BEING MARILYN MONROE (16) The Estate, by Alan Ewing

 

 

 

 

 

 BEING MARILYN MONROE: The Estate

by Alan Ewing MSc, BA Hons, Cert HE

 

The proposed demolition of Marilyn Monroe’s home has opened up a myriad of issues surrounding her. The biggest cultural icon of the 20^th century lives on in the current times. He impact on society has become greatly recognised as history has moved on. Far gone are the days when it was thought that she was a dumb blonde who could not act. The whole script is now rewritten in a way that few could have believed in decades past. The progress of woman’s freedom and equality now acknowledges the role that she played living in the 1950s, a time in Western culture when the role of women was seen as secondary.

The furure surrounded the proposed demolition of her former home at 12305 Fifth Helena Dr. Los Angeles highlights the sensitivity and acknowledgement of her historical importance. The abode has become a symbol of her life. To see it demolished would be like The White House or Parliament being destroyed. It would be tantamount to cultural aberration and would amount to the greatest crime against her since the ‘probable suicide’ verdict after her death. Great forensic research into that has shown that she deserves a revision to ‘accidental prescription drug overdose' which is the normal ticket for celebrity death in current times.

The background behind the fate of the home that she finally found is disturbing to say the least. The property was acquired by Glory Of The Snow LLV for $7.25 million in 2017, then it was acquired by Glory Of The Snow Trust for $8.35 million. Mystery surrounds this hedge fund organisation and surely the time has come for this to come to light. A further question surrounds The Marilyn Monroe Estate. What is its purpose? Why was her home allowed to become available upon the free market? These are questions that need to be answered before demolition can be allowed.

The cultural importance of the building is huge. Marilyn was hugely influential in the progression of women in society and in society as a whole. The 1953 article in Motion Picture & Television Magazine testifies to this with its laying bare of misogyny within the film industry, echoed today within the Me Too movement. Her innovation in forming Marilyn Monroe Productions Ltd also saw a brave stance against the patriarchal Hollywood machine of the 1950s There is a lot of historical significance at stake in all of this, and answers are needed as to what the motives are for destroying such heritage.

The role of The Marilyn Monroe Estate in not seeking to acquire the home is to be questioned. Bequeathed to Lee Strasburg, her acting coach and her psychiatrist Dr Marianne Kris, upon whose death the 25% share was transferred to The Anna Freud Centre, for work with children facing mental health problems. The 75% share of Strasberg was taken up by Authentic Brands Ltd from Strasberg’s later wife Anna Mizrahi, Paula Strasburg, daughter of Lee having died in 1968. In effect, the Estate became a venture capitalist organisation farming out rights to the Monroe image for a share of any profit made. The lack of interest in the matter of Marilyn’s home shows how this Estate in no way represents Marilyn’s interests. It is simply a profit making organisation under an assumed name.

The way forward may be a Marilyn Monroe Foundation, which serves her interests. There is a dedicated Marilyn heartbeat that lives on through her fans, look-a-like performers, even artists like Madonna and Scarlett Johansson. The time is surely right for such a proposed movement to seek to take back what belonged to Marilyn Monroe, including her home, and create a lasting, loving legacy to all that she believed in, in terms of children’s care, base good humanity and a worldwide environment in which the arts can flourish.

 

copyright dewyswriter 2023

BEING MARILYN MONROE (15) 'Wolves I have known' extract, preface by Alan Ewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEING MARILYN MONROE 'Wolves I have known' extract by Marilyn Monroe

with preface by Alan Ewing MSc, BA Hons, Cert HE 

 

 

 

The following is an extract from an article in January 1953 issue of Motion Picture and Television Magazine. The title is: Wolves I Have Known. The wolves are lecherous men, full of misogamy, who seek to prey upon the dreams and aspirations of young women.  In this article, Miss Monroe lays out clearly how the film industry operates. It is essentially, 'Me Too', way ahead of its time. Marilyn was a feminist who never lost her femininity. She is a symbol and example of how women can be themselves in a man's world while preserving their own sexuality at the same time. Marilyn was a pioneer in that. A link to the full article is here  US internet archives

 

Wolves I have known 1/1/53


By MARILYN MONROE as told to  - - - Florabell Muir


 - they say l’m whistle bait. 


Could be, but I’m forever meeting guys who dont stop at a whistle. 
l’ve learned to handle them all 


First I want to say that this would be a very uninteresting 
world if there weren't any wolves, but a girl has to learn 
how to handle them or she'll run into a bushel of 
trouble. There are many types of wolves. Some are sinister,others are just good-time Charlies trying to get some thing 
for something for nothing and others make a game of it. This last 
type is the most interesting.

The first real wolf I encountered should have been 
ashamed of himself because he was trying to take advantage 
of a mere kid. That’s all I was and I wasn’t suspicious of 
him at all when he stopped his car at a corner and started 
to talk to me. 

He looked at me all over and then came up with that 
famous line: “You ought to be in pictures.” That was the 
first time I'd ever heard it, so it didn’t sound corny to me. 

He told me he had an office at the Goldwyn studio and 
said why didn’t I come and see him and he would get me a 
screen test. It sounded pretty good to me because I was 
crazy to get into the movies. 

I was modelling at that time and I asked the people who 
ran the agency where I got my jobs what they thought of his 
offer. The manager called the studio but never was able to 
get in touch with my would-be benefactor. However, the 
wolf called the agency and I made an appointment to go to 
his office on Saturday afternoon. 

I didn’t know then that the producers and other movie 
officials don’t make Saturday afternoon appointments. I 
found that out later. I also found out that he didn’t really 
have any connection with the Goldwyn studio but had borrowed 
a friend’s office. 

He was fat and jovial and, of course, drove a Cadillac. 
He gave me a script to read and told me how to pose while 
reading it. All the poses had to be reclining, although the 
words I was reading didn't seem to call for that position. 

Even as naive as I was then, I soon figured out that this 
wasn’t the way to get a job in the movies. He was getting 
sillier by the minute and I manoeuvred over toward the 
door and made a hasty exit. 

BEING MARILYN MONROE(14): Marilyn's Hidden Gem, by Alan Ewing

 

 

 

 

 

BEING MARILYN MONROE: Marilyn's Hidden Gem

by Alan Ewing, MSc, BA (Hons), Cert HE

 

 

In 1948 Marilyn Monroe landed her first starring role with 20th Century Fox. A riveting performance that should have catapulted her to greater roles. This did not happen due to Managing Director Darryl Zanuck laying the condition down that she spend time on his yacht, if she wanted the contract on offer. Marilyn's response being "Will your wife be joining us?" and so no contract was forthcoming and Monroe would move to another studio.

'Ladies Of The Chorus Line' is a B-Movie, though Monroe's charisma is superbly on show. Playing the part of Peggy Martin, a burlesque theatre chorus line dancer, she shows all of her multi-talented skills in acting, dancing and singing with the songs, 'Anyone Can See I Love You' & "Everybody Needs A Da Da Daddy', as well as the sexuality which would come to define her. 

The plot sees Peggy Martin become the star of the show, with her mother, Mai Martin, a stalwart of Burlesque Theatre having shoe-horned her into the leading light. A male fan begins to send flowers each night, dates her and wants to marry her. Class issues enter the film, with the High Society status of Peggy's suitor, and her own 'Queen of Burlesque' title. Families are to meet with approval sought.

 

The film can be viewed on click here ... youtube

 

copyright dewyswriter 2023 

 

BEING MARILYN MONROE (13) SMASH! Musical TV Drama Review, by Alan Ewing

 

 

 

 

 

SMASH!

by Alan Ewing Msc, BA Hons, Cert HE

 

 

 

The tv musical drama SMASH was aired in 2012-13, Season 1 was a huge hit.  In its originality, the show revolves around the life of Marilyn Monroe. Life in theatre is a key theme featuring a fictional Broadway theatre. The interwoven plots revolve around the theatrical team who are putting together a a musical about the life of Marilyn. The lives of the characters are shown, with the two actresses who are vying for the part of Miss Monroe, combined with the casting crew, production staff and the minions of theatre who run around after them.

 

Overall Season 1 is a rip-roaring ride with the rivalries and tensions between the characters providing gripping entertainment. The musical numbers for the musical are wonderfully staged, as are the rehearsals, with choreography shown as the hard-working practice that it is. In addition the cross-references to 21st Century culture are evident, with a Simon Cowell-type Director. The original audition panel form of casting brings to mind shows like 'The X Factor' and 'Amercan Idol' which derived their ideas from theatrical forms of audition. There is also the use of many 21st Century pop songs in various outings for the ensemble.  Woven into this are constant references to Marilyn Monroe's life and how the characters within the show relate to her.  

 

 

Overall the experience is a riveting one for any fan of Marilyn Monroe, the costume designs being superb, and then the performances of Katherine McPhee and Megan Hilty being pivotal in this. Season 1 contains great character plot, intriguing storylines, and then of course how all of this relates to Marilyn Monroe.

 

So, if you are a Marilyn Monroe fan, then this show is for you. 

copyright dewyswriter 2023

 

BEING MARILYN MONROE: (12): Marilyn's Autopsy

MARILYN'S AUTOPSY

by Alan Ewing BA (Hons), MSc, Cert HE

Earlier within the blogs cover was given to Donald Spoto's  theory on Marilyn's death. The purpose of this blog is to update research into Miss Monroe's final moments given the updated research by Dr Richard Shepherd (2015). Dr Shepherd is renowned and respected for his work upon 9/11, 7/7, Stephen Lawrence and then examination of Princess Diana's body. In 2015 he undertook analysis of the medical documents relating to Marilyn Monroe's death, including the autopsy report as well as her Doctor's notes and prescriptions.

The evidence that Dr Shepherd uncovered is significant. Marilyn suffered from acute insomnia. A condition that related to her mental health stemming from her troubled childhood. In order to combat this her physician, Dr Engelberg prescribed Choral Hydrates, perhaps under pressure from Miss Monroe, in order to wean her off the previous prescription of Nembutal. When these two drugs are taken together then they form a lethal cocktail. It was a new prescription of Nembutal by Dr Engelberg, two days before her death that Dr Shepherd holds responsible for her death. The Choral Hydrates would have affected her short-term memory and so she would have repeatedly taken Nembutal thinking it was her first dosage. Engelberg was later to deny under oath in the 1982 investigation into Marilyn Monroe's death that he made the prescription, and yet a capsule of Nembutal was found on her bedside with his name clearly on it. Engelberg died in 2005.

The inquest came to the conclusion that "Probable Suicide" was the cause of her death and this was issued on the Death Certificate. It is clear from the research of Dr Shepherd (2015) that this was not the case. The conclusion that he reached is that "Accidental Death" due to medical negligence is the real answer to the puzzle.

'Chloral Hydrate and Nembutal taken together can have a fatal effect on the respiratory system'. It's curious that she should be given both drugs together.' - Dr Richard Shepherd

She was a powerful, beautiful and seductive woman, used to getting her own way and I can imagine that she would be very difficult to resist [if she was asking for the drug] but prescribing Nembutal on top of the Chloral Hydrate was like signing her death sentence.' - Dr Richard Shepherd

"This is a damning piece of evidence [for Dr Engelberg] and it's the final piece in the true story about the death of Miss Monroe.' - Dr Richard Shepherd



The reply from Jonathan R. Lucas M.d. Chief Examiner-Coroner to my inquiry about a revision of Marilyn Monroe's Death Certificate from "Probable Suicide" to "Accidental Death." Contents below, together with my response.

RE: 1962-81128 Marilyn Monroe email inquiry 5/24/2019 

Mr. Ewing,

This correspondence is in response to your email from May 24, 2019, suggesting the manner of death in Marilyn Monroe’s case be changed from probable suicide to accident. Please accept my apologies for the length of time it took to get back to you. 

According to your email and what can be read about Dr. Shepherd’s theory, this suggestion is based on Dr. Shepherd’s allegation that there was medical negligence related to Dr. Engelberg prescribing chloral hydrate and pentobarbital (Nembutal) to Ms. Monroe. Suicide is a determination based on the notion of self-harm and a volitional act, not on the availability of means. Even if, hypothetically, Dr. Engelberg’s prescriptions were considered medical negligence, it would not alter the reasoning for certifying the death as probable suicide. 

After reviewing the entire file, including but not limited to the original autopsy report, toxicology report, and related investigative information, there does not appear to be any new evidence to support changing (amending) the death certificate. 

For your reference, I am including a copy of the redacted file for your information. Thank you very much for your inquiry. 

Sincerely, 

Jonathan R. Lucas, M.D. Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner

Jonathan R. Lucas, M.D. Chief Examiner-Coroner

I read with great disappointment your reply to my request for a review of Marilyn Monroe’s Death Certificate. It is quite clear that the administration of both drugs disabled Miss Monroe’s cognitive functions and therefore affected her short-term memory as to the doses that she was taking leading up to her death. It is this affect on her brain that excludes any possibility of conscious suicide.

I would request that you review this matter again. I would request a reopening of the whole case.

Kindest Regards,
Alan Ewing

NB  My central point here is that due to cognitive dysfunction, regarding the cocktail of drugs, with short term memory in disarray, then Marilyn Monroe could not possibly have committed suicide. Dr Shepherd reached the conclusion that she would not have remembered how many tablets she had taken. The issue is not medical negligence, it is about intent, as you point out. There was no suicidal intent, hence accidental death.





Here being the reply to my second enquiry:with contents
below

“Enriching Lives”

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL EXAMINER-CORONER

1104 N. MISSION RD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90033

Jonathan R. Lucas,M.D.

Chief MedicalExaminer-Coroner

July 17, 2019

RE: 1962-81128 Marilyn Monroe email inquiry July 6 and July 7, 2019 

Mr. Ewing,

This correspondence is in response to your emails from July 6 and July 7, 2019. The information

Dr. Shepherd presents does not appear to be new evidence, but rather a reinterpretation of the same fact set. The idea of Ms. Monroe taking pills more frequently due to impairment of short term memory, while possible, can neither be proven or excluded. That scenario and the one of taking many pills at once are not mutually exclusive.

It should be pointed out that the conclusion of probable suicide – and therefore intent – at that time was based on the entire investigation including a psychological evaluation, Ms. Monroe’s known history, as well as the toxicological findings.

Her death has been investigated – and revisited – thoroughly, and despite Dr. Shepherd’s interpretation of the pharmacology and toxicology, I do not see a need to extend the investigation further.

              Thank you very much for your inquiry. 

                Sincerely,

Jonathan R. Lucas, M.D.

Accreditations:

National Association of MedicalExaminers(Provisional)                     ANAB ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Forensic Science Testing Laboratories California Medical Association-ContinuingMedicalEducation                          Peace Officer Standards and TrainingCertified Accreditation Council for Graduate MedicalEducation

Law and Science Serving the Community

Links

Dr Richard Shepherd

Marilyn Monroe Autopsy Report





copyright dewyswriter2019

BEING MARILYN MONROE (11): My Week With Marilyn (Movie), overview by Alan Ewing

MY LIFE WITH MARILYN

Overview by Alan Ewing

My Week With Marilyn (2011) is a movie that I had seen on DVD following it's original release. At the time I was in a hectic helter shelter within The Marilyn World, as a business man. So,  although I saw the film, it was really a case of skimming over the ice, on a respite evening from the general insanity and drama that was going on around me. The look-a-likes were driving me mad. they thought that they were her, rather than playing a part. I was simply seeing Michelle as a look-a-like because my brain had gone.

Watching it again at Christmas 2018 was a new experience; in far more relaxed Marilyn World mode. The performance of Michelle Williams is breath- taking. She captures all of Marilyn’ vulnerability, while at the same time capturing her alluring power.  An actress at the height of her powers; not a look-a-like. Her other roles prove this. being a look-a-like is one thing; being an actress is another.

We see Miss Monroe through the eyes of two men, and how she captures them in differing ways. Lawrence Olivier, played with gusto by Kennneth Branagh, is enraged that he cannot contain her, as they film ”The Prince and the Showgirl.” Her acting craft is not understood by him. She is a natural who has not gone through training. He is in love with her, though his manhood knows the dangers of that.

On the other side of the fence we have Colin Clarke, played by Eddie Reymayne   The movie is based on Clarke’s experience, as he befriends Marilyn while working on a lowly position on the set of "The Prince and the Showgirl". She turns to him as the new marriage to Arthur Miller starts to come apart at the seams. Miller cannot cope with her because she overshadows and consumes him.

In her, Clarke finds a woman in need of a friend. A woman locked into being “Marilyn Monroe – the most famous woman upon the earth. She never refers to herself as Norma Jean .. she doesn't need to; we know that. The ending shows why all Marilyn’s relationships are doomed to fail, as no man can with the biggest movie star of them all. 

Thoroughly recommended for any serious student of Marilyn Monroe.

My Week With Marilyn Trailer

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BEING MARILYN MONROE (10): Marilyn Monroe, Donald Spoto Biography (1993), by Alan Ewing

MARILYN MONROE, DONALD SPOTO BIOGRAPHY (1993)

by Alan Ewing

There are countless books and biographies on Marilyn Monroe written from various angles. Some are well worth the time, while others have simply been churned out. For an introduction to Marilyn's life, unfettered with conspiracy theories or fanciful notions of her private life, often sourced from those with a grudge, then for clarify and painstaking research then the Donald Spoto biography has to be up amongst the best. The work is respectful to her name and seeks to find the real route that her life took, both onstage and offstage.

Without wishing to give a detailed commentary on the book, for that would prevent the reader from making their own mind up about it, I would say that the sources are sound. There are references to sources at the back of the work, with interviews and source material well-documented. The tone is respectful though manages to keep a step back from being over-adoring and thus ignoring fault lines in Marilyn's make-up as a human being. At the same time it manages to avoid sensationalism and exaggeration.

The book deals with all aspects of Marilyn's life from childhood and how it shaped her through to her death and all that surrounded it. In dealing with the latter, Spoto sets out his theories , based on circumstantial facts, as to the reasons why Marilyn came to an untimely end in the way that she did. Once again, I shall not expound upon these as to do so would spoil reading those encountering the book for the first time.

Overall, I would recommend this book for anybody wanting to learn more about Marilyn Monroe beyond the movies and work that she did. It does not disappoint and takes the reader on a concise journey into this extremely significant women. The study of Marilyn Monroe is essential for anyone that seeks to understand how women became emancipated. Her role in that during the 20th Century is second to none. Donald Spoto's Biography of her gives a great deal of insight into her life.


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