MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

UK, 2011, 94 minutes, Black & white.
Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Judi Dench, Philip Jackson, Dominic Cooper, Emma Watson, Julia Ormond, Zoe Wanamaker, Derek Jacobi.
Directed by Simon Curtis.

For film buffs who remember the 1957 film, The Prince and the Showgirl, a treat. For others, a chance to see something of Marilyn Monroe. This is a behind the scenes story of the making of the film and the difficulties between Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier. What seemed a good idea on paper turned out to be a very hard time for the two stars, and all those involved in the production, a bad mixture of impatience and being intimidated.

It is all seen through the eyes of a young man, Colin Clarke (son of the art historian, Kenneth Clarke), who wanted nothing better than to have a job, any job, in the movies. We seem him entranced by them, especially watching There’s No Business Like Show Business and Michelle William’s effective impersonation of Tropical Heatwave from that film. He pesters producers and is finally given a job by Olivier.

Olivier was fifty at the time and had been a successful stage actor and had made some memorable films. This was to be a film to enhance his popularity. Marilyn Monroe, recently married to playwright Arthur Miller who accompanies her, wants to be taken as a serious actress. She is used to getting her own way – Olivier warns Colin not to be taken in by her little girl lost posturing because she can be quite a manipulator – and has drama coach and adviser, Paula Strasberg with her at all times. Olivier on the other hand gives little credence to the intensity of the Strasberg ‘Method’ of thinking and feeling one’s way into a role. He prefers his cast to act. There is tension on the set – and even more when Marilyn arrives late.

Marilyn relies on Colin more and more and he is both starstruck and in love. Whether this is what actually happened, we will never know but Colin wrote and published a memoir of this week of supporting Marilyn.

The cast is memorable. Michelle Williams is able to impersonate Marilyn but also create a character, a damaged personality, ambitious, wilful, manipulative, naive – but able to be a strong screen presence, something which exasperates and delights Olivier. Kenneth Branagh, who has walked in Olivier’s footsteps (especially with a Hamlet and a Henry V), sounds just like him, a mixture of pomposity, irritability and charm. Judi Dench is Dame Sybil Thorndyke, a grand dame who is kind to Marilyn. A whole host of British character actors appear, Dominic Cooper, Derek Jacobi, Toby Jones, Michael Kitchen, Emma Watson (after Harry Potter) and Zoe Wanamaker as Paula Strasberg. And, Eddie Redmayne shows a blend of eagerness and puppy love in his devotion to Marilyn.

Something similar happened in Me and Orson Welles with a young man working on Welles’ Mercury Theatre production of Julius Caesar and all its ups and downs and tantrums. The two films make a pleasing show business double.

1. A show business film, show business life, the history of cinema? Behind the scenes?

2. Colin’s diaries – authentic, romanticised and enhanced? Reality and fantasy?

3. A film for film buffs, to learn more about Laurence Olivier, Marilyn Monroe, the performers in the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe and her relationship with Arthur Miller? A film for non-buffs – introducing them to this piece of film history?

4. The recreation of the cinema world, the UK, the 1950s, Laurence Olivier and his prestige, his reputation on stage, on screen? Terence Rattigan and his reputation? The Sleeping Prince, Vivien Leigh and her performance? Pinewood Studios, the technicians, life behind the scenes, the desperate producers, the managers, public relations, security, the whims of the cast, crises? The shooting of the film, timetables? The editing process? Ultimate success?

5. The introduction to Colin, his parents, Sir Kenneth Clark and his reputation, the hopes for Colin? His older brother? His love for the movies, going to the cinema to watch, watching Marilyn Monroe in There’s No Business Like Show Business, singing Tropical Heat Wave? His going to school at Eton, the later visit with Marilyn Monroe, the response of the students? His hopes? Leaving home, going to the office, the encounter with the producer, his being put off, the secretary and her welcome, his continued coming back, Laurence Olivier knowing his family, giving him small jobs? Finding out Noel Coward’s phone number? His being hired? Going to find the mansion, the interview with the owner – and the owner going to the media? His finding the back-up mansion? Coping with the newspapers? At the pub, the later return to the pub with Marilyn Monroe? The humble digs? His being at the beck and call of everyone? Satisfying his ambition for the movies?

6. Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier, Olivier’s prestige, his relationship Vivien Leigh, their relationship and their behaviour in public, issues of fidelity, Vivien Leigh at forty-three? Her interest in Colin, performance of the role in the Rattigan play, her admiration for Marilyn? Olivier and his plan, the phone calls to America, Marilyn Monroe’s whims, his anger? His own cinema hopes, her cinema hopes to become a significant actress? The method acting – and the pressure it put on his directing? His wanting people simply to act? The presence of Paula Strasberg and its irking him?

7. The office manager, his reactions to Colin, his being told to give Colin a job? The American public relations person, looking at the house, cynical comments? The young PR man, his past relationship with Marilyn, protecting her, his jealousy, warning Colin? The interactions with Olivier?

8. Michelle Williams’ performance as Marilyn Monroe, her appearance? Preparing the audience with the singing of Tropical Heat Wave? Colin watching in the cinema, the sex appeal, the 1950s? Marilyn Monroe’s life, her memories, her marriages? The marriage to Arthur Miller and her hopes from it? His escorting her – but keeping in the background? The arrival, feted, her being overawed by Laurence Olivier? His treatment of her, cajoling, her often being late, her dependence on pills, sleeping in, her relying on Paula Strasberg – the Method, analysing her character and getting motivation?

9. Judi Dench as Sybil Thorndike, the grande dame of theatre and film, pleasant, made up, reassuring Marilyn, always patient, lying in a flattering and kind way, her praises, Marilyn’s apology at Olivier’s demand, Sybil Thorndike and getting the scarf for Colin, her concern?

10. The various members of the cast, Richard Wattis and his role in the film, in real life – and his waspish comments?

11. The variety of scenes from the film, Rattigan’s words, Marilyn making a mess of the film, the various takes, the issue of ‘too’ success, her achievement when she was successful, the dance scene and Olivier’s admiration? Olivier and the outbursts, his impatience? The editing and his final happiness with the film?

12. Paula Strasberg, her personality, her role in drama, the Method, motivations? Always present with Marilyn, in the house, praising and giving her confidence? Her attitude towards Olivier, reliance on Colin?

13. The days off, going to the shops, the hordes of people? Eton and the boys? The press? Marilyn posing for her fans, the reality of her personality and the image of Marilyn? Weeping, pills, sleeping? Demanding Colin’s presence? Colin affirming her? Her hiding in the car? Their going for the walk, the skinny-dipping, Marilyn’s reliance on Colin?

14. Colin and Lucy, Lucy and her work for the film, at home, her father, going out with Colin, talking, realising his infatuation with Marilyn Monroe? His heart being broken – and her saying he deserved it?

15. Colin, puppy love, young, admiration, watching Marilyn? Charmed by her? Affirming her, going to the house, responding to her calls, sharing, his love for her, also being starstruck? The farewell?

16. Rger, the security, not knowing who Marilyn Monroe was, his handling of the situations, unobtrusive, with Colin – and giving him advice and supporting him?

17. The effect of Marilyn Monroe on Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh coming on set? Olivier and his quotations from Shakespeare, his comments? His own hopes, to regain some of his youth? Yet his comment about his black eyes as the character of the film prince?

18. The completion of the film – and its moderate success?

19. The information for the aftermath, Marilyn with few years to live, the break with Arthur Miller, Olivier and his living for another thirty years, his achievement with The Entertainer and other films?

20. An enjoyable film for an audience which knows nothing about the characters in real life – but even more enjoyable for those who did?