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List Price: $49.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 7248
Released: May 30, 2006 |
| Our Price: $24.87 |
| Used Price: $26.00 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Collection Includes the following Titles:
**SEVEN YEAR ITCH **GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES **NIAGARA **RIVER OF NO RETURN **LET'S MAKE LOVE **MARILYN: THE FINAL DAYS
Description of Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection (The Seven Year Itch / Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / Niagara / River of No Return / Let's Make Love / Marilyn - The Final Days):
The Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection consists of five Marilyn Monroe films plus the documentary The Final Days. Howard Hawks's 1953 musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes stars Monroe and Jane Russell as friends who go to Paris looking for mates. The film is charged by Hawks's stylish snap, a famous set piece or two (including Monroe descending that staircase while singing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"), Russell's wit, and songs by Leo Robin and Jule Styne. The Seven Year Itch (1955) is a memorable laugh machine. As a married man left alone during a hot summer, Tom Ewell shows off crack timing matched by Monroe's zesty comic flair, and the scene in which her white dress is blown skyward by a passing subway train has entered the encyclopedia of great movie images. In Niagara, Monroe is a full-fledged sex goddess, a scheming wife tormenting husband Joseph Cotten in their cabin by the falls. This Technicolor slice of pseudo-Hitchcock is a fun location picture with a genuinely exciting climax. Otto Preminger's River of No Return has Monroe livened up by the presence of costar Robert Mitchum, in a strong outdoorsy Western that catches the two stars in appealing form. By the time of 1960's Let's Make Love, Monroe looks tired. This backstage musical is more interesting as a time capsule than as a romance, although one number shines: "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."
In The Final Days, producer-director Patty Ivins chronicles Monroe's final, aborted feature film, Something's Got to Give, which was ultimately shut down after the star was dismissed from the production. Beyond Monroe's fragile emotional and physical health, this well-crafted profile examines the financial crisis facing her studio as well as the mounting frustration of meticulous director George Cukor and his cast, including costar Dean Martin, as Monroe's absences drove the shoot over budget. The documentary concludes with a 40-minute reconstruction of footage completed for the feature, which would subsequently be reshot as a vehicle for Doris Day and James Garner, Move Over, Darling.
Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection (The Seven Year Itch / Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / Niagara / River of No Return / Let's Make Love / Marilyn - The Final Days) Reviews:
The top of the crop... and more... 
2009-09-12 - Well, this is by no means the definitive Marilyn Monroe Collection, but represents just the highlight movies of her career as an actress.
One should also own "Bus Stop", "How to Marry a Millionaire", "Monkey Business", "Don't Bother to Knock", "O'Henry's Full House", "Asphalt Jungle" and "The Misfits", in order to have a somewhat complete picture of her movie career.
But if one wants to start somewhere, this is the Basic Marilyn Monroe Collection, starting in order with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", a very funny and
successful Comedy, followed by "Niagara", a romantic thriller, "River of No Return", also starring Robert Mitchum in a very interesting Western (in which Marilyn seems to be far more herself in a natural part and not so stereotyped as usual), "The Seven Year Itch", the iconic comedy which actually made
Marilyn into a myth and one of the last movies, "Let's Make Love", with French actor/singer Yves Montand at her side, which can be considered a lukewarm and pale example of unsuccessful comedy, attempting to revive her career.
In addition to these, comes a feature long documentary about her "Final Days", which includes, toward the end, the reconstructed and alas, truncated (due to her premature death) final movie in which Marilyn was supposed to appear, opposite Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse, called "Something Got to Give".
A true rarity and a unique document in time.
All the copies are special Anniversary editions, which also appeared earlier in different boxed sets, which means that they all received a digital remastering of picture elements and a full digital transfer on DVD.
The sound is on all, and where possible, either in Stereo or Surround and this has been achieved with a very accurate remastering, giving by now, the best audio quality possible.
I call it an excellent package and deal for this price.
A must, for all those who remember Marilyn with fondness and respect.
A Fan's Opinion
2009-07-20 - After reading several Marilyn (Norma Jeane) bio's, I HAD to watch the movies mentioned in the books. I am so glad that I bought this set! I, especially, liked The River of No Return, since I think it was one of her best performances. (I've read that her part in the movie was written with her in mind.)
And of course, who can ever forget Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? This movie is said to have earned over $12 million dollars in its initial run.
This is a MUST HAVE collection for MM fans!
MARILYN MONROE
2009-06-08 - Great product. Has all the great movie hits of Marilyn Monroe. Sure to be a Monroe collectors hit.
Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Collection 
2009-05-04 - Good selection of Monroe's films. Just wish there were more movies included in this collection.
Wow!
2008-10-25 - This movie set was a gift for my daughter. It had several movies that she did not have and made a perfect surprise! It was packaged very well, arrived in excellent condition and was exactly what I ordered. Thanks!
