This Wednesday, September 28, Blonde is released, the long-awaited Netflix film directed by Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Cogan: Killing Them Softly), with the great Ana de Armas in the leading role of a Marilyn Monroe as we have never seen her. Indeed, the film being based on the book of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates, it is not a biopic like the others. The book stretches the real facts to create fiction and starts from events having really taken place to move away from them voluntarily. A strong bias, which does not prevent several of the actress’s flagship films from being discussed. If you want to be on point before seeing Blonde, here are the five films that we advise you to watch: , by Roy Ward Baker (1952)1952, largely thanks to Troublez-moi ce soir, will mark a turning point in the career of Marilyn Monroe, who had already been filming for 5 years. This is the first time that the actress has been given the opportunity to play for real, to play a troubled, evil and almost frightening woman. She plays a babysitter still traumatized by the death of her lover, pilot during the war. At first glance, the film still offers her the role of femme fatale obsessed with a man. In fact, it recounts how the European conflict branded everyone’s minds and offered a harrowing and disturbing role to Monroe, as she had far too few in her short career. The kind where we feel that the themes addressed (loneliness, being approached by all the men she meets, the desire to be loved) echoed the life of the artist. A film important, which is also mentioned in Blonde, in a heartbreaking scene where she passes the casting for this film in front of a gang of men who saw nothing but fresh flesh in her and who, as soon as she starts acting, judge her hysterical or doing too much. to disembark for his honeymoon, all shot at Niagara Falls. A film with the role of femme fatale, again, but which will take the cliché a little further. Far from being a stupid character, on the contrary, she embodies despite everything a cliché of the vengeful, almost venal woman, who uses its assets to seduce. She’s sublimated by Hathaway’s camera, and Blonde doesn’t care a bit — after an incredible transition, the film is approached only through the prism of its preview. Never mind: at least you’ll understand what which we are talking about here. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, by Howard Hawkes (1953) One of the actress’s most cult films. Just for the sequence sung by Monroe with her pink dress, on “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”, that Ana de Armas reproduces an identical scene in Blonde. But also for her painful production – the actress had to negotiate fiercely for her salary, Jane Russell receiving 200,000 dollars, unlike Monroe who was offered 500 dollars a week. The film that marked the turning point for the actress to no longer be walked on by the cinema industry, among others. Seven years of reflection, by Billy Wilder (1955) Let’s be honest, the film is not the most memorable, nor the one that has aged best in the career of the actress — or of her director. Nonetheless, it’s added to this list just for the subway grate scene, the ventilation of which lifts Monroe’s dress. Just for this moment, which instantly became one of the most important images in pop culture, also inevitably addressed in Blonde, the film deserves to be seen.Some Like It Hot, by Billy Wilder (1959)The peak of the career for Marilyn Monroe. His most cult, best known and most recognized film. The story of two musicians ready to cross-dress to escape the mafia and join an all-girl band, before falling in love with singer/ukulele player Sugar Kane (Monroe, therefore). The reunion with Wilder could have been more enjoyable, Monroe being at a difficult time in her life and career. Unhappy, addicted to all forms of products, struggling to recite her text (which in Blonde has, in addition, a connection with her life)… And yet, she manages to deliver one of her best performances — perfectly reproduced by de Armas in the Netflix film. The essential film, without a doubt. Little bonus: The misfits, by John Huston (1962) The film is not covered in Blonde, of course. But it was her last, an important film in the actress’s career, written by her then-husband, which was covered at length in Joyce Carol Oates’ book. One of his finest performances. And which shows a woman who does not allow herself to be faced with a stupid patriarchy. Filming was complicated, with addictions making it increasingly difficult for the actress to make — which makes the finished product even more impressive. Blonde is available on Netflix.
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