Perhaps there is no bigger icon in the 20th century than Marilyn Monroe, whose centenary of birth was celebrated on Monday, June 1st. Throughout her short life - she passed away on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36 - tragedy surrounded her, making her a sensitive, somewhat weak, and unstable woman.
Out of the 33 films she appeared in, whether as a lead, in supporting roles, or cameos, the diva who popularized Chanel No. 5 managed to work with three great ladies of old Hollywood, Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, and Celeste Holm in the classic All About Eve (produced by Fox in 1950).
Marilyn had a really hard time getting the role of Miss Caswell, as in 1947, Fox executives had fired her for her lack of acting skills and lack of photogenic qualities. However, with the help of casting agent Johnny Hyde, she managed to get hired again until, 15 years later, she was fired for the second time just two weeks before her death.
Working for this major studio was a tough test, especially because it was led by Darryl F. Zanuck, co-founder and top executive known for his abuses towards certain actresses. Before Weinstein, film experts considered him the first major sexual predator.
When the actress wrote My Story, she didn't forget about these predators: "I knew them all. They were despicable and corrupt, but you sat next to them, listened to their lies, and saw Hollywood through their eyes: a crowded brothel, a carousel of beds instead of horses." That's why, when she met Joan Collins, who aspired to become a star and had just starred in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955), she warned her: "Beware of the wolves."
Another actress who had difficulties with Zanuck but never went through the casting couch was Celeste Holm, who had already won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Gentleman's Agreement (1947), with Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and John Garfield, when she filmed All About Eve.
A few years before her passing in July 2012 at the age of 95, the legendary actress chatted with the author of these lines in the huge living room of her Manhattan duplex with indescribable views of Central Park.
Regarding Marilyn Monroe, she revealed: "The first impression I had of her was that she seemed like a silly and helpless little girl, I found her somewhat lost, so I crossed my fingers hoping there wouldn't be any issues during filming." Although the blonde bombshell's screen time was about three minutes, Gregory Ratoff, another actor, told Holm: "I'm convinced she will become a big star."
Time proved the actor right because thanks to All About Eve,Monroe's career took off in a big way. In 1953, she starred in three major classics, Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and How to Marry a Millionaire.
During our conversation, Celeste Holm recalled that she didn't understand "what Gregory Ratoff told me, it was something I didn't see coming, but the truth is that Marilyn eventually became a big star. I perfectly understood her phenomenon because it was like a snowball."
All About Eve received 14 Oscar nominations, an unprecedented record that took 75 years to be surpassed when Sinners achieved two more categories.