Miami Beach Cinematheque presents Marilyn: 50 Years Later

From August 16 through September 20, 2012.

Marilyn Monroe died on August 5, 1962. Fifty years later, throughout August and September of 2012, the Miami Beach Cinematheque – in collaboration with Taschen, Harold Golen Gallery, and the World Erotic Art Museum – is celebrating her life with an exhibition and retrospective of the Miami theatrical premieres of the new anniversary digital restorations of several of her films, Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How To Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, and Some Like It Hot.

The exhibition at MBC consists of original vintage memorabilia from the MBC Archive including posters, programs, and original promotional items displaying the worldwide admiration for Marilyn which has continued for six decades, as well as a complete portfolio of ten European Edition Warhol “Marilyn Monroes” from the Harold Golen Gallery, and select items on loan from the World Erotic Art Museum (WEAM). Select items are for sale. The films each screen once, starting August 16.

August 16, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
NIAGARA

Directed by Henry Hathaway/1953/92mins.
With Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton, Jean Peters

Marilyn stars in her first big role for Twentieth Century Fox, even though she was still under contract as a stock actor, in the film which allowed her to become the superstar of the studio. Marilyn is Rose Loomis, honeymooning with her husband George (Joseph Cotton) in the popular honeymoon location, Niagara Falls. So popular, in fact, that another couple checks into their room, and they find themselves soon entangled in more than that mess. In typical film noir fashion, (besides the not-typical-for-noir Technicolor) betrayal leads to much more, and a master plan goes astray and gets complicated. Thanks to the magnificent backdrop, engaging performances, and technically sharp directing by Henry Hathaway, Niagara is glorious and visually spectacular, kind of like the falls of the title, and the star.

August 30, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

Directed by Howard Hawks/1953/91mins.
With Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, James Coburn

Twentieth Century Fox churned out a collection of vibrant Technicolor (and later, Cinemascope) musicals in the 1950’s, chock full of entertaining numbers like “Two Little Girls from Littlerock” which opens and sets the tone for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. These two girls, Loreli Lee and Dorothy Shaw, working and gold digging a cruise ship on their way to Paris, were none other than Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in two of their most iconic roles. Showing his versatility, director Howard Hawks adds his screwball comedy expertise to the grande musical production adapted from the Broadway play and the Anita Loos novel. The result, aided by miles of campy and risqué double entendres and legendary routines like “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”, make Gentlemen Prefer Blondes one of the all time best loved musicals. See it on a big screen where it belongs!

September 6, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE

Directed by Jean Negulesco/1953/95mins.
With Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall

As the first film made in Cinemascope, a novelty as big as 3/D at the time, How To Marry A Millionaire was the first true wide screen film (even though The Robe, the second film made in CinemaScope, was released first). As a remake of the 1933 film The Greeks Had a Word For Them, this time three New York City models Shatze, Pola, and Loco (Monroe, Grable, and Bacall) decide to set up a penthouse apartment (at 36 Sutton Place South, Manhattan, to be exact) for the purpose of using their talents to attract men with money. Inevitably, they figure out that Mr. Money is not always Mr. Right, and is the money really worth it? But in the meantime, the audience is treated to some of the fanciest go digging footwork ever, in wide screen!

September 13, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH

Directed by Billy Wilder/1955/105mins.
With Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes

With director Billy Wilder joining the 20th Century Fox team, adjusting from his preferred black and white to color, as was required in Marilyn’s contract with Fox, a modern day comedy about adultery was born, even though the still-in-effect Hayes Code prevented it from being as risqué on film as the famous play. Tom Ewell reprised his Tony award-winning role as the daydreaming Richard Sherman who is more than curious about the beautiful neighbor while the family is away on vacation, while the beauty Vanessa Brown was replaced with the world’s biggest star, Marilyn Monroe. And that scene in the subway when Marilyn’s white dress blows up? The dress that just fetched millions at auction, a record for a movie costume? It never really appeared in the film in the way you remember it. That was a figment of your imagination.

September 20, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
SOME LIKE IT HOT

Directed by Billy Wilder/1959/120mins.
With Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown

Joe and Jerry (Tony and Jack), two Chicago musicians who witness the St. Valentine’s Massacre, and need to get outa town, take the only gig they know of, replacement sax and bass for an all-girl band on their way to Miami. Problem is they are not girls, but they solve that real quick (which was one of the problems with the film for the Catholic church, which condemned it, and for Kansas, which banned it). Marilyn is the ukulele player in the band, and that presented another problem for the boys…but Billy Wilder’s screen legend has become one of the best loved films of all time, and by now, fifty years later, the Catholic church and Kansas are both on board, kind of.

Tickets for the films are $10 each, or $9 Students/Seniors, & $8 MBC Members. A “MarilynPass” is available for all films for $40, or $35 Students/Seniors, or $30 MBC Members Available at www.MBCinema.com. Exhibition: Complimentary Admission open 1/2 hour before MBC screenings.

Miami Beach Cinematheque
1130 Washington Avenue
First Floor South
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305.673.4567
www.mbcinema.com

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