Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (2001)

Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days Poster

Marilyn Monroe's final project, "Something's Got to Give", has become one of the most talked about unfinished films in history. The story of the film and Marilyn's last days were seemingly lost… until now. Through interviews, never-before-seen footage and an edited reconstruction of "Something's Got to Give", Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days provides a definitive and fascinating look at the last act in the life of the world's most famous and tragic superstar.

Overview
"Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days" is a documentary released in 2001 by CBS. Directed by Patty Ivins, the documentary checks out the life, profession, and awful passing of Marilyn Monroe by focusing specifically on the last 6 weeks of her life throughout the production of her last and unfinished film "Something's Got to Give". The documentary provides an engaging insight into the life and struggles of one of Hollywood's the majority of iconic figures.

Production and Context
This documentary incredibly threads together various interviews, behind-the-scenes video footage, and countless photographs from the last movie Monroe was working on before her untimely death in 1962. The film interlaces never-before-seen films and unusual video footage of Monroe with interviews of her close associates and colleagues from the set. The unveiling of such undocumented product worked as a driving force behind the documentary's intrigue.

Depiction of Monroe's Life and Career
"Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days" takes its audience through the starlet's extremely public yet strange life. The film explores her meteoric rise to fame, her distressed personal relationships, and her long-lasting fights with depression and drug addiction. In the movie, Monroe's health and personal concerns ended up being a limitation to her capability to work, contributing to her fall from grace. She was typically late or absent from the set of "Something's Got to Give", which strained her relationships with the crew and the studio. Despite this, the documentary shows her tremendous skill and irreplaceable charm, which appear in the video taken during different minutes between takes.

Monroe's Final Days and Mysterious Death
The documentary's main focus, however, is Monroe's last weeks. Throughout this time, she was dismissed from her last film due to her tardiness and perceived unprofessionalism. The movie highlights the seclusion and desolation Monroe experienced after being released. Despite her attempt to restore control by performing a publication interview and picture shoot, she was discovered dead a short time after, under what some perceive to be suspicious scenarios. The documentary circumvents the speculative nature of Monroe's death, rather focusing on her battle in the spotlight and her untimely end.

Unfinished Film "Something's Got to Give"
An essential part of the documentary is devoted to the incomplete movie "Something's Got to Give". The film offers a restoration of the unfinished motion picture utilizing videos that were thought to be lost. Monroe's frail however radiant charm in this film is a poignant suggestion of the terrible fate that awaited her.

Interviews and Archival Material
Functions are reversed in the documentary as versions of Monroe's story are explored through the words of those who knew her personally. The roster of contributors include manufacturers, co-stars, and studio professionals, whose combined memories helped to paint a brilliant portrayal of Monroe's character, professional principles, and individual life.

Overall, "Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days" is a touching homage to the famous actress. While the film is steeped in unhappiness, it likewise commemorates the talent, beauty, and charisma of Marilyn Monroe. In spite of her awful end, the documentary advises us of Monroe's long-lasting tradition that continues to mesmerize audiences decades after her death.

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