Fifty-five years ago on Saturday, the world lost a luminous legend of the screen when Marilyn Monroe died at 36 on Aug. 5, 1962, of a barbiturate overdose.
Although Monroe’s death was officially ruled a “probable suicide” by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, mystery has surrounded her untimely passing ever since, with some speculating that her alleged affairs with President John F. Kennedy and his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy may have played a role.
Before she died, Monroe’s personal life was a shambles: Thrice divorced, she wasn’t a mother (her fondest wish), and many believe she had had,...
Although Monroe’s death was officially ruled a “probable suicide” by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, mystery has surrounded her untimely passing ever since, with some speculating that her alleged affairs with President John F. Kennedy and his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy may have played a role.
Before she died, Monroe’s personal life was a shambles: Thrice divorced, she wasn’t a mother (her fondest wish), and many believe she had had,...
- 8/4/2017
- by Tierney McAfee
- PEOPLE.com
Lois Smith, the New York-based publicist who helped promote the careers of Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford and Martin Scorsese among many others, died early Sunday of a brain hemorrhage after an accidental fall. She was 85. Smith, along with Pat Kingsley, Gerry Johnson and Pat Newcomb, formed Pickwick Public Relations in 1969, a company that would later become Pmk/Hbh. Smith (with Elliott Gould, right) and her husband Eugene Smith were visiting Hebron Academy Saturday in Maine, where they were being honored for their fund-raising efforts. During the night she fell, sustaining a...
- 10/7/2012
- by Todd Cunningham
- The Wrap
As the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's death approaches, Lois Banner argues in this extract from her new book that the star – complex and powerful – had many qualities associated with the women's movement
In one of the most famous photos of the 20th century, Marilyn Monroe stands on a subway grate, trying to hold her skirt down as a gust of wind blows it up, exposing her underpants. The photo was taken in New York on 15 September, 1954, in a photoshoot during the filming of The Seven Year Itch.
Marilyn is a vision in white, suggesting innocence and purity. Yet she exudes sexuality and transcends it; poses for the male gaze and confronts it. The photoshoot was a publicity stunt, one of the greatest in the history of film. Its time and location were published in New York newspapers; it attracted a crowd of 100 male photographers and 1,500 male spectators, even...
In one of the most famous photos of the 20th century, Marilyn Monroe stands on a subway grate, trying to hold her skirt down as a gust of wind blows it up, exposing her underpants. The photo was taken in New York on 15 September, 1954, in a photoshoot during the filming of The Seven Year Itch.
Marilyn is a vision in white, suggesting innocence and purity. Yet she exudes sexuality and transcends it; poses for the male gaze and confronts it. The photoshoot was a publicity stunt, one of the greatest in the history of film. Its time and location were published in New York newspapers; it attracted a crowd of 100 male photographers and 1,500 male spectators, even...
- 7/21/2012
- by Lois Banner
- The Guardian - Film News
George Lucas and Martin Scorsese have paid tribute to beloved British producer Gareth Wigan, who died on Saturday aged 78.
Wigan was credited with steering the success of the first Star Wars in 1977, after serving as a production executive on the sci-fi movie.
He subsequently worked on other films including All That Jazz in 1979 and Alien in the same year, before he was appointed co-vice chairman of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group in the 1990s.
And his death in Los Angeles after a brief illness has shocked Star Wars creator Lucas, who will "always be grateful" for Wigan's support.
Lucas says, “Gareth Wigan was one of the most kind and thoughtful executives I’ve ever worked with. He was a real supporter of creative talent. I’ll never forget the first time he saw Star Wars. It was just Gareth and Alan Ladd Jr. seeing an early cut of the film. Gareth was so moved that he cried. As a young filmmaker facing a lot of skeptics, his genuine love of the film meant the world to me. He was there for me when I needed him and I’ll always be grateful.”
And Scorsese, who worked with Wigan on 1993 movie The Age Of Innocence, also has fond memories of the producer.
He adds, “I’ve often wished we could have worked on another production as I’ve always had great admiration for Gareth’s intelligence, diplomacy and taste.”
Wigan is survived by his wife, Pat Newcomb, four children and seven grandchildren.
Wigan was credited with steering the success of the first Star Wars in 1977, after serving as a production executive on the sci-fi movie.
He subsequently worked on other films including All That Jazz in 1979 and Alien in the same year, before he was appointed co-vice chairman of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group in the 1990s.
And his death in Los Angeles after a brief illness has shocked Star Wars creator Lucas, who will "always be grateful" for Wigan's support.
Lucas says, “Gareth Wigan was one of the most kind and thoughtful executives I’ve ever worked with. He was a real supporter of creative talent. I’ll never forget the first time he saw Star Wars. It was just Gareth and Alan Ladd Jr. seeing an early cut of the film. Gareth was so moved that he cried. As a young filmmaker facing a lot of skeptics, his genuine love of the film meant the world to me. He was there for me when I needed him and I’ll always be grateful.”
And Scorsese, who worked with Wigan on 1993 movie The Age Of Innocence, also has fond memories of the producer.
He adds, “I’ve often wished we could have worked on another production as I’ve always had great admiration for Gareth’s intelligence, diplomacy and taste.”
Wigan is survived by his wife, Pat Newcomb, four children and seven grandchildren.
- 2/14/2010
- WENN
Gareth Wigan, widely considered a rare gentleman among studio executives, died at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family on Saturday morning after a brief illness. He was 78.
During the course of his career, the London-born Wigan, lean and courtly, was involved with such movies as "Star Wars," "All that Jazz," "Chariots of Fire" and "Sense and Sensibility," while working at Fox, the Ladd Company and Sony, where most recently he oversaw local-language productions, such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for the studio.
"Gareth was an inspirational and passionate leader. His love of movies and filmmakers was as rare and unique as the brilliant films he championed over the last four decades," Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures co-chairman said. "He led by example and while he can never be replicated, his influence on our company and our industry will last forever."
Born December 2, 1931, after graduating from Oxord, Wigan began...
During the course of his career, the London-born Wigan, lean and courtly, was involved with such movies as "Star Wars," "All that Jazz," "Chariots of Fire" and "Sense and Sensibility," while working at Fox, the Ladd Company and Sony, where most recently he oversaw local-language productions, such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for the studio.
"Gareth was an inspirational and passionate leader. His love of movies and filmmakers was as rare and unique as the brilliant films he championed over the last four decades," Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures co-chairman said. "He led by example and while he can never be replicated, his influence on our company and our industry will last forever."
Born December 2, 1931, after graduating from Oxord, Wigan began...
- 2/13/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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