Saturday, June 12, 2010

Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Photo: Marilyn Monroe performing ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend’ in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953).

This is a snap from the film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ (1953) in which Marilyn Monroe performed in one of cinema's most memorable and evergreen song-dance sequence, ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend’. The iconic bubblegum pink satin gown Monroe was wearing while performing for the scene was up for auction on in early June 2010, and the pink gown is probably included in an exhibition of about 250 personal items and memorabilia from Monroe's life and career, on display till August 31 at the Hollywood Museum, Los Angeles.

Earlier, the revealing rhinestone studded dress she wore while singing ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ in May 1962 at the birthday party for President John F. Kennedy at the Madison Square Garden in New York, was sold at auction in 1999 for $1.27 million. Now, it is reported that the picture taken by White House photographer Cecil Stoughton, minutes after her infamous rendition of ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ is being offered in an auction at the Art & Artifact Gallery in West Hollywood, California.

It was Monroe's last major public appearance before her mysterious death in August 1962. The black and white photo shows Monroe, Bobby Kennedy and John F. Kennedy together -- ‘There is no other known’ photo of them together, according to filmmaker Keya Morgan, who is selling the print. He bought the photograph for a documentary he is making about Monroe. It is one of only ten prints from the negative and is expected to reach £16,000 at auction.

“You know, Marilyn died within months. President Kennedy died the next year and Bobby a few years from that. So what a haunting photograph, and it's the only one of any of them together,” said Mr. Keya Morgan.

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