Marilyn Monroe (1986)

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A documentary about Marilyn Monroe.

Film Overview
The movie "Marilyn: The Untold Story", released in 1986, offers an unique glimpse into the glamorous, yet distressed life of one of Hollywood's many iconic figures, Marilyn Monroe. Directed by three well-known directors-- Jack Arnold, John Flynn, and Lawrence Schiller-- this biographical drama brings to evaluate the low and high of Marilyn's career, her distressed relationships, fights with personal satanic forces and, inevitably, her terrible end.

Plot Summary
The film traces Marilyn's life from her childhood, as Norma Jean Baker, a troubled lady with an unstable household background, through her transformation into the glamorous Monroe. Her battle to break into showbiz from her very first modeling tasks to landing bit parts that initially resulted in typecasting is illustrated. Yet, with her talent and indisputable onscreen magnetism, she slowly rose to prominence and became a film legend.

Highlighted are her affairs and marital relationships, notably with baseball star Joe DiMaggio and famous playwright Arthur Miller, in addition to her associations with the Kennedys. The movie provides an in-depth performance of her painful struggle with personal insecurities, misconceptions, anxiety, and substance abuse, despite enjoying the meteoric increase to fame.

Secret Themes
The movie, in its raw representation of Monroe's life and struggles, manages to highlight the dark side of glamour and fame with a practically heartbreaking poignancy. It extensively explores the themes of alienation, identity, and the relentless pursuit of individual and professional fulfillment.

Performance and Reception
Marilyn's character is brought to life by Catherine Hicks, whose unnerving similarity to Marilyn and genuine representation earned her an Emmy nomination. Her outstanding efficiency is often mentioned as the emphasize of the movie. The remainder of the cast, that includes well-known names like John Ireland, Sheree North, Richard Basehart, and Frank Converse, all deliver qualified efficiencies, perfectly portraying the characters in Monroe's life.

In spite of the movie's run-time of three hours, it received favorable reviews from critics and viewers alike for its considerate handling of Monroe's life story and for unraveling the secret that shrouded her life and death. In addition, it forces audiences to reassess the decidedly severe cost of popularity that typically goes undetected in the middle of the glitz and glamour of stardom.

Conclusion
"Marilyn: The Untold Story" offers an enchanting tale of a gorgeous, distressed female who was permanently caught in the spotlight. The movie strikes a great balance between Monroe as a glamorous movie star on the one hand and a troubled individual on the other. It differs from numerous biographical portrayals of Monroe by trying to humanize her, revealing audiences the real individual behind the epic Monroe persona. Regardless of the unavoidable focus on Marilyn's tumultuous life, the directors, most significantly Schiller, include enough snippets of her exploits on and off motion picture sets to advise audiences why she remains among the best-loved icons in Hollywood history.

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