In 1956 the world’s most iconic film star, Marilyn Monroe
travelled to England
to star in a new romantic comedy, The
Prince and the Showgirl alongside famed actor/director Sir Laurence
Olivier. Throughout an arduous shoot a young man called Colin Clark who joined
the production as third AD kept a diary which became the basis of his memoir
and this film. The production took place at a difficult time in the lives of
both stars and Clark became very close to Monroe
in particular, allowing him to present a rare glimpse into the private life of
one of Hollywood’s
biggest stars.
My Week with Marilyn
was generally well received upon its release in 2011 and was nominated for
seven BAFTAS and two Oscars. I unfortunately missed it on its theatrical
release but felt very happy when I caught up with it on DVD. The film is an
enjoyable watch with some occasional dark turns which gives an almost
unprecedented look into a brief snippet of the life of one of the world’s
original mega stars.
