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.

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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.

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