Saturday, 1 April 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.

Monday, 29 April 2019

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

Friday, 28 December 2018

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

Saturday, 29 September 2018

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.

copyright dewysumox2018

Tuesday, 25 September 2018