Friday, March 13, 2009

What Could Have Been Between Dean Martin & Marilyn Monroe?

I've been thinking quite a lot recently about Marilyn Monroe. I always found it such a tragic shame that she died so young. She certainly lived a troubled life. When she passed away on August 5, 1962, she had been working on the bedroom comedy Something's Got to Give with Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse. The film was a remake of 1940's My Favorite Wife (which starred Cary Grant and Irene Dunne). Saying there were some problems during the filming of the movie would be putting it lightly. The film was often delayed and went way over budget. I won't rehash all of what exactly happened, but Marilyn was rarely on the set to film. She was often sick and there were other problems. Marilyn eventually was fired from the film, but Dean Martin went to bat for her. She was re-hired, but died before filming could resume. Something's Got to Give is one of those films that never got completed. Footage from it would eventually find its way onto the screen in Marilyn: The Final Days. Marilyn was also supposed to have starred opposite Dean Martin in Kiss Me, Stupid (1964). Kim Novak ended up playing the role meant for Marilyn. I'fe often wondered what could have been between Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe on screen if she had lived. How would things have turned out if they had become involved romantically offscreen? I guess we'll never know.

monroe2

monroe

P.S. I hope you will check out this great post featuring Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe on my pallie Terri's blog Dino's Den. It's got some wonderful pictures of these two. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Cheers!

28 comments:

Cate said...

Ooo, a gossip post! Especially for the girls who read your blog, huh? :)
I really like Marilyn Monroe. Some Like It Hot is certainly one of my favourite films, and she is indeed a beautiful lady. I really like it that she has curves, and isn't as skinny as nowadays "beauty" standards. I think ladies nowadays should more take an example from Marilyn Monroe than, say, some runway model.
I heard somewhere that she used to shorten one of her heels on her shoes so that her walk would be even more "swinging".
She is really an icon.
In any case, it's such a shame that this film you talk about was never completed! In situations like these, I sometimes find myself believing for a pretty long time that it can somehow be arranged that Marylin would be resurrected and the film completed, but then it occurs to me that it can't be done :)

Keith said...

Hey Cate. Thanks for the comments. I guess if somebody likes gossip then this might be a good post for them. I've actually got some tabloid covers featuring Dean Martin that I do plan to post in the future. I love "Some Like It Hot." That film is a classic. She is quite stunning. I always loved that she had curves. She's more my ideal woman than the ultra skinny girl that's so in vogue. I had never heard that she shortened one of her heels. Interesting. Thanks for letting me know that. She's definitely an icon and a legend. She's still missed to this day. It is a shame that this film never got completed. I've never really seen the footage that had already be done. It would have been great to see this film starring her and Dean Martin. I always wondered too though what these two would have been like as a romantic couple offscreen. Take care. Have a great weekend. Cheers!

Nancy Sinatra Fan said...

It is sad what happened to her. She did live a troubled life. I'm so sorry for her. I do wish she had completed this movie before her death. I would like to have seen it. I do think her and Dean would have made a cute couple. I guess that's one of those "what if?" questions we often have.

Keith said...

Hey Phoebe. Thanks for your comments. I know what you mean. I feel the same way. She's a fascinating and beautiful woman that we are still talking about decades after her tragic death. I added into my post a link to a friend's blog. Check it out if you get the chance. Thanks. Cheers!

dino martin peters said...

Hey pallie Keith, dude likes first thanks for the heads up 'bout a new Dinopost at Pallie Terri's....somehow I simply Dinomissed it...and thanks for your Dinogram on our Dino and Miss Marilyn...loves to hear over and over how our Dino was likes so faithful to Miss M durin' the filmin' of "Something's Gotta Give"....indeed somethin' certainly did give...and how how tragic it was.....

Mondo said...

Great story Keith - I never knew about the Dino connection really interesting - I remember reading that Tony Curtis found her time-keeping unbearable when working on Some Like It Hot.

Keith said...

Hey pallie DMP. Thanks for the comments. It was nice hearing from you. Glad you enjoyed this post. I had been wanting to post about Marilyn and Dino on this blog for awhile. I do wish things had turned out differently. You are welcome about the heads up on Terri's post. I had no clue she had posted that until I stopped by her blog. Then I decided to link that post up with this one. Cheers!

Keith said...

Hey Dave. Thanks for the comments. Glad I could fill you in on some information. That's cool to hear. I didn't know that bit about Tony Curtis you mentioned. Have a good weekend. Cheers!

Robert M. Lindsey said...

I also heard Tony Curtis found her kissing atrocious.

Retrohound

Keith said...

Hey Robert. Thanks for the comments. I had never heard that before.

Nancy Sinatra Fan said...

Hello Keith. What are you favorite Marilyn Monroe movies? Did you ever seen My Favorite Wife?

Keith said...

I like "Some Like It Hot," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "The Misfits," etc. You?

Nancy Sinatra Fan said...

I like all of those too. You didn't answer my question about My Favorite Wife.

Keith said...

Oops. Sorry about that. lol

Yeah, I saw it. I'm a big Cary Grant fan. I love the movies he did with Irene Dunn. This is a real big favorite of mine.

I would love to have seen Dino & Marilyn in this remake. That would have been so cool.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

She was a true gem, which is why she's still an international icon for all things glamorous. I don't think she's ever taken a bad photo! Jealous much?

P.S. Too ad the film was never finished. Would've been nice to see Marilyn in action once again.

[K]

Keith said...

Hey King. Thanks for the comments. She is definitely something special. She's truly an icon and legend. Marilyn remains a star decades after her death. It is a shame this movie wasn't finished.

Couture Carrie said...

Interesting history, gorgeous photos!

Hope your weekend has been fab too!

xoxox,
CC

Fashion Moment said...

Isn't she gorgeous?!
Have a great day!

FM~FP

Keith said...

Thanks Carrie. Glad you liked it. I've had a good weekend. Take care. Cheers!

Keith said...

Hey Fashion Pulse. Thanks for the comments. Yeah, she's very beautiful. I love her.

Allison said...

I just adore Marilyn Monroe. I always wish that she could have lived longer - it would be amazing to see how she would have looked as she continued getting older.
I think she was a beautiful woman, and I also think it's great that she wasn't a size 0. She was absolutely stunning. I do wish that she could have finished the movie you're talking about - that would have been fantastic to see!
I'm glad that even though she died so long ago, so many people are still fascinated by her and that her legacy will continue to live on :)

Keith said...

Hey Allison. Thanks for the comments. I do wish Marilyn would have lived longer. It would have been great to see what she looked like as an older woman. Plus it would have been interesting to see what else she did in her career. I do wish she would have been able to finish this film with Dean Martin. I would love to have seen it. I do love that she wasn't a size 0. She was incredible. Take care. Hope you've had a good weekend.

style munch said...

this is really an interesting post - i never really knew much about marilyn(: also the second picture of her is great. she epitomizes classy xx
www.ibitefashion.blogspot.com

Mom Fashion World said...

sorry for the late reply. i was sick.
mr. freddy's happy to hear sweet comments from you. i just added you to my blog roll too.

anyway, i like marilyn monroe, she's beautiful but i've never heard any bad rumors/news about her since my mother hasn't told me stories about her.

Keith said...

Hey Style Munch. Thanks for the comments. I want to do more posts on Marilyn both here and on my other blog (Sugar & Spice). Glad you really liked that second pic.

Keith said...

Hey Proudly. Thanks for the comments. Sorry you were sick. Hope you are better now. I really love the pics of Mr. Freddy. He's adorable. Thanks for adding me to your blog roll. Glad to see you're also a Marilyn fan. Take care. Cheers!

Melissa Hafting said...

I wish this movie got finished and released. Marilyn and Dino would have had great chemistry together. They both oozed sex appeal. I wish we still had Marilyn here with us she was the most beautiful woman that ever lived and YES she was TALENTED!

Keith said...

Hey Mel. Thanks for the comments. I do wish this film had been completed. I think Marilyn and Dino would have been great together. They would definitely be one sexy couple. It's such a shame that she met such a tragic end. She was beautiful and talented.