‘Marilyn 100,’ a centennial retrospective at Cinemateket Bergen in Norway, began last month with The Seven Year Itch, and continues with two more films in February.
“Marilyn Monroe, or Norma Jeane Mortensen, is among Hollywood royalty. Both her personal life and her film persona are so unique that everyone is on a first name basis with Marilyn … Her story is a Hollywood tale as classic as it is tragic … In an era where powerful men shaped young women in their image, Marilyn was both desired and exposed. She was labelled and marketed as a bombshell from day one, but she wanted something different, something more. She was a free-thinking artist who enjoyed classical theatre, literature and poetry. This inner conflict contributed to her early death, which in turn paved the way for the creation of a film legend quite out of the ordinary.”
SOME LIKE IT HOT: February 10 and 17
“Marilyn Monroe delivers one of her absolute best performances as Sugar Kane – a role that shows her to be much more than just a sex symbol. With perfect comedic timing and a vulnerable, almost heartbreaking authenticity, Monroe creates a character that is both whimsical and profound. Balancing outer glamour with an inner loneliness, she makes Sugar a woman of dreams, hopes and disappointments. Her performance of ‘I Wanna Be Loved by You’ is iconic, but it’s in the quiet moments – when she speaks of her desire for security and love – that Monroe’s talent truly shines. This is Monroe at the peak of her creative power, in a role that proves she was a brilliant comedic actress, not just a star.”
THE MISFITS: February 22 and 25
“The Misfits is a Hollywood classic, starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift. It’s not just the film itself that’s interesting, but also the story behind it … Nevertheless, this is a beautiful film, where all the stars show themselves from their very best side … Monroe gave one of her best performances in The Misfits. Unfortunately, this was the last film she was able to complete.”
The Marilyn Report 