Customer Reviews

Marilyn Monroe Coll V1

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

OK, finally, the six videos in the first Diamond Collection, meaning her 20th Century Fox pictures. Not all are flawless gems, but rather most are the ones she is best known for, and we get an indepth, well-detailed narrative of her aborted last movie.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Yes, the musical that put Marilyn on the map after the success of Niagara. This movie is dated, but there's also the mindset of the opposites of its two stars. Lorelei Lee will simply drool over a diamond, while Dorothy drools over big pecs. Things aren't that way today. And the classic "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" led Madonna to duplicate that scene in her "Material Girl" video. Good songs and numbers mask a so-so plot and characters. Rating: 3.5

How To Marry A Millionaire: The second Cinemascope film made, Millionaire has MM teaming up with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall, out to snag rich husbands. MM is Pola, a myopic blonde who keeps bumping into walls and things without her glasses, which she is reluctant to wear because "men aren't attracted to women who wear glasses." That's what she thinks. Again, the materialistic "money is everything" theme prevalent in the 1950's. Not bad, though. (Rating: 4).

There's No Business Like Show Business: Marilyn only has a supporting role as Donald O'Connor's love interest in this one, with the really hot Latin-flavoured "Heat Wave" number a highlight. Most of the drama in this splashy but with no substance movie goes to Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, and O'Connor. Rating: 3

The Seven Year Itch: This has been my favourite MM film, not because of the skirt scene. For one thing, there's Tom Ewell's character, the married Richard Sherman, who has been happily married for seven years and has a great imagination, but not much esteem. Enter the Girl, a figure out of a dream, who tells him in a speech towards the end: "But there's another guy in the room, way over in the corner. Maybe he's kind of nervous and shy and perspiring a little. First you look past him, but then you sort of sense he's gentle and kind and worried, and he'll be tender with you. Nice and sweet. That's what's really exciting. If I were your wife, I'd be very very jealous of you." That cheered me up given my looks. Rating: 5

Bus Stop: The first film she did using Method acting, this is the film touted as the one where she could finally act, in her role as Cheri, a singer looking for respect who is initially flattered at the courtesy given by Bo, a green cowboy, who is so smitten at her, he intends to marry her, something that stuns her. She has no plans of marrying him, but unfortunately, Bo can't take no for an answer. Rating: 4

The Final Days: James Coburn narrates the events surrounding the making of Something's Got To Give, a remake of the Cary Grant/Irene Dunne comedy My Favourite Wife. The film would've been Marilyn's 21st, but due to her frequent absenteeism, an overdose, conflicts between director George Cukor and various writers, and the impatience of Fox studio heads desperate to be bailed out at the big slurping sound of cash draining at another debacle of a film also starring a temperamental actress, Cleopatra with Liz Taylor, it was alas not to be. Marilyn shines in some moments, such as the scene with the children. And the scene in the swimming pool is equal in exhibitionism as the skirt scene in The Seven Year Itch. She shows a bit of her derriere when she puts on the bathing gown, something that wouldn't have been allowed in the final cut, (read Mr. Hays). However, other scenes and outtakes show her in a drug-induced haze. Also included is the first 15-20 completed minutes of Something's Got To Give, where Marilyn totally shines in her scenes with Dean Martin and the children. I saw possibilities in this, as two months after being fired, MM had successfully negotiated a return to production for the film with a higher salary. That was on 1 August. Four days later, she was dead. (Rating: 4.5)

Overall rating: (3.5+4+3+5+4+4.5)/6=4.

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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!

Marilyn Monroe in some of her best films. SHe doesn't star in all of them, but her contribution to the films is unforgettable.

Take "There's no Business like show business"(a completely awful movie which showcases marilyn's voice and body while the rest of it bores the heck out of you) out of this great collection of MM's films, and you have got quite a nice set of movies to feast upon. Also, the documentary, which originally aired on AMC, "The Last Days", is outstanding. Marilyn looks stunning in the footage of her last work on film that was never shown until now.
"The Seven Year Itch", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, "How to Marry a Millionare", and "Bus Stop"(yippee!! finally back and looking fantastic on dvd) are all great movies of Marilyn's and throwing that monstrosity I mention above in was in bad taste.
I still think it's worth buying. I got it as a gift. It is a perfect gift for the Marilyn lovers like myself.

This review refers to the "Marilyn Monroe-Diamond Collection" DVD Collectors Edition(20th Cent Fox)...

Okay you've been warned. If you watch these films back to back your mouth muscles will tire from smiling so much! They are, like Marilyn herself, simply irresistable. They are also jammed packed with lots of other wonderful stars, fabulous music, snappy dialouge, and they are restored beautifully in the original widescreen and glorious technicolor.The set includes five fun films from the 50's, a captivating documentary, and an edited, reconstructed version of her final but unfinished project.

You'll find Marilyn and pals Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable foraging for rich husbands in "How To Marry A Millionaire"(1953). The men they set their caps for include David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Cameron Mitchell and even William Powell.
Marilyn and Jane Russell sail for France and declare "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend" in the delightful romp "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"(1953). This one co-stars the wonderful Charles Coburn.
Next up from 1954 Marilyn shares the spolight in "There's No Business Like Show Business" with Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor. This one will delight musical lovers with it's lavish song and dance numbers, and wait till you see some of Marilyn's outfits!
Even happily married Tom Ewell is not safe from Marilyn's charms in "The Seven Year Itch". The wife's away for the summer and poor Tom must find a way to cool off poor Marilyn from the hot weather! Hmmm....Delightful....and of course, this one has the famous skirt scene.
Can a girl with a past and a naive rancher find love? It's a pleasure finding out in this poignant tale of "Bus Stop"(1956). it also stars Don Murray, Arthur O'connell, Betty Field, Eileen Heckart and a very young Hope Lange. Marilyn shows us her tremendous dramtic skills in this one.
And then there's the very touching "Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days". Narrated by James Cobourn, it's an open and honest look at what took place in the last few months of Marilyn's life, and the problems she was having while filming her final film. Immeditaley following the documentary there is an edited, reconstruction of the scenes shot for the film. This film, also starring Dean Martin, "Something's Got To Give", which was to be a remake of the Grant/Dunne film "My Favorite Wife", finally saw an audience as "Move Over Darling" with James Garner and Doris Day.

If you are a Big Fan of MM or are considering this as a gift for some who is, this set is definatly the way to go. If you are like me, you know that eventually you will put out the money for all of them anyway!. Also I did not see "The Final Days" for sale separatly. This boxed set is an absolute bargain!. All the films look fabulous. All wonderfully restored. Each Disc has it's own bonus features, including comparisons of the restoration, and some theatrical trailers. There is a "Movietone Newsreel" relating to the cinemascope process on the documentary disc. The technical info here says that these discs are in 5.1, and although the sound on all the discs is excellent, they are not 5.1. Bus Stop, Millionaire and Show Business are all in 4.0, Seven Yr Itch is in 3.0, and Gentlemen in Stereo and full frame.That is what they say on the box and that is exactly how my DVD player decoded them. As I said they sound wonderful, but I thought I would mention that for those that it may make a difference to.

20th Century has put together a wonderful must have package, that you'll enjoy time and time again....enjoy ...Laurie

Marilyn Monroe was a true diva of the movie screen. That her personal life failed to measure up to the dizzying heights of her film career is a tragedy and one that none of her on-screen performances ever seems to hint of. FOX STUDIOS have outdone themselves on this collection of her best work. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is the movie with Monroe's signature trademark, 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend'. But this is hardly a one hit wonder. As a DVD, Fox's lurid Technicolor comes across loud and clear with remarkable resolution and clarity. The same can be said for the rest of the films included in this box set (The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop, There's No Business Like Show Business, How To Marry A Millionaire) though film purists will note that both "Millionaire" and "Itch" have retained some of their grain and splice seams, an inherent flaw of early Cinemascope photography. Still, this is the best any of these films have ever looked, save their original Hollywood premiere. The remarkable fidelity of Alfred Newman's "A Street Scene", the overture played prior to "Millionaire" is so stirring I found myself straining to hear the imperfections of 1950's recording technology. They are practically non-existent. This box set also includes the wonderful documentary, Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days as well as a reconstruction of the footage shot for Monroe's last, incomplete film, "Something's Got To Give". This is a wonderful chance to see the Monroe that never was or will be, a last look at the goddess that defined an era of sexuality and innocence, strangely blended to perfection in the embodiment of one angelic, but sadly, thoroughly lost little girl.

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!

I love Marilyn movies!! This box set is also more economical to purchase than each of the movies seperatey. It's also vey nice to have the extra move "Something's Got To Give" to see Marilyn in what turned out to be some of her last days.... The added features at the end of each movie are also interesting and note worthy. I can highly reccommend this to any Marilyn fan.

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!

This set, for the most part, is an absolute dream. Monroe really shines in the SEVEN YEAR ITCH, BUS STOP, HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, and GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. The runt of the litter is, of course, THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS. Come on, guys, what the hell were you thinking? With LET'S MAKE LOVE, DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK and NIAGARA, a predominantly Ethel Merman movie with cameos by Monroe was chosen for the Diamond Collection? I hated that movie. It was mostly Ethel Merman not being able to shut up even if her life depended on it. NIAGARA not on DVD - what's that about? But, moving on, THE FINAL DAYS was the clincher, an unedited, uninterrupted version of the great American Movie Classics documentary. When I watched this last June, I thought it would be interesting to see the lost footage. My God, I had no idea how great she was all this time. "Something's Got to Give" would have been a smash if finished and released. Monroe's scenes are very poignant and very funny. I loved her first scene coming home for the first time in 5 years. This was Marilyn Monroe as she had never been seen before. It would've been great. Buy this set - pretend THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS isn't in the box. In its place, rent THE MISFITS or SOME LIKE IT HOT.