A wonderful evening celebrating Marilyn Monroe’s centenary by introducing Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch.

Thank you so much to the Academy Museum, and the great Amy Homma for such a lovely night.

A glass of champagne to Marilyn, and with potato chips!

I will be presenting The Seven Year Itch at the Academy Musuem! Friday, June 19.

Here’s what Tom Ewell said about her later in life, about working with her on this film: He was asked one word to describe her and he said, “Mystery” he continued  … “It’s like talking about looking at the facets of a prism of a person, everything is different, every picture is different, every person sees something different in her, I think that was part of her magic…I was really fond of her, extremely fond of her, I grew to admire her because I knew she put up a terrific battle to do what she did.”  When asked if she was tough, Ewell said, “Oh boy, she was a streetfighter…she had to be…”

For Marilyn’s 100th birthday — my piece, something of an ode, at Air Mail, on the enduring magic and mystery of Marilyn.

“It’s July 13, 1962, and there’s Marilyn Monroe on the beach in Santa Monica with a curious expression. I’m looking at her right now. Her blond hair is mussed, her face resting on her hand. She’s wearing a wool, hand-knitted Cowichan-style cardigan, an item from her own wardrobe.

The picture was taken by photographer George Barris during Monroe’s last session, less than a month before her tragic death. The image has long been among my favorites of the actress. And according to Barris, Monroe loved it, too. “That’s really me, freckles and all. The real me,” Barris remembered her telling him…

Read it all here…

Happy Birthday Marilyn!