Forever Marilyn: Four Film Marilyn Monroe Collection

Forever Marilyn: Four Film Marilyn Monroe Collection

(Some Like It Hot, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, How to Marry a Millionaire)

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed by Dave Lancaster

Summary: Marilyn dazzles in high definition with this essential Blu-ray hits package.

---

Three essential Marilyn Monroe titles (Billy Wilder's 'Some Like It Hot' & 'The Seven Year Itch' as well as Howard Hawks' 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) sit head and shoulders above the other (dated ensemble comedy 'How to Marry a Millionaire) in 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray mini collection.

The picture quality on these widescreen, high contrast colour (except 'Some Like It Hot' which is in monochrome) is fantastic, with vastly improved amounts of detail visible in high definition. The extras are largely rehashed from previous DVDs but die-hards will want to upgrade for the quality of the prints alone.

As newbies to the charms of Marilyn (many of whom may come off the back of Michelle Williams' delicious take on the blonde bombshell in 'My Week With Marilyn'), this set offers a solid introduction.

It would've been nice to have seen a few other Fox titles 'The Misfits' and 'Monkey Business' gracing the set instead of the stilted relationships comedy 'How to Marry a Millionaire' but for the price you can't argue.

Some Like it Hot
Marilyn plays the lead singer of an all-girl band joined by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, who are posing as women to hide from the mob. Wilder's rat-a-tat-tat dialogue never misfires right up until the brilliant closing line. This is the definitive Monroe title.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell co-star as showgirls who set a course for love and laughter on board a luxury liner sailing to France. Howard Hawks at his most lavish, 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' offers an unforgettable rendition of 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend'

The Seven Year Itch
Marilyn plays a seductive starlet who tests the wedding vows of a married man (Tom Ewell) when she moves into the apartment above him. Another Wilder title and his first real stab at directing comedy, 'The Seven Year Itch' is a classic but a dated one that feels stagey particularly because a Ewell's poor screen performance and his character's need to speak his thoughts out loud. Wilder wanted to cast Walter Matthau instead - imagine that! Monroe, however, is remarkable.

How to Marry a Millionaire
Marilyn, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall play three Manhattan models who concoct a wild scheme to meet the men of their dreams. There's too much going on and too few memorable scenes in this breezy but hollow comedy. A great cast, including a tired William Powell, offer some salvation but it's not enough to save Jean Negulesco's very 50s film from mediocrity.

Other film news

Billy Crystal heads to TV with pilot 'The Comedians'

Veteran actor and frequent Oscars host Billy Crystal is heading to TV: the 'City Slickers' star will front a TV sitcom for network FX entitled 'The Comedians'.

'Exhausted' Ang Lee exits TV pilot 'Tyrant'

Oscar winning film Ang Lee has just backed out from directing his first television show - a TV pilot for the FX network called 'Tyrant'.

Cannes Film Festival rocked by $1m jewellery heist

The stars were shining a little dimmer at this year's Cannes Film Festival after a massive jewellery theft robbed the celebs of their jewels.

Pinewood Studios expansion plan axed by local council

Britain's premiere film lot Pinewood Studios, the home to James Bond and Harry Potter, has lost a £200m planning permission bid for a Hollywood-style expansion across 100 acres of green belt land.

'Avengers' stars Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johansson reassemble for 'Iron Man' director Jon Favreau's indie comedy

The last time Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johansson appeared in a film together it was a massive studio production that went on to break box office records. Now the 'Avengers Assemble' stars are reteaming for an independent feature.

Angelina Jolie undergoes double mastectomy after cancer tests

Oscar winning actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a double mastectomy after genetic tests revealed that she held a high risk of developing breast cancer.

Comedian Harry Hill's debut film starts shooting, casts Matt Lucas as his twin

'TV Burp' star Harry Hill's film debut has started shooting with himself in the lead and Matt Lucas as his twin brother alongside Sheridan Smith, 'Inbetweeners' star Simon Bird and Oscar winners Jim Broadbent and veteran actress Julie Walters.

Universal pushes back 'Jurassic Park 4'

'Jurassic Park 4' was due to begin production on June 24th for a release date almost exactly a year later, but studio Universal has pushed it back.

Tributes pour in for Ray Harryhausen, special effects pioneer, dead at 92

When it comes to optical effects in the movies, few have had a career as iconic as Ray Harryhausen, the special effects pioneer who recently died at 92.

Sequels news: 'Men in Black 4' and 'Mission Impossible 5' get the go-ahead

The bank holiday weekend saw not one but two tentpole franchises get the sequel green lights from their studios: 'Men in Black 4' and 'Mission Impossible 5' are on the cards at Sony and Paramount.

'Frasier' star Kelsey Grammer revealed as 'Transformers 4' villain

In somewhat unexpected casting news, TV star Kelsey Grammer (best known as classy radio psychologist Dr Frasier Crane from 'Frasier' and 'Cheers'), has been cast as the lead villain in 'Transformers 4'.

Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender team up for 'MacBeth' film adaptation

First came the news that Michael Fassbender was onboard, and now it's been confirmed that Oscar winner Natalie Portman will be joining him for a new film version of 'MacBeth'.

'Iron Man 3' opening weekend beats 'Avengers Assemble' takings

Marvel/Disney knew they were on to a winner with the third film in the 'Iron Man' franchise but the Robert Downey Jr headliner has exceeded numerous box office estimates by beating 'Avengers Assemble' in its opening weekend figures.

Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt eyed for 'Guys and Dolls' remake

20th Century Fox has finally secured the film rights to the Frank Loesser musical 'Guys and Dolls' after years in legal hell, and now the studio are hoping to bag Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt for the lead roles.

Fox greenlights 'Dodgeball 2' with Ben Stiller onboard

Cult sports comedy 'Dodgeball' is getting the sequel treatment, with original star Ben Stiller's production company onboard alongside distributor 20th Century Fox.

"Deeply embarrassed" Reese Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth jailed for DUI and disorderly conduct

Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth were arrested and jailed in the early hours of Friday morning, it was confirmed recently.

Cannes 2013 line-up announced

The official list of nominations for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival have been revealed with a complete lack of British filmmakers/films in the running for the major awards of The Grand Prize and Un Certain Regard honours.

Disney to release a new 'Star Wars' every year

When Disney attended CinemaCon, the news that all the fans and industry types wanted to know about was what was happening with their newly acquired LucasFilm properties - namely the 'Star Wars' franchise.

Stephen King unhappy with 'The Shining' film prequel

Bestselling author Stephen King has stated that he’d be "happy" if Warner's planned film prequel to his 1977 horror novel 'The Shining' "didn’t happen".

'Avengers Assemble' dominates the 2013 MTV Movie Awards

Check out the full list of winners from the 2013 MTV Movie Awards here: