Tag Archives: Marilyn Monroe

My new column at Liberties magazine: First up: acting and film criticism and how the twain meet

I have some exciting (to me) news. I’ll be writing a regular column for Liberties – the website for the quarterly magazine – host to a daunting lineup of writers! I launched my column with a piece about being a … Continue reading

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“I wasn’t born an actress, you know. Events made me one.” — Jean Harlow

Today is Jean Harlow’s birthday. Here is a discussion Mitchell and I had about her. The setup of the conversation (an ongoing series): I throw names of famous people at Mitchell, and ask him to describe each person in only … Continue reading

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For Presidents Day: Marilyn and Abe: a lifelong relationship

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“I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty… but I am too busy thinking about myself.” — poet Edith Sitwell

Born on this day. I don’t remember Sitwell being “read” in my poetry class in college, and I don’t remember her being covered in my English or Humanities classes in high school. She doesn’t seem to be one of the … Continue reading

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July 2023 Viewing Diary

July was busy. I bought a new car. My old one basically disintegrated around me, so much so that the mechanic didn;t even want me to drive it home from his shop. I found a new apartment, and the market … Continue reading

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Marilyn Monroe and Method Acting

Nobody writes about Marilyn Monroe like my friend Kim Morgan. Nobody. That’s why I am so excited she wrote about Marilyn for Criterion – and not only Marilyn, but Marilyn’s connection to Method acting, and how important that technique was … Continue reading

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Mirrors #15

Marilyn Monroe as the troubled broken Nell in one of her best performances in Don’t Bother to Knock. As with so many broken characters in cinema, Nell is drawn – irresistibly – to the mirror. Not for vanity. But to … Continue reading

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“I’m not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” – Happy Birthday, Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe: People had a habit of looking at me as if I were some kind of mirror instead of a person. They didn’t see me, they saw their own lewd thoughts, then they white-masked themselves by calling me the … Continue reading

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“Boredom is very important in life. It helps you feel when something is wrong.” — John Strasberg

It’s John Strasberg’s birthday today. I told this story before on here years ago, when I used to write like this on here, on occasion. Figured I’d re-post it. He is very very important to me. Back in the late … Continue reading

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For International Women’s Day: Ladies I Love

These women inspire, entertain, challenge, comfort, provoke, or were “there” in my formative years as an inspiration. The list is huge. Below the jump.

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