Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection (Bus Stop / How to Marry a Millionaire / There's No Business Like Show Business / Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / The Seven Year Itch / The Final Days)
by Billy Wilder, George Cukor, Howard Hawks, Jean Negulesco, Joshua Logan
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dean Martin, Don Murray, Donald O'Connor, Ethel Merman, Marilyn MonroeDirector: Billy Wilder, George Cukor, Howard Hawks, Jean Negulesco, Joshua Logan
Writer: Anita Loos
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
DVD Release Date: 2001-05-29
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection (Bus Stop / How to Marry a Millionaire / There's No Business Like Show Business / Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / The Seven Year Itch / The Final Days)
Movie Review: Saint Marilyn
Summary: 5 Stars
I was not quite six when Marilyn Monroe died. I vaguely remember hearing that she had died at the time, and, having already seen pictures of her, felt very sorry for this beautiful, gentle lady. Even at that young age, I thought that she was "very nice" and "gentle", not to mention beautiful, and had a "childlike sensitivity" about her. I have been a fan of hers ever since. I always feel good when I watch her(Betty Grable had that same "feel good" quality to her), and also more than a little sad. I don't need to go into any detailed accounts about the sad "sex goddess'" life, as millions of miles of print have followed since her demise. But I AM ecstatic that five of her best films have been lovingly restored and enhanced and released in this DVD boxed set of Valentine's Day eye-candy. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", her first musical-comedy smash as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee,co-starring that "full-figured gal" Jane Russell, looks and sounds incredible-the colors are vivid, the picture sharp, and the sound clear. The colors in the legendary "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" number are SO vivid, it's akin to having an LSD flashback! "Blondes" showcases two voracious, funny, sexy gals in action-the wimpy men don't stand a chance! Marilyn's star continued to rise in "How to Marry a Millionaire", 20th Century Fox's 2nd Cinemascope venture, co-starring the delightful Betty Grable(Marilyn's predecessor as Fox's top blonde),and Lauren Bacall, whose high-fashion looks are served to good advantage in this Technicolor fashion show on film. "Marilyn Mania" continued to grow in the 50s as she co-starred in "There's No Business Like Show Business", a twenty-gun salute to Irving Berlin's music, featuring belting Broadway legend Ethel Merman, song-and-dance men Dan Dailey and Donald O'Connor, singing teardrop Johnnie Ray, and the vivacious Mitzi Gaynor. Marilyn's notorious "Heat Wave" number is her big number in the film, and the film is a pretty, pleasant no-brainer. "Marilyn Mania" reached its peak in the Billy Wilder-directed comedy, "The Seven Year Itch", in which Marilyn plays the upstairs neighbor of nerdy, married, middle-aged Tom Ewell, and becomes the object of his wild and fervid fantasies. She is breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely delightful as the somewhat dizzy but intrinsically very wise dish who stands above a subway grating to feel the breezes waft up around her-"Oh, here comes another one!" This film was made in the innuendo-ridden 50s, and has a campy, comic-book like eroticism of its own-a funny "men's magazine" on film. But Marilyn had begun to grow tired of her "one-note" roles, and surprised many when she went on suspension from 20th Century Fox, took acting classes at The Actors Studio, and took on the role of Cherie in the film version of William Inge's "Bus Stop". Marilyn wanted to prove that she could be an "actress" in this film, and not just a "joke". And what a performance she gave! The film, as is the play, is somewhat hokey and dated, but watch it for Marilyn-she's like a wayward Daisy Mae who wants more out of life. Her rendition of "That Old Black Magic" is a classic-with her awkward, nervous gestures, scared, tinny voice, hillbilly accent,and seedy saloon girl costume, she is both pitiful and adorable-you just want to take care of her. Rounding out this DVD collection is the AMC documentary "Marilyn-The Final Days". The film is both informative and very depressing-having restored her last, unfinished film "Something's Got to Give", and filmed numerous interviews with co-star Cyd Charisse, hairdresser Peggy Shannon, and others, including one of her many doctors, AMC presents a very sad (no surprises here!) glimpse into part of Marilyn's private hell from which, to her, death seemed the only escape-or so we have been led to believe. The truth about this very sad, sensitive, talented, beautiful girl's death will probably always remain unspoken-as many of her contemporaries and romantic liasons are also gone-dead sex symbols tell no tales. And so, Saint Marilyn, I still love you, as millions of others who never met or knew you, do too. You died for our sins. So if you love Marilyn, there should be no question-buy this boxed set-it's truly a love letter to Marilyn and her special, unmatched magic!
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