Modern Screen (Dec 1954 - Dec 1955)

had gotten out of hand, and Marilyn knew it. That was the background for her battle with Fox. She turned down their offer of $100,000 a picture in preference for "some voice in the selection of stories." After they had wrapped up The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn fled to New York until the hassle was settled, hoping to find there what the west coast had denied her. "Marilyn looked upon New York as a shrine of culture," says one of her intimates. "If only she worshiped reverently, all her dreams would come true." The chief strategist for her revolt was Milton H. Greene, the Look Magazine photographer. A brash, intelligent man of thirty-two, from the first time Marilyn sat for him he treated her as a human being, not a papier-mache idol, and gained her trust for it. Together they set up Marilyn Monroe Productions to handle her business affairs. Marilyn spent much time as a house guest of the Greenes. But for artistic guidance, Marilyn turned to still another mastermind — Lee Strasberg, the most respected drama coach in New York. One of the co-founders of Actors' Studio with Elia Kazan and Cheryl Crawford, Strasberg conducts private dramatic classes, which Marilyn also attended as an observer. She saw a good deal of Strasberg, including week ends with his family on Fire Island. At last a serious artist of the theatre was taking Marilyn seriously. It was precisely the boost her morale needed. Now, by applying herself, she could scale the summits of pure art. But huge obstacles remained — and remain to this day. Strasberg is a hard taskmaster. There is no "right" and "wrong" in his method of instruction, but only individual honesty. Under relentless prodding, the actor must project his deepest feelings to the audience. All else is phoniness. Although Strasberg pales at the thought, his technique resembles psychiatric therapy. He strips his students emotionally bare and then forces them to parade in public. Several of his proteges, far less high-strung than Marilyn, have recoiled against self-exposure and fallen by the wayside. Ts Marilyn capable of facing the truth about herself? An old friend responds: "Perhaps this is one more case where truth is deadlier than fiction." Her whole experience has been an escape from reality. It is her way of overcoming the spectre of her origins. As an orphan, she has adopted a long line of "fathers" to fill the void in her life — from Johnny Hyde to Lee Strasberg. But if Strasberg is to keep faith with his own system, he must change all that and liberate Marilyn. Most of her classmates sincerely hope for the best. They are touched and awed by her personal courage, which they recognized as one of her unsung traits. Success or failure is almost beside the point — the effort itself is tribute enough. But the risks involved are very great indeed. It won't be easy, at this late date, to change the vision her public has of her. The tightrope of her double life stretches dangerously from New York to Hollywood, and she won't get down for love or money. At the dizzy height of stardom, her whole future hangs in the balance, both professional and private. This is a crisis that Marilyn has long foreseen. Several years ago, she made a prophetic observation: "Women who put on an act are going to reach a time — everything is just a matter of time — when they'll have to put up or shut up." Now that time has come for Marilyn, and she has gallantly chosen to put up. END SMART GIRLS NEVER GO OUTDOORS WITHOUT IT... *pray net:. ... -ffAfl Qitk. spray net* '-— ' BRAND Going places? Keep your hair in place the spray net way it's such a joy I Try it, and see! A whisper of Helene Curtis spray net will keep your hair just the way you set it . . . soft, natural, and in place the whole day. For Helene Curtis has found a way to put "holding quality" into a hair spray without making you hate the feel of your hair. spray net leaves no stickiness whatsoever. So shouldn't you pick Helene Curtis spray net to keep your hair-do pretty wherever you go? Now Tbere Are Two Fabulous Formulas New SUPER SOFT SPRAY NET, without lacquer, for gentle control. REGULAR SPRAY NET for harder-to-manage hair. Lote For A Date? Set your pin curls with spray net. They'll dry in minutes! spray "*"^ i spray » net: 4>/l FULL. OZ. i iS! plus tax GIANT ECONOMY SIZE SI SS SALE! Limited Time Only GIANT ECONOMY SIZE ONLY f plus tax Contains 2 Va times as much as regular size