Described as a "Limited Edition Headshot of Marilyn Monroe by Lawrence Schiller," this is being offered for sale for $4,500 at the (I think) decidedly creepy size of 26x30 inches. (The seller advertises on AllMusic, which is how I encountered the photograph.)
I've only ever seen Marilyn Monroe in one movie—Asphalt Jungle, one of my favorite noir films—and I don't think I'm big on celebrities, especially deceased ones—although I have not interrogated that. But I question who would want this ever-so-slightly motion-blurred portrait at that huge size...I think I'd be embarrassed, as such prominence would seem to betoken obsession. I'd much prefer a more modest 8x10. But then, what do I know—maybe M.M. is appropriate larger than life. Her cultural status deserves the much-overused word "iconic."
Lawrence Schiller, of Brooklyn, is 81 now. He has had a remarkable career. You can read his interesting bio on his website here. A brief excerpt:
Perhaps nothing in Schiller’s career proved more remarkable, though, than his collaboration with Norman Mailer—a friendship unique in American literary history. For nearly thirty-five years the two worked closely together, on books including Marilyn (1973), The Faith of Graffiti (1974), Oswald’s Tale (1995), Into the Mirror (2002), and The Executioner’s Song (1979), for which Mailer won the Pulitzer Prize. Schiller, who did much of the legwork, interviews, and research for Executioner’s Song, outmaneuvered numerous other reporters to gain exclusive access to the book’s subject, Gary Gilmore, and went on to produce and direct the award-winning television miniseries based upon it, starring Tommy Lee Jones.
It's a beautiful picture.
Mike
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Ken Tanaka: "A beautiful picture, yes, but perhaps too much so for the subject. Marilyn was so over-photographed her beauty became trite. She became an icon of herself. This 'portrait' looks as if it was cropped from a larger movie scene. Naw, not my favorite.
"Personally, the MM images I find most engaging are the 'tweeners.' That is, the snaps grabbed between moments when she wasn't posing, when the light wasn't perfect, when the lens wasn't quite perfectly focused. So among Schiller's MM images offered for sale on that site this is the one I would most enjoy having:
"At first glance you don't realize who it is. But unlike Richard Avedon's famous 1957 MM tweener, Schiller hasn't captured her in a sullen, dark moment that saddens the viewer. Here on the set of the 1960 film 'Let's Make Love' she appears on top of the world, as though someone's just made a clever quip. She's a person who's with you. You can almost hear her laugh.
"Yes, Lawrence Schiller did some nice Hollywood work, often outside the same ol' mold."
Paul de Zan: "You have never seen Some Like It Hot? Oh my."
Joe: "You've never seen Some Like It Hot? Holey smoke, Mike, get on the stick!"
I agree - that's too much Marilyn. I've only seen her in Some Like It Hot, but then nobody's perfect. (cryptic reference alert)
Posted by: Yonatan K | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 01:13 PM
Asphalt Jungle was good, but her best was also her last (along with Clark Gable)... The Misfits also starred Montgomery Clift and Eli Wallach, penned by Arthur Miller and directed by John Huston. One of my top ten all time.
Posted by: Stan B. | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 02:19 PM
If "Asphalt Jungle" is your only viewing of Marylin Monroe, I am going to offer up "Some Like it Hot," a delightfully subversive comedy, as a counter-weight. This Billy Wilder classic was years ahead of its time, holds up well, and shows off MM as a comedienne rather than just a pretty face. "Asphalt Jungle," is pure noir fun, of course . . .
My own noir fave has got to be "Gilda" with Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth, but that's off topic for today. BTW, agree completely that the offered size is odd. I understand that "big" sells -- just not to me. ;)
Posted by: Benjamin Marks | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 02:40 PM
You may remember Marilyn’s movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. I have just read the novel which inspired it. It is quite different than the movie (that never happens...), and quite a surprise. It’s inventive and inspired, satiric and wickedly funny. In fact I’ve never read anything quite like it.
Posted by: Eolake | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 02:44 PM
"It's a beautiful picture." Yes, but perhaps too much so for the subject. Marilyn was so over-photographed her beauty became trite. She became an icon of herself. This "portrait" looks as if it was cropped from a larger movie scene. Naw, not my favorite.
Personally, the MM images I find most engaging are the tweeners. That is, the snaps grabbed between moments when she wasn't posing, when the light wasn't perfect, when the lens wasn't quite perfectly focused. So among Schiller's MM images offered for sale on that site this is the one I would most enjoy having. At first glance you don't realize who it is. But unlike Richard Avedon's famous 1957 MM tweener, Schiller hasn't captured her in a sullen, dark moment that saddens the viewer. Here on the set of the 1960 film "Let's Make Love" she appears on top of the world, as though someone's just made a clever quip. She's a person who's with you. You can almost hear her laugh.
Yes, Lawrence Schiller did some nice Hollywood work, often outside the same ol' mold.
Posted by: Kenneth Tanaka | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 02:46 PM
Like you Mike, I have seen only one MM movie. It was "some like it hot" with Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis. It's a good one. Just a bit corny.
Posted by: mike in colorado | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 07:23 PM
It is also worth mentioning Schiller working as a “special photographer “ on the set of what would be MM’s final movie,captured the famous nude swimming pool shots.
Posted by: K4kafka | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 at 07:37 PM
MM, for me, will forever mean Milo Minderbinder.
Posted by: Arg | Wednesday, 04 April 2018 at 02:13 AM
You should see Bus Stop. It's a fun movie
Posted by: Yoram | Wednesday, 04 April 2018 at 03:08 AM
http://photographsandbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/arnold-newman-marilyn-monroe.html
A couple of my favorites, not by Mr. Schiller so a little OT but worth a look.
Posted by: mike plews | Wednesday, 04 April 2018 at 08:22 AM
You should check out the movie Niagara. It's not really a noir, but takes place at Niagara Falls during the day. She's not in her ditzy blonde character, but plays an unfaithful wife being stalked by her jealous husband. Great suspense.
Posted by: Pat Coddington | Wednesday, 04 April 2018 at 11:11 AM
Hi Mike,
Agree with Mr. Tanaka that the second shot is far more enjoyable compared to a formal headshot. Not that I'd own either, as they're a bit like dormroom posters from two generations ago, pre-Warhol.
On to important business: You absolutely need to watch "Some Like it Hot."
Posted by: Rick D | Thursday, 05 April 2018 at 12:16 PM
I feel like the person who'd put this on their wall would be going for the unsettling quality you're describing -- a bit David Lynch, a bit ironic, a bit off balance. Maybe I'm optimistic.
Posted by: Peter F | Monday, 09 April 2018 at 02:29 PM