Not many stars in Hollywood have been as thoroughly analyzed as Marilyn Monroe: her beauty, blonde hair and iconic red lipstick.
But it wasn’t just Marilyn Monroe’s physical concept that captivated audiences, her performance was also extraordinary. Long before she underwent formal training at her Actors Studio in New York, Monroe was a woman who exceeded expectations beyond her appearance.
She made “dumb blonde” a trope while revealing herself the opposite. While Monroe always resented the sex roles she had to take on and craved to be taken seriously, she starred in many movies in a short time.
Following the release of Blonde, here are eight of her best movies. Watch them and find out what made Monroe one of the most enduring Hollywood icons.
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Marilyn Monroe Films
Don’t Bother to Knock (1952)
This will be Monroe’s 19th film. Her early career consisted of stints in comedy or work in ungrateful supporting roles. However, Don’t Bother to Knock marked the first film that granted her a dramatic role – one that enabled Monroe to recount her childhood traumas and abuse.
Niagara (1953)
Niagara is a thriller that Monroe surprisingly took – bagged her star status. This started her superstardom, codifying her sexpot image in feedback that parred her figure in tight clothing to Niagara Falls’s wonder.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Among the most iconic Marilyn Monroe version was in this film, donning a pink flamingo gown accessorized with jewels as she sings “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” The film’s script was created to align with Monroe and Jane Russell’s strengths in comedy and entertainment. Monroe even reportedly suggested the line, “I can be smart when it’s important, but most men don’t like it.”
How to Marry a Millionaire
Monroe was joined by two other blondes in this film – Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable. They portray three models wanting to find rich husbands.
Bus Stop (1956)
Inspired by William Inge’s play of the same name, Bus Stop was the first film the icon made after a year of studying in Actors’ Studio in New York. Here, she portrays Cherie, a performer at a local bus-stop café with dreams of reaching Hollywood fame.
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Photo: Heavy
