In addition to the MM100 Festival in Haarlem and screenings at Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam, fans across the Netherlands can choose between three more retrospectives (and an exhibition …)
100 Years of Marilyn Monroe opens at Hilversum Film Theatre on Sunday, May 31, with a lecture from film scholar and journalist Timna Rauch.
“She is the most photographed woman in the world and was primarily known for her sultry voice and sexy looks. But she also read Proust, studied at renowned acting schools, and kept tight control over her image. Marilyn Monroe is so much more than the one-dimensional image often created of her. Timna Rauch shines a spotlight on Monroe’s versatility and shows that Marilyn is so much more than a ‘dumb blonde.'”
A screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes follows at 3:45 pm, and again on June 1 at 6:45 pm. (All tickets sold separately.)
“Marilyn Monroe shines as the seductive Lorelei, the archetypal smart yet charming ‘dumb blonde’. Together with her friend Dorothy Shaw, she travels by boat to Paris … Lorelei reveals herself not only as a gold digger but also as a loving bride. With her charming personality, beautiful singing, and irresistible allure, Monroe is the radiant centrepiece of this timeless musical classic, full of humor, romance, and glamour.”
And four more Monroe classics are coming up in June…
- NIAGARA: June 7, June 9 – “Against the dramatic backdrop of Niagara Falls, Marilyn Monroe plays Rose, a femme fatale who possesses two of the most powerful weapons: a seductive body and a malevolent mind … In stark contrast to her often comedic roles, Marilyn’s classic dramatic portrayal of this diabolical and calculating woman is simultaneously fascinating and terrifying, painting a powerful picture of human sexuality and passion.”
- THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH; June 14, June 16
- SOME LIKE IT HOT: June 21, June 23
- THE MISFITS: June 28, June 30
Another film series opens at Forum Groningen this weekend, in tandem with MARILYN, an exhibition showcasing the collection of Ted Stampfer, on display until October 25. (You can read my review of his London exhibition from 2024 here.)
On June 14 at 7:30 pm, the film critic and essayist Basje Boer – who wrote about Marilyn in her 2023 book, Reclining Nude – will introduce a screening of Some Like It Hot.
- SOME LIKE IT HOT: June 12, June 14
- GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: June 26, June 28
- ALL ABOUT EVE: July 10, July 12
- THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH: July 24, July 26
- THE MISFITS: August 7, August 9
And finally, Timna Rauch will reprise her lecture, ‘Marilyn Monroe: More Than Just a Dumb Blonde’, at Lab111 in Amsterdam on June 1 at 6:30 pm. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes follows at 8:30 pm (tickets sold separately), with further screenings set for June 5-6 and June 8-11; and Lab111 will also be showing Some Like It Hot from June 5-7, as part of a Marilyn Monroe 100 celebration.
“Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 this year, and we’re celebrating with select matinee screenings of two of her brightest classics: Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Come for the diamonds, disguises and dazzling comic timing, stay for a screen icon who still lights up the room.”
The Marilyn Report 