Making "The Misfits"

Rating:
Summary: Only the true "Misfits" fan need watch this dirge.
Review: .
Slow-moving, and not terribly enlightening, this documentary on the making of Marilyn Monroe's (and Clark Gable's) final completed film is almost as dreary as the film itself.

The interviewees are mostly relatives of people who worked on the film and who don't have much to tell about the making of the film itself.

One woman recalls that when she went to discuss pre-production details with Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe, "Marilyn was upstairs, vacuuming. She vacuumed and vacuumed." Apparently the woman never really did meet Marilyn, and the vacuuming story is all she really had to say about Monroe. How dull a story; much like the woman who told it. (Personally, I suspect that Marilyn turned on the vacuum so she couldn't hear the woman talking over it, and then locked herself in another room so as not to have to meet the dreary woman at all!)

Even Arthur Miller doesn't seem to shed much light on the production. He's rather old now, and perhaps his memory isn't that good. Or perhaps, like the woman who told the incredibly boring vacuuming story, he really doesn't have anything important to say.

The denounment is when everyone states at the end of the documentary that the film "The Misfits" didn't work, and that it was basically a bomb at the box office. Read my separate Amazon review on "The Misfits" and you'll understand why.

For a true Monroe fan, this might be interesting to watch once, but it's hardly worth owning for repeat viewings. If you're really interested in "The Misfits", watch the movie itself.

MMmmmarvelous Marilyn, how we miss you!

Rating:
Summary: Only a true fan of "The Misfits" need watch this dirge.
Review: .
Slow-moving, and not terribly enlightening, this documentary on the making of Marilyn Monroe's and Clark Gable's final completed film, "The Misfits", is almost as dreary as the film itself.

The interviewees are mostly relatives of people who worked on the film and who don't have much to tell about the actual making of the film.

One woman recalls that when she accompanied her husband to discuss pre-production details of the film with Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe, "Marilyn was upstairs, vacuuming. She vacuumed and vacuumed." Apparently the woman never really did meet Marilyn, and the vacuuming story is all she really had to say about Monroe. How dull a story; much like the woman who told it. (Personally, I suspect that Marilyn turned on the vacuum so she couldn't hear the woman talking over it, and then locked herself in another room so as not to have to meet the dreary woman at all!)

Even Arthur Miller doesn't seem to shed much light on the production. He's rather old now, and perhaps his memory isn't that good. Or perhaps, like the woman who told the incredibly boring vacuuming story, he really doesn't have anything important to say. (Or maybe he said it all in the script of "The Misfits"?)

The denouement is near the end of the documentary when everyone basically says that the film "The Misfits" didn't work on screen, and that it was basically a bomb at the box office. Read my separate Amazon review on "The Misfits" and you'll understand why.

For a true Monroe fan, this might be interesting to watch once, but it's hardly worth owning for repeat viewings. If you're really interested in "The Misfits", watch the movie itself.

MMmmmarvelous Marilyn, how we miss you! Personally, I'd rather be vacuuming than watching this dreary documentary.

Rating:
Summary: It's a treasure if you like The Mitfits
Review: A DVD only for lovers of serious movies as The Mitfits was. I liked specially when the guest talk in the desert where the film was made.

Rating:
Summary: Not much more than old legends
Review: Making "The Misfits" must have been amazing for film-buffs who happened to find themselves in Reno in the early '60's. Surprisingly, the people interviewed for this documentary aren't really fans at all, but relatives of those who were there, film-historians and folks who worked on the picture second-hand. Nobody seems very giddy about their memories, and they retell their old stories in a slightly dazed, distracted fashion. I did find it interesting that, near the end, most everyone reluctantly admits that the movie simply didn't work and is therefore one of the most legendary Hollywood flatliners of all time. I loved bits and pieces of "The Misfits", and anyone else with the same mixed reaction will end up wanting more depth and personality regarding the picture and why it all went awry. There are some fascinating photos displayed, making one wish he had been there too. B-

Rating:
Summary: Not much more than old legends
Review: Making "The Misfits" must have been amazing for film-buffs who happened to find themselves in Reno in the early '60's. Surprisingly, the people interviewed for this documentary aren't really fans at all, but relatives of those who were there, film-historians and folks who worked on the picture second-hand. Nobody seems very giddy about their memories, and they retell their old stories in a slightly dazed, distracted fashion. I did find it interesting that, near the end, most everyone reluctantly admits that the movie simply didn't work and is therefore one of the most legendary Hollywood flatliners of all time. I loved bits and pieces of "The Misfits", and anyone else with the same mixed reaction will end up wanting more depth and personality regarding the picture and why it all went awry. There are some fascinating photos displayed, making one wish he had been there too. B-

Rating:
Summary: Superlative Documentary On A Legendary Film
Review: The opening shot of "Making The Misfits" is charged with evocative nostalgia for a lost era in film history and stars of legendary status that haunt our collective memory. It's a simple yet telling shot of a nearly empty drive-in theater just after sunset. On it's battered shabby screen "The Misfits" is running.
The making of John Huston's misunderstood classic is presented here with artistry and integrity. It weaves present day interviews with surviving cast, crew, and photographers with shots from the film. Some of the interviews were filmed on the old set locations or in areas very near them. Through these interviews, film clips, and the wonderful photographs of such Magnum artists as Eve Arnold the story of one of the most unusual "Hollywood" film productions unfolds. For film buffs and fans of any of the principal players this is pure gold.
"Making The Misfits" is one of the best documentaries on Hollywood and how films get made. It was wonderful to see Arthur Miller being so open and candid about a painful part of his life. He is the heart and soul of this film and fills the frame with dignity and humor. Eli Wallach is charming as he spins his memories of those days in the desert with Marilyn, Gable and Monty.
This end result of seeing this documentary is that it makes the viewer want to revisit "The Misfits" and view it with a fresh prospective.
(For my review on "The Misfits" entitled 'A Lesson In Film' click on MGMboy more about me)