tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post2964268119849649811..comments2024-02-05T21:23:49.249-08:00Comments on Lady Eve's Reel Life: Myth Making: The Misfits (1961)The Lady Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-83950665842969117642015-11-09T03:54:09.173-08:002015-11-09T03:54:09.173-08:00It was a work of art that was not appreciated in i...It was a work of art that was not appreciated in its time. Even today with the fast clips with one line zingers because of ADD in most Americans, it might seem slow paced but it is art. Perhaps the best acting of Gable, Monroe & all of the Stars. The script could use some help though.<br /><br />They decided in parts Monroe was drugged, drunk or both sort of fit in with her part so instead of a retake, they decided to leave it in naturally so when you see her slightly high or tending to nearly fall, she was actually high in attempt to cover her depression & terrible fears. Addiction was not something talked about back then & there were no great treatments. Even today there are not considering 60% of Americans are addicted to something if not more considering sex addiction & porn!<br /><br />Ironic of the last words of both Stars on film though. Monroe did nearly complete one other film but died before it was finished. That one has been put together though so it's pretty good considering she did not make it through filming. <br /><br />The Stars of today other than a few like Foster just don't have what it takes to act.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02929849168832535850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-90299434734051536442012-06-04T22:45:14.614-07:002012-06-04T22:45:14.614-07:00Becky, Thanks for stopping by - glad you're ba...Becky, Thanks for stopping by - glad you're back and that you liked this piece!The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-15011191846016006502012-06-04T15:02:36.142-07:002012-06-04T15:02:36.142-07:00Hi Eve -- I'm glad to be visiting your wonderf...Hi Eve -- I'm glad to be visiting your wonderful site again. (I've been ill.) Marvelous article about "The Misfits." I actually have not watched it for a very long time, and you have reminded me of the many qualities that make it one of the best. I also learned some info of which I had not been aware. Very interesting and well-done post!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-59129693438715237992012-06-01T08:53:04.611-07:002012-06-01T08:53:04.611-07:00I agree that Marilyn's character reasoning the...I agree that Marilyn's character reasoning the mustangers into humane behavior would have been far less effective in the film than experiencing her character's pain and empathy for the animal's plight. I always felt in "The Misfits" that part of it's message was nature being ruthlessly exploited by a profit driven civilization that was severely disconnected from it's feminine aspect, which had been thoroughly devalued - basically, a macho aesthetic, lacking compassion. I don't think the Roslyn character would have reached those men with reasoning. Today is June 1 and it happens to be Marilyn Monroe's birthday - she would have been 86. For what it's worth, John Huston would be 106 and Clark Gable 111. Time marches on but on film these people are eternal.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-11963261310035289552012-06-01T06:01:20.781-07:002012-06-01T06:01:20.781-07:00I think.. throwing the hysterical fit seemed more ...I think.. throwing the hysterical fit seemed more realistic, than talking with "mustangers"...Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-12514054254266999642012-05-31T08:01:04.614-07:002012-05-31T08:01:04.614-07:00Dawn, Clark Gable was one of those who thought his...Dawn, Clark Gable was one of those who thought his performance as Gay Langland was his very best - thankfully, he was able to see the rough cut before he died and know how very good he'd been in the role. <br /><br />Marilyn Monroe was not very fond of her character and said she would rather Roslyn had reasoned with the "mustangers" and talked them out of the hunt instead of throwing a hysterical fit. Not sure if I agree with her on that - Roslyn, as written, was more emotional and intuitive than reasonable and logical.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-78656585419549960732012-05-31T07:51:46.192-07:002012-05-31T07:51:46.192-07:00Ivan, I couldn't agree with you more about the...Ivan, I couldn't agree with you more about the level of acting in "The Misfits." For me, Gable stood out most - perhaps because I was so surprised at how honest a performance he gave. Almost everything else I've seen him do has been a variation on Rhett.<br /><br />Marilyn's behavior may have driven a few mad (particularly the directors of her last five or six films), but she could hardly be held responsible for anyone's death but her own. Huston has written that Gable didn't perform all the stunts attributed to him on "The Misfits," but others recall things differently.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-81221551704677702402012-05-31T04:01:53.086-07:002012-05-31T04:01:53.086-07:00Some believe that Clark Gable, gives his best perf...Some believe that Clark Gable, gives his best performance of his career in this film. I don't know about that, but... he certainly was brave to take on the role of a broken man abandoned by his family and perform the way he did.. <br /><br />Marilyn Monroe, also gives an awesome performance as a damaged woman who finally stands up and fights for, something she believes in. Her scene with Monty in the bar, sitting on a pile of trash, was a perfect example of her great talent.<br /><br />Wonderful post LadyEve..Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-75973873530028808882012-05-30T19:16:20.646-07:002012-05-30T19:16:20.646-07:00Allen, Your observation that the bit players in &q...Allen, Your observation that the bit players in "The Misfits" were mostly cowboys reminds me of another Huston film and some of the bit actors in it. Huston made "Under the Volcano" (with Albert Finney) in Mexico in the early '80s. One scene called for Finney's character to pay a visit to a local bordello. Huston cast local ladies of the night rather than actresses for the scene.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-24767344458020232832012-05-30T19:04:41.764-07:002012-05-30T19:04:41.764-07:00About Marilyn and "the method"...Billy W...About Marilyn and "the method"...Billy Wilder, who had a fierce battle with her on "Some Like it Hot," thought the method had a negative effect on her. Before she took it up, he said, she went before the camera as if she were about to walk across a high wire over a pit. After she adopted "the method," he said it seemed that her concentration was entirely on the pit.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-69897839147327774722012-05-30T17:53:54.356-07:002012-05-30T17:53:54.356-07:00The Misfits is one of those movies that I should d...<b>The Misfits</b> is one of those movies that I should despise...but I can't. The acting is just simply superb; I prefer the emoting from Ritter, Clift and Wallach the most but both Monroe and Gable are equally good...I agree with the late actor that it's probably the best performance of his film career (and I've never been a Gable fan).<br /><br />A friend of mine from my old Morgantown days used to argue with me all the time that MM was responsible for "killing Gable" due to her myriad of personal problems, and I sort of let it slide the first few times until I finally just got pissed off one day and said "You know, if Gable wasn't such a macho schmuck who insisted on doing his own stunts in that kind of weather, he might have hung around a little longer." I think we decided after that to just never broach the subject again.<br /><br />Great review as always, your Ladyship. First class.Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-90894337559557811292012-05-30T12:45:22.934-07:002012-05-30T12:45:22.934-07:00Great post Eve, on a difficult movie. I agree with...Great post Eve, on a difficult movie. I agree with everybody! I, too, find it hard to watch.<br /><br />I took a quick look at who else was in the movie. My hunch is that most of the extras were cowboys that got lucky and made a movie. Many of them were ONLY in The Misfits, or this and one other film. Of course, it is always good to see John Huston put himself in a scene. <br /><br />Strong movies like this have a way of changing everything that comes after. And with the loss of Monroe and Gable, change was inevitable.Allen Hefnerhttp://bitactors.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-12212515471892567112012-05-30T11:31:59.275-07:002012-05-30T11:31:59.275-07:00Yeah, Houston had his hands full trying to direct ...Yeah, Houston had his hands full trying to direct the proceedings (I've heard stories about this for years). To continue the equine references, Marilyn had clearly thrown the bit and was a "wild" ride for all concerned. I'm not sure that following the method school of acting was good for her mental health, which seems to have been fragile to begin with - and then you have all these powerful men projecting their fantasies on her. She had that special quality, that soulfulness, that lights up the screen with her presence, so at least the directors like Houston and Billy Wilder, who had to struggle with her difficult side, wound up with films that infinitely benefited from her magic.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-83032759190807755932012-05-29T23:13:54.755-07:002012-05-29T23:13:54.755-07:00John, Yes, Clift made a few more films but his car...John, Yes, Clift made a few more films but his career was essentially over. Thankfully, he left behind several very fine performances - including Perce in "The Misfits."The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-79899478129911825262012-05-29T23:06:11.401-07:002012-05-29T23:06:11.401-07:00MCB – I have to wonder whether the picture would e...MCB – I have to wonder whether the picture would ever have been finished had another director been in charge. John Huston was legendary for his boundless energy and ability to manage a tough shoot and temperamental stars, but, as I mentioned in another comment, he was exhausted by the time "The Misfits" was finished. It had taken nearly twice as long to film as had been scheduled and was way over budget - all due to the problems with Marilyn. When George Cukor began filming her next picture, "Something's Got to Give," he ended up constantly shooting around her because of similar problems. The production finally shut down when he'd shot every scene he could without her and she still wasn't showing up. What I’m saying is that Huston performed something of a miracle in managing to bring this offbeat and moving film to the screen at all. Even with it's flaws, "The Misfits" is very powerful stuff.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-13507421832102117962012-05-29T22:16:47.628-07:002012-05-29T22:16:47.628-07:00Christian, However you would wish to write about y...Christian, However you would wish to write about your experience in Reno, a long or short piece, will work. I'll email you and let's see if we can work something out.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-78322522697878813532012-05-29T22:14:47.633-07:002012-05-29T22:14:47.633-07:00'Gypsy, Arthur Miller seemed to view his initi...'Gypsy, Arthur Miller seemed to view his initial six weeks in Nevada as time spent on another planet. He compared the area around Pyramid Lake to a moonscape. Luckily, the experience intrigued him enough to write about it. My impression of Marilyn Monroe is that her problems were so deep-seated and longstanding that it was simply not possible for her to overcome them. She began to unravel almost the moment her status as a major movie star was established - with blockbuster hits like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "How to Marry a Millionaire" in the early '50s.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-66551191171438715882012-05-29T19:41:24.153-07:002012-05-29T19:41:24.153-07:00Eve, I goofed on Clift. He did make a few more fli...Eve, I goofed on Clift. He did make a few more flims. I remember seeing THE DEFECTOR, which was not very good but THAT was his last film. A PLACE IN THE SUN is a great flick, Clift and Taylor made a gorgeous couple.John/24Frameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14719659042858962026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-65805811942371501592012-05-29T18:56:36.901-07:002012-05-29T18:56:36.901-07:00Eve- you hit a nerve with this post. Many of the c...Eve- you hit a nerve with this post. Many of the comments that have already been made do a good job of expressing what I feel about "The Misfits". I believe you've done the film justice with your thoughtful words, which isn't an easy task. The movie resonates through all it's imperfections on a very real and emotional level, and this is what makes it memorable. "The Misfits" is fragile and flawed and often misunderstood, much like human nature - the actors gave something of themselves that will live on. The film could have used some pruning but it's essential rawness makes a lasting impression.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-41418496080452679582012-05-29T18:10:32.343-07:002012-05-29T18:10:32.343-07:00Lady Eve - perhaps I could provide my recollection...Lady Eve - perhaps I could provide my recollections of Marilyn and Clark, though it was a ling time ago and I was a boy. Perhaps in a "Stars I Have Seen" or somesuch blog you might do. My contribution would be short unless I infuse the memories with a lot of mythology.Christian Esquevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442827724576856379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-4085666981097606642012-05-29T16:45:04.654-07:002012-05-29T16:45:04.654-07:00Eve ~ your review of “The Misfits” is a touching a...Eve ~ your review of “The Misfits” is a touching and lyrical approach to a film with a difficult subject to address. I was unaware that Arthur Miller was inspired by his observations of Nevada horse wranglers, but this certainly explains the authentic portrayal of the life and the people involved. You have also perfectly captured the poignant aspect of the lives of those involved in bringing the story to the screen. I can’t help but think, based on this film, that if Marilyn Monroe had had the confidence to overcome her insecurities, she would have been an astonishingly affective actress throughout a long career. Thank you for including a link to the Wild Horses conservancy information, and now I’m off to read about the birthday boy, J v S.whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-26659093654577518972012-05-29T13:15:03.737-07:002012-05-29T13:15:03.737-07:00Yvette, Actually, I see beauty in "The Misfit...Yvette, Actually, I see beauty in "The Misfits" - dark and complicated beauty, to be sure. It's a difficult film and it has its flaws, but it has its veins of gold, I think...The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-5634573007493502332012-05-29T13:05:25.383-07:002012-05-29T13:05:25.383-07:00Oh, this is such a depressing downer of a movie, E...Oh, this is such a depressing downer of a movie, Eve. I only forced myself to watch it a few years ago and wished I hadn't. <br /><br />But I must say you saw much more in it than I ever did.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-56025881196619358452012-05-29T13:04:40.630-07:002012-05-29T13:04:40.630-07:00John, "The Misfits" has some exquisite a...John, "The Misfits" has some exquisite and unforgettable moments, though, doesn't it? Montgomery Clift made three more films after this one, including "Freud" for John Huston about a year later. Clift was in terrible shape by then, and Huston began to believe that, the effects of drugs and alcohol aside, Clift may have suffered some sort of brain damage in the a car accident that nearly killed him a few years earlier. My own favorite of his films is "A Place in the Sun," though I will watch him in anything (except the overblown "Raintree County").The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-25087417214433806242012-05-29T12:07:29.105-07:002012-05-29T12:07:29.105-07:00I always saw THE MISFITS as a complex film that ne...I always saw THE MISFITS as a complex film that never quite came together. It's better in parts than as a whole. It's a sad film due to the odd coincidence of it being the last film for its three top stars. I have always been a very big fan of Montgomery Clift, his performances in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY and A PLACE IN THE SUN just blow me away. I never get tired of watching him in these two films. In real life he was a very delicate sensitive personality much like he played in many of his films.John/24Frameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14719659042858962026noreply@blogger.com