Marilyn Monroe
n.p., ca. 1961
Marylin Monroe Personally Annotated Revisions for "The Misfits", 61pp!
Archive

An insightful and rare group of revision pages from the script of "The Misfits" (1961) that feature annotations personally handwritten by Marilyn Monroe and her acting coach, Paula Strasberg. Housed within a light blue binder folder, containing 61 white, pink, and yellow pages from various drafts of the script, 23 of which have been annotated. Exhibits varying degrees of age toning, creasing, and minor tearing throughout. Very good overall- a phenomenal example from her last major Hollywood film.

At least one page features notes on how to portray a scene both physically and emotionally, that were handwritten in ink and pencil by Monroe herself. Another page bears the name "Paula Strasberg" in blue ink at top right.

Excerpts of notable annotations include:

? [October 9, 1960- page 129]:
- "slap from Gay who was talking"
- "Just look"
- "Am I crazy or is he crazy"
- "Did I hear right you stupid fool"
- "take excitement from the horses"
- "I must relax my head is going/ lost in a forest"
- "turn away him in corner/ shrivel up/ get as far away from/ him as possible"

? [October 9, 1960- page 132]
- "run until he stops you"
- "name like a bullet shot/ drowning/ high breakers"

? [October 9, 1960- page 133]
- "Oh Lord!"
- [Likely in reference to the script paper itself] "I wanted it on pink today"

? [November 2.]
- "I know how you feel, Roslyn"
- -cage- scaly flesh/ heat/ air"

"The Misfits" chronicled Roslyn (Monroe), a recent divorcee in Reno, Nevada, who befriends a group of "misfits" that includes an aging cowboy (Clark Gable) and a weary rodeo rider (Montgomery Clift). The John Huston-directed movie became notorious for its behind-the-scenes problems, culminating in shooting being shut down while Monroe was hospitalized, in addition to the end of her marriage to Arthur Miller, who also wrote the screenplay. Indeed, the starlet later said that she hated the film and her performance in it. Although "The Misfits" was considered a commercial failure at the time of its release, it is now regarded as one of the best films of the 1960s.

Paula Strasberg (1909-1966) started her career as a stage actress, later marrying notable theater director Lee Strasberg in 1935. She went on to become Marilyn Monroe's acting coach and confidante until Monroe's death in 1962, supplanting Natasha Lytess.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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9" x 11.5"