The Misfits is showing this Sunday, March 19th, at 7pm in the Billy Wilder Theatre at UCLA (where Marilyn herself once studied.) Admission is free, with no advance booking – and the screening is accompanied by what promises to be a very interesting discussion, as part of the Archive Talks series.
“Director John Huston was coming off a string of critical and box office disappointments when he started work on The Misfits (1961), which would prove to be one of the most volatile productions of his career. Aside from the scorching heat of its Nevada locations, the film featured an extraordinary ensemble cast headlined by a trio of screen icons, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift, who seemed as marked for tragedy as their characters in the film. More than the stuff of gossip and legend, however, The Misfits marked a key turning point from old to new Hollywood. Drawing on new primary research into the film’s production, Emily Carman, author of Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System (2016), explores the transitional nature of the film through the clash and coordination of its star personas and performances. Specifically, she argues that The Misfits anticipates a shift from the female-dominated star system of Classical Hollywood to the male-led system of the New Hollywood era. As part of this program, Carman will give a brief talk, followed by a screening and on-stage conversation.”
The Marilyn Report 