Writing for Digital Trends, David Caballero joins the chorus of critical voices urging viewers to check out Marilyn’s movies before Blonde hits Netflix next week – “the perfect excuse to revisit Monroe’s career under a new eye, one less preoccupied with her demons and more interested in her vibrant and undeniable talent as an actress.”
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) is the film that made a star out of Marilyn … Putting a twist on the dumb blonde persona, Marilyn creates a character of pure agency and remarkable wit, a confident upstart who perfectly embodies the film’s satirical tone.
- Gold diggers never looked so great or were so beloved as the trio of Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall in Jean Negulesco’s How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) … Marilyn lights the screen, portraying the dumb blonde to a tee.
- The Seven Year Itch (1955) turned Marilyn into a timeless cinematic icon, but it’s her next film, Bus Stop (1956), that deserves more attention … Running away from her previously established image, Marilyn dips her toes in dramatic waters as Chérie, a role that remains one of her most underrated.
- Some Like It Hot (1959) is among the best comedies of all time … Marilyn plays the apex of her dumb blonde persona, but, for once, she’s laughing along with the audience at the stereotype instead of being the butt of the joke.
- The Misfits might be best known for its troubled and now-infamous production, but it’s the perfect encapsulation of Marilyn’s persona … With Roslyn desperately trying to move away from the pin-up version of herself, Marilyn challenges audiences to do the same.
The Marilyn Report 