why Ayn Rand gave [Marilyn Monroe] such
>high praise. Perhaps it had something to do with
>the glamour Marilyn stood for.
[snip]
>One doesn't get a sense from Marilyn's acting of
>a strong person underneath -- quite the contrary,
>I get the impression that the exaggerated sexuality
>is meant to compensate for a lack of confidence
>in other areas.
I have to protest the psychologizing evident in Helen Hattab's
recent posts on Marilyn Monroe. I take it [the poster] didn't know
either woman, but she writes as if she knew them intimately.
Instead of taking Miss Rand's word at why she admired Marilyn,
she claims to have insight into Miss Rand's motivation for that
admiration that is contrary to "Through Your Most Grievous
Fault". Miss Rand's article was very clear, as was the original
interview of Marilyn Monroe in Life magazine she was (in part)
commenting on.
I still have a copy of that interview (which I obtained through
a library search), and it's very clear that Marilyn could not
grasp the nature of those who hate the good for being the good.
She also could not understand why some people would suppress
their sexuality; so she wasn't just playing a role in those
movies -- it was her real self portrayed larger than life in a
world that took sexual enjoyment as the ugliest dirty secret
since day one.
Unfortunately, Hollywood denied her any serious role, for the
most part. "River of No Return," "Let's Make Love" (which was
unfinished, I believe), and "Misfits" were the only exceptions
I'm aware of, and I don't think she was at her best in any of those.
Over the years, I've watched many commentaries on her life, and
many of the people she worked with were surprised at her
attitude about being an actress. She was very talented and
serious about her work, often learning new skills to portray her
role just right. Do you realize she sung her own songs, even
though Hollywood practically demanded she get a double? Thanks
to a friend of mine, I have a record containing all of her songs
-- and they are beautiful. It's value as a collector's item is
destroyed since I've opened the seal and have listened to it
many times, but that's too bad ;)
Many of her coworker couldn't even understand her concern for
the safety and well-being of the people she worked with. During
the filming of "River of No Return," the young boy nearly
drowned and actually turned blue. Marilyn seemed to be the only
one to suggest he be taken to a hospital. Robert Mitchum, in the
star role, related this incident in one of his interviews;
expressing dismay in his dead pan, wooden way, that Marilyn
wanted to stop production until she was sure the boy had fully
re-cooperated!
"Let's Make love" would probably have been her best film ever,
except the filming occurred when she was having serious
psychological difficulties. Even so, she's extremely sexy --
which says a lot about her dedication to her craft.
I think the most telling interview I saw was one centering
around "Misfits." This movie is about a few would-be cowboys who
love to go out and capture wild mustangs. Running the horses
into the ground with the help of a broken down truck, the nature
of the characters are revealed. Once she understands their
nature, Marilyn's character declares in a heart breaking rage:
"You're not happy unless you're killing something!" It is said
that the director (a former husband of Marilyn's, if I remember
correctly) made the movie with Marilyn as the lead role as a
protest to the way Hollywood destroyed young talent.
I don't consider myself to be an expert on Marilyn, though I
have given her special attention since reading Miss Rand's
article. I have concluded that a world that can not take Marilyn
Monroe seriously is a world in desperate need of premise checking.
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