She was addicted to a barbiturate drug called Nembutal. Her doctor had also given her chloral hydrate to try and wean her off the Nembutal - apparantly the two shouldn't be taken together but it was found that Marilyn did, leading to her death.
If I recall correctly, her doctor at the time, Dr Hyman Engelberg testified that he had never written her a prescription for chloral hydrate, which has now been revealed as a lie.
Therefore, her death was due to medical negligence leading to an accidental overdose.
The rumours that she was murdered by the Kennedys are nonsense.
1960's seem so long ago... didn't she die in her bed?
Channel 5's Autopsy programme that was on a couple of nights ago was about Marilyn's death. Each episode looks at the death of a celebrity. I should think it'll be available to watch online.
As much as there have been and always will be fabulous looking famous women, the fact that she still remains famous to this day, and even people that aren't interested in the 50s and 60s, it still seems that everyone will know who Marylin Monroe was.
I don't think she was a great actress or was particularly intelligent, or was a wonderful person, but I think she exuded such mystery and her photos are some of the best I've seen.
When I was growing up, I loved the 50s idols, like her and James Dean, and there is something really special about them, about their faces, that go beyond just sexiness and beauty.
Channel 5's Autopsy programme that was on a couple of nights ago was about Marilyn's death. Each episode looks at the death of a celebrity. I should think it'll be available to watch online.
I watched that, on and off.
I've also seen the Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson episodes. All three causes of death were very similar.
As much as there have been and always will be fabulous looking famous women, the fact that she still remains famous to this day, and even people that aren't interested in the 50s and 60s, it still seems that everyone will know who Marylin Monroe was.
I don't think she was a great actress or was particularly intelligent, or was a wonderful person, but I think she exuded such mystery and her photos are some of the best I've seen.
When I was growing up, I loved the 50s idols, like her and James Dean, and there is something really special about them, about their faces, that go beyond just sexiness and beauty.
Hence why their names is still around today.
Yes I agree. She died before I was born but I can completely understand why she became so iconic. Her circumstances I think are after the fact and have ensured a certain immortality. But to do that she had to become famous in the first place. She was a better actress I think than people often give her credit for. However her fame came, I believe, from an intangible allure or charisma that just shone out of her.
I think that the je-ne-sais-quoi 'something special' is probably "marketing" rather than necessarily some kind of ethereal heavenliness...
Could be.
I once read that she had an almost innate understanding of cameras and how lighting worked, such that she would instinctively turn to get herself in the most photogenic position and lighting even for say press photographs. Photographers, I understand, said it was impossible to take a bad picture of her.
^^^ Agree with the above - this picture illustrates it well IMO, look at the difference between MM's pose and Jane Russell's. She makes JR look lumpish in comparison.
^^^ Agree with the above - this picture illustrates it well IMO, look at the difference between MM's pose and Jane Russell's. She makes JR look lumpish in comparison.
Yes indeed. One leg bent and the stance make her look flexible and lith. The hat used to create a frame for her face and a backdrop to highlight her hair. The arm straight onto the camera - no bingo wings here fellas! head slightly down, peering up at the camera, cheeky and yet demure. Plus just the right amount of smile. ( Jane seems to have overdone it)
Agree with the above remarks - some people do have the knack for getting themselves in the best angle, and that picture has me wondering if it's a perfect example of this or whether the photographer was taking a picture of MM that just happened to have JR in it.
The fact that I am uncertain as to which it is might be proof of this!
Yes I agree. She died before I was born but I can completely understand why she became so iconic. Her circumstances I think are after the fact and have ensured a certain immortality. But to do that she had to become famous in the first place. She was a better actress I think than people often give her credit for. However her fame came, I believe, from an intangible allure or charisma that just shone out of her.
BIB - very well put! That was really what I wanted to put as well.
There is a restaurant I go to that is named after her, and is filled with pictures of MM. I don't know if it is because I'm a fan, or if everyone will be affected the same way, but I can never go there without staring at all the pictures, even though I've seen them many times now!
im a cynic and think because she was mistress to a lot of high profile men, lots of equally/more talented women of the era didn't get the level of adoration she did so me thinks the gyal' put out, in that era women would have been less likely to be so openly/willingly promiscuous. *ducks and hidea*
I think that the je-ne-sais-quoi 'something special' is probably "marketing" rather than necessarily some kind of ethereal heavenliness...
Not sure I completely agree with you. I think there are some things that marketing cannot do, and I think in many ways, she had something that you either have or don't have. (I imagine that whatever it was, is rare, hence her being so iconic)....Camera tricks and lighting and marketing all help of course, but the ethereal heavenliness has to be naturally present!
Also she was lucky enough to be alive in that by gone era which people sometimes refer to as the "golden age". Not sure if it is because it's so long ago, or if that era really was golden....
Comments
She was wonderful in 'some like it hot' with Jack Lemmon & Tony Curtis.
yeah suicide/murder
If I recall correctly, her doctor at the time, Dr Hyman Engelberg testified that he had never written her a prescription for chloral hydrate, which has now been revealed as a lie.
Therefore, her death was due to medical negligence leading to an accidental overdose.
The rumours that she was murdered by the Kennedys are nonsense.
Not sure why you are connecting her fame to how terrible her life was
Channel 5's Autopsy programme that was on a couple of nights ago was about Marilyn's death. Each episode looks at the death of a celebrity. I should think it'll be available to watch online.
I don't think she was a great actress or was particularly intelligent, or was a wonderful person, but I think she exuded such mystery and her photos are some of the best I've seen.
When I was growing up, I loved the 50s idols, like her and James Dean, and there is something really special about them, about their faces, that go beyond just sexiness and beauty.
Hence why their names is still around today.
I watched that, on and off.
I've also seen the Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson episodes. All three causes of death were very similar.
Yes I agree. She died before I was born but I can completely understand why she became so iconic. Her circumstances I think are after the fact and have ensured a certain immortality. But to do that she had to become famous in the first place. She was a better actress I think than people often give her credit for. However her fame came, I believe, from an intangible allure or charisma that just shone out of her.
Could be.
I once read that she had an almost innate understanding of cameras and how lighting worked, such that she would instinctively turn to get herself in the most photogenic position and lighting even for say press photographs. Photographers, I understand, said it was impossible to take a bad picture of her.
Yes indeed. One leg bent and the stance make her look flexible and lith. The hat used to create a frame for her face and a backdrop to highlight her hair. The arm straight onto the camera - no bingo wings here fellas! head slightly down, peering up at the camera, cheeky and yet demure. Plus just the right amount of smile. ( Jane seems to have overdone it)
Could have just been chance of course!
The fact that I am uncertain as to which it is might be proof of this!
BIB - very well put! That was really what I wanted to put as well.
There is a restaurant I go to that is named after her, and is filled with pictures of MM. I don't know if it is because I'm a fan, or if everyone will be affected the same way, but I can never go there without staring at all the pictures, even though I've seen them many times now!
Also she was lucky enough to be alive in that by gone era which people sometimes refer to as the "golden age". Not sure if it is because it's so long ago, or if that era really was golden....