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The Misfits

The Misfits

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One Of The Greatest
Review: When you see a film like this, that enriches your life and you see it over and over again, it can be difficult to convey the greatness of this Arthur Miller masterpiece with Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable in their last film. There is so much to the simple story, you fear you might be leaving something out. As a recent divorcee, Marilyn meets "cowboy" Gable in Reno. There is a chemistry between them, transcending the mere sexual attraction that seems to pervade todays' pictures. The artistry of her acting finally came to the fore and Gable is fantastic, their acting playing off one another. Montgomery Cliff as the rodeo cowboy friend and Eli Wallach, who owns a little place in the countryside, where Marilyn and Gable first get to know each other, are wonderful supporting stars. The term "misfit" applies to the characters and the story about the men and their attempt to round up the "misfit horses" on the plain. And of course, Marilyn is a misfit for being beautiful, sensitive and giving of herself with the empathy for her friends and those horses she screams to protect.

She was married to Arthur Miller, who said he really wrote this for her. When Gable died shortly after: some said it was because of the strain of doing a lot of the active scenes without using a double. When Eli Wallach says to Marilyn "you care", even though people had always taken advantage of her, you were thinking that at the same time. Marilyn committed suicide not too long after Gable died. It was no secret that she cared very much for Gable during the making of the picture and that he helped in her acting and showing her feelings.

The dialogue is so full of meaning that you can see this ten times and still find something new. Fittingly, the acting and the film were underrated at the time. It was a misfit of a film. Watch the last scene again and know that there was a depth in this story about life and death.

The film is in black and white but you really don't notice that because you become enthralled with the story, the acting, and the musical background. This is a movie for all time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THIS MOVIE IMPROVES WITH REPEATED VIEWINGS!
Review: fIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THIS! I am tired of hearing how Marilyn was directly or indirectly to blame for Clark Gable's death while making the misfits. The man smoked and drank like there was no tomorrow, he shot his last movie under extreme conditions and he wasn't in the best shape of his Life to begin with. Ok, i feel better! Marilyn herself went thru the mill making this movie, both physically and mentally. Her marriage to playright Arthur Miller was under serious strain during the making of the film, and she resented how he incorporated Marilyn's own words and thoughts into the script. This was suposed to have been her greatest acting challenge but turned into a nightmare fast. The endresult is a unique movie, showing Clark Gable and Marilyn at the top of their form, despite all the difficulties. They pull the movie thru. Everybody gives great performances here (Monty Clift at his most dysfunctional and Eli Wallach). U have to see this movie more than once to appreciate it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Depressing masterpiece
Review: Everyone left the theater when I saw this in 1961 w/o saying a word -- not only depressing, but far ahead of its time. I have read all the customer reviews, and they seem to have hit the nail on the head. What I point out to people seeing it for the first time, or even viewing it again, is to simply imagine the words coming out of Gable's mouth (as well as the other characters) are those of her then-husband, Arthur Miller. Eli Wallach's character says to her "You have the gift of life" to which she responds "People say I'm just nervous." And Wallach's response to that is "If it weren't for the nervous people in this world, we'd still be eating each other!" Supposedly she was upset at his screenplay reflecting her very own words, but I think he was simply saying "I know you and I love you." Her concern over saving the horses is reflective of the time on Miller's farm when she tried to bring a sheep into the house out of the rain. Listening carefully to this film reveals an insightful look into the legend known as "Marilyn Monroe" coming from a man who knew her well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Goodbye Marilyn
Review: Despite the smiling faces on the box cover, there was realy nothing to smile about, the film itself, or the making of it. In fact a book was written about the making of this film, appropriately called 'The Making of the Misfits'. Arthur Miller wrote this for Marilyn, even as their divorce would began during the filming. Marilyn was famous for her unprofessional behavior, but in this film she took it to the limits, drugs, depression, and her general outlook made the filming of this movie over budget and late. In fact Clark Gable in an example of cruel irony had said' "That little lady is gonna end up giving me a heart attack." Gable soon died after the completion of this film. This was another blow to Marilyn who grew up with the fantasy that her father was Clark Gable.

The movie itself is sad. It must have been difficult for the director to create a movie with a plot had no real direction. The film itself brings out the vulnerability and softness of Marilyn, which is why I like it so much. The message of the film is entirely hers. The lines were her true feelings. This film can be studied like a window into Marilyn's private thoughts and feelings, a real gem for the serious Marilyn fan. Arthur had Marilyn totally in mind when he wrote this. He may have known her better than anybody, being married to her for four years. Not a box-office or casual fan favorite, but a true fan will cherish it as Marilyn's last good-bye.

On another note, the 'paddleball' scene was written in during filming. Marilyn played with it during the shooting

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Making of The Misfits
Review: If you want to find out more about the behind the scenes struggles during the making of The Misfits, check out Curse of the Silver Screen - Tragedy & Disaster Behind the Movies by John W. Law in the book section.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Odd story but good acting
Review: Not very likable people in this unusual movie, nobody seems to know what they want or where they are going. Monroe really shows some serious acting ability though compared to some of her lighter roles. If you're a film buff you should watch it just because it the last work of both her and Gable.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Finale by Decree
Review: End of the trail "cowboys" have a searing edge in this downbeat story written by Arthur Miller. The opening score by Alex North gives the viewer the idea that this is not a comedy.

It is Gable,s last film and Monroe,s last complete film. Clift would soon follow their fate also. If Gable had lived who knows what kind of mature roles he would had given. Gable was in that MGM contract for so long playing heroes and unreal people that we might forget what his possibilities could have been.

The final reel has Roslyn( Monroe) saying to Gay( Gable) " How do you find your way home"? Gable says" You see that star ..pointing to the heavens through the windshield, you just follow it all the way home" ! Fade out..and thats just what both of them did.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Marilyn is at her finest
Review: The Misfits is one of the best of MM's movies, her performance is extraordinary. along with clift, wallace, ritter, the acting as an ensemble is just brilliant. AS good a drama as this movie is, it often pains me when i watch marilyn in it, because i know that arthur miller was thinking of her and using her as a springboard for the story. you get the feeling that everything happening in the movie, is actually happening to MM in real life. A mezmerizing job done here by her and she looks gorgeous...worth a look at to see marilyn's work.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Marilyn Monroe delivered a good performance!
Review: THE MISFITS is a winner.Despite the fact that it failed at the box-office,and dramatic behind-the-scenes conflicts,this film is a good drama movie. The script of this film was written by Monroe`s then-husband,playwright Arthur Miller,as a "valentine" to her following the sad miscarriage of their child.This time,the Godess plays a role you have never seen her play in her earlier pictures.In THE MISFITS,she`s Roslyn Tabor,a divorcé who joins a group of cowboys.Roslyn was based on Marilyn.One of the cowboys is Gay Laughland,played to perfection by Clark Gable.Gay is a free spirited man who lives life by the minute and nothing gets in his way of pleasure.Also in the gang are two men (Montgomery Clift and Eli Wallach)who have hidden pains from their past.The Nevada scenery is breathtaking and the musical score by Alex North is very good.Marilyn Monroe fans should know that this film added many elements from Marilyn`s troubled reality such as references about her mother.In the film,Gay helps Roslyn figure out what demons are killing her and what is she running away from.We can see that Monroe did a good job with this film and fully applied the Strasbergian Method to it`s fullest when it came to inner-examination.This film should please any MM fan,and any moviegoer that enjoys a good piece of drama.This was the last film for two movie stars that offered so much to American cinema:the king and queen of Hollywood(Gable and Monroe).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This film gets better with age
Review: Production disputes colored initial reviews upon release in early 60's; this film is well worth a re-look. A masterful and poignant portrayal of independent souls adrift in a world of conformity - presages much of the angst under the surface of the later 60's. Wonderful performances by all cast members.


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