Rating: 
Summary: Don't Fall In Love With A Dead Woman
Review: I'll confine this review to the disc,"Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days", which does not seem to be available elsewise in the United States. That said...
James Ellroy fans (and homicide cops) will tell you: Don't fall in love with a dead woman. It's an occupational hazard of theirs, and they know it well; it leads to heartbreak, ulcers, early retirement, or eating a hollowpoint. This DVD may present you with a bit of insight-maybe a little more than you have in mind-as to this state of affairs.
"Something's Got To Give", a remake of a story as old as silent theatrical film, was to have been a quick and profitable moneymaking project for 20th-Century Fox, who were in serious economic straits over the massively overbudget production of 'Cleopatra". It starred Marilyn Monroe, Cyd Charisse, and Dean Martin, and became a quagmire of its own due to problems with Marilyn and director George Cukor. Eventually MM was fired, Dean Martin refused to work with her replacement Lee Remick, MM rehired and production rescheduled when Marilyn was found dead at her house, 8/05/1962. Of course that ended the movie: its footage was put in a vault, essentially unmolested for forty years.
In 1999, American Movie Classics paid to have the extant footage built out as far as it would go, making a release that is in essence an abruptly ending 37 minutes of what would have been a roughly 90 minute film. The film quality is superb and the scenes marvelous, including the famous swimming pool sequence which would have been the first nude scene in an American theatrical release, at least since the days of the Hays code (as it turns out that honor went to MM emulator Jayne Mansfield in 1963's 'Promises,Promises'.)
There's the tough part. Marilyn Monroe, at the age of 35, is in the best shape of her life and is absolutely magnificent in this footage. When the film ends abruptly and rolls memoriam credits-as if on a Moviola-you are seeing her on the last theatrical film shot of her in her life, the last day of her career, June 1, 1962. Her thirty-sixth birthday.
Nine weeks later, she was dead.
I'll spare the details, except to say that I've never met a ME or homicide officer who thinks it was suicide (and I deal with police officers and departments for a living.) If thinking about her doesn't bother you a little, you may be missing something. I can't put it any other way. If you're a lukewarm MM fan, you might really not want to watch this, because the game isn't necessarily worth the candle. If you don't get her at all, think you're 'stone to the bone'. or are a serious fan wanting to see all there is of Marilyn, this DVD will likely be one of the most important you have ever watched.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely essential collection of Marilyn Monroe films!
Review: .
For anyone who loves Marilyn Monroe, or even for anyone who knows nothing about her but wants to learn, this is an essential collection of her films.Buy this set along with The Diamond Collection II, and you will have most of the best of Marilyn Monroe's body of work. The surprise DVD in this set is the "Final Days" disc, in which Marilyn's final (uncompleted) film, "Something's Got to Give" has been reconstructed to give an idea of how the finished movie might have looked. Marilyn missed a lot of shooting days on the set of this final film, which led to her being fired in mid-production. Acdcordingly, there is a lot of plot missing in this reconstruction. However, if you watch the Doris Day vehicle "Move Over Darling", which was a retitled and completed version of "Something's Got to Give", it will fill in the gaps so that you can watch the reconstructed "Something's Got to Give" and figure out the plot. It's wonderful that at last we have this final glimpse of Monroe's on-screen magic. She appeared breathtakingly beautiful in the surviving footage of this film. It really makes me sad to realize she didn't survive the summer of 1962 so that she could complete the filming. Ah yes... MMMmmmarvelous Marilyn!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: A wonderful box set, with the exception of "There's No Business Like Show business". "Niagara" or "Let's Make Love" would've fitted better in this collection.
In the "The Last Days" disk, there is a reconstruction of Marilyn's last film "Something's Got to Give". It is unfortunate that Marilyn died before completing the film, because from watching the first half of it, you could tell that had it been completed, it would've been a bad a** movie. Just as the plot thickens, the director calls "cut!" and leaves the viewer to forever wonder how the film would've ended.
Rating:
Summary: She never got enough credit for her films
Review: And I think that this collection really shows her true talent!
Who can resist her charm, her danty personality or her atomic apperance.
Marilyn really was before her time and always will be in ours. this set includes some of her best films and I think everyone being a true fan to her would really appreciate this!
Rating: 
Summary: Goodbye Norma Jean
Review: Are you in for a treat! The Diamond Collection features 5 Marilyn movies, and the first-time ever release of her final, unfinished film. First up is "Bus Stop", directed by Joshua Logan in 1956. Don Murray(in his first film) co-stars as a riotious young country cowboy. This bumpy romance is stage-bound and corny. However, it's final scenes reveal an emotionally scarred young woman's character that is hauntingly reminiscent of the "Marilyn Mystique". The second film is "There's No Business Like Show Business", from 1954. It's a back-stage show business melodrama; dated and slow. However, this new DVD offering is dripping with luxurious, mind-bogeling color. Dan Dailey co-stars, along with a very young Hugh O'Brian. The third film is 1955's "Seven Year Itch". Director Billy Wilder had filmed the classic "Sunset Boulevard" just 5 years before. "The Seven Year Itch" was a smash Broadway comedy hit for 3 years. Tom Ewell signed on to repeat his starring role. Ewell plays a hen-pecked husband, alone for the summer in his sweltering Manhattan flat. Then he meets "the girl". It's a fast moving satirical romp. The timing and acting are superb. It's near perfect. The fourth film is "How to Marry a Millionaire", from 1953.This vibrant, classy comedy stars Marilyn along with Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, and Hollywood icon William Powell, who once romanced Jean Harlow. Marilyn easily steals the show. Her ditzy, near-sighted blond model named Pola is a scream from begining to end. Next is "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953)". A famous action director, this was Howard Hawk's only musical. Jane Russell co-stars. The shipboard scene with Marilyn, Charles Coburn, and George Winslow ranks among the funniest ever shot! Finally comes a special treasure trove of Hollywood legend. "Something's Got to Give" has been locked away in a 20th Century film vault for 40 years. Carefully edited from 9 hours of film never seen before, it is perhaps the first half of her final intended film. Shot in 1962, it features her only nude scene. George Cukor directed parts of "Gone With the Wind" in 1939. Here he leads Marilyn and barks orders at child actors on the set. An exceptional cast includes Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse,Phil Silvers, Steve Allen, and the mysterious Wally Cox. 19 days behind schedule, filming was suspended due to Marilyn's poor health. Marilyn enticed the studio to begin re-filming, armed with a new million-dollar contract and a 2 picture deal. Ravaged by 10 years of Hollywood stardom, Marilyn suffered bouts of depression. She died in August, 1962, of a pill overdose. For the first time ever, the camera opens the door on this fragile, frightened, and damaged little girl living in a still beautiful 35 year-old woman's body. "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". But having just one friend might have helped save this little girl.
Rating:
Summary: Goodbye Norma Jean
Review: Are you in for a treat! The Diamond Collection features 5 Marilyn movies, and the first-time ever release of her final, unfinished film. First up is "Bus Stop", directed by Joshua Logan in 1956. Don Murray(in his first film) co-stars as a riotious young country cowboy. This bumpy romance is stage-bound and corny. However, it's final scenes reveal an emotionally scarred young woman's character that is hauntingly reminiscent of the "Marilyn Mystique". The second film is "There's No Business Like Show Business", from 1954. It's a back-stage show business melodrama; dated and slow. However, this new DVD offering is dripping with luxurious, mind-bogeling color. Dan Dailey co-stars, along with a very young Hugh O'Brian. The third film is 1955's "Seven Year Itch". Director Billy Wilder had filmed the classic "Sunset Boulevard" just 5 years before. "The Seven Year Itch" was a smash Broadway comedy hit for 3 years. Tom Ewell signed on to repeat his starring role. Ewell plays a hen-pecked husband, alone for the summer in his sweltering Manhattan flat. Then he meets "the girl". It's a fast moving satirical romp. The timing and acting are superb. It's near perfect. The fourth film is "How to Marry a Millionaire", from 1953.This vibrant, classy comedy stars Marilyn along with Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, and Hollywood icon William Powell, who once romanced Jean Harlow. Marilyn easily steals the show. Her ditzy, near-sighted blond model named Pola is a scream from begining to end. Next is "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953)". A famous action director, this was Howard Hawk's only musical. Jane Russell co-stars. The shipboard scene with Marilyn, Charles Coburn, and George Winslow ranks among the funniest ever shot! Finally comes a special treasure trove of Hollywood legend. "Something's Got to Give" has been locked away in a 20th Century film vault for 40 years. Carefully edited from 9 hours of film never seen before, it is perhaps the first half of her final intended film. Shot in 1962, it features her only nude scene. George Cukor directed parts of "Gone With the Wind" in 1939. Here he leads Marilyn and barks orders at child actors on the set. An exceptional cast includes Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse,Phil Silvers, Steve Allen, and the mysterious Wally Cox. 19 days behind schedule, filming was suspended due to Marilyn's poor health. Marilyn enticed the studio to begin re-filming, armed with a new million-dollar contract and a 2 picture deal. Ravaged by 10 years of Hollywood stardom, Marilyn suffered bouts of depression. She died in August, 1962, of a pill overdose. For the first time ever, the camera opens the door on this fragile, frightened, and damaged little girl living in a still beautiful 35 year-old woman's body. "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". But having just one friend might have helped save this little girl.
Rating:
Summary: The beautiful Eleanor Parker
Review: Eleanor Parker is just as beautiful as Monroe, but her breasts are smaller. Watch Parker act up a storm in "Interrupted Melody", playing the polio-stricken opera diva Marjorie Lawrence.
Rating:
Summary: The Indestrucable Marilyn on DVD
Review: Finally, at last, Marilyn Monroe arrives in a nearly-indestructable format: DVD. The films appearing in this collection are not nesessarily MM's greatest, but they are a good representation of her body of work during her 20th Century Fox years. Although some of the films seem hopelessly dated (ie: Bus Stop), it is still great to see these films in their original W I D E S C R E E N format, digitally tweaked and tuned to near-perfect picture and sound quality. At long last, Marilyn can now be seen and heard in all her cineramic splendor. Do yourself a favor and spend a long weekend watching this collection. Add "Some Like It Hot" and you will fall in love with Marilyn Monroe all over again; or for you youngsters, for the first time! MARILYN LIVES ON DVD!!!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful start to your Marilyn collection.
Review: I got this as a birthday gift and was absolutly thrilled. It's a perfect collection of some of Marilyn's best including musicals, comedies, and drama. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Marilyn was the sexy Lucy!
Review: I have seen all these movies many times. I'm so happy they are all on a nice dvd collection. Marilyn shines as always in everything. Show Business is the least of my favorites but Marilyn does several great songs in this , well worth seeing her sing "After you get what you want" & "Heat Wave". The Final Days was really interesting , to see marilyn's last movie footage, that was never finished.I don't see the the "drug daze" as some have mentioned here". I think she looked great and seemed to have it all together other than forgeting a few lines and showing up late. It leaves alot to speculate as to what was really going on with Marilyn in her last days. Somethings Got to Give if finsihed would have been a cute 60's comedy, much like Doris Days films. Marilyn was on her way to becoming a great comedian..
Add "Some Like it Hot", "Misfits", and "Prince and the Showgirl" "River of No Return" to this collection, and you will have the best of Marilyn's films.
|
