MovieChat Forums > Bus Stop (1956) Discussion > Is Marilyn Monroe Beautiful??

Is Marilyn Monroe Beautiful??

posted 19 years ago by rebeljenn
114 replies | jump to latest

Marilyn Monroe has been regarded as the (or among the) most beautiful women in the world that ever lived. Personally, I don't see why... other than she was a sex symbol helped her elevate herself into the dreams of men everywhere. Maybe it's down to our changing times. I, personally, thought that the other young blond actress was far more attractive than Monroe. I just don't understand what people saw in Monroe, but I guess that what one considers beauty changes with each generation.

[–] Nearvana 16 years ago

i don't find marilyn unattractive. she was an attractive woman, BUT i do think she is severely over-rated, talent & physically. (& yes, i've seen many of her other films)

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[–] liscarkat-2 16 years ago

Well, I would have to say she was beautiful, even though I don't care for the fake blonde hair, the makeup, the baby voice, the facial twitches, and the dumbness (whether it was real or affected). She was certainly always interesting, and I think "Bus Stop", "The Asphalt Jungle", "Some Like It Hot", and "The Misfits" were brilliant performances. As far as physical beauty and "Bus Stop" are concerned, Hope Lange is much more my type. What the hell, I think Eileen Heckart was pretty cute, too.

[–] mousepower 16 years ago

Okay, before some of you go overboard heaping praise on Hope Lange, realize that she too has her ups and downs in terms of looking good. I've seen some photos of Hope Lange (after hearing here how she is more pretty than Marilyn) and she (Hope) doesn't look all that great.

The same goes for the supposedly so called ultimate beauty, Elizabeth Taylor that a few here have mentioned. There are instances in some movies (yes even in her most young and prime time of her career) and she wasn't all that stunning.

In summary, everyone has their best and not so good moments. If you're going to be so strict with her, then you should use that same standard for all other supposedly beautiful actresses as well.

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[–] Jane_Doe01 16 years ago

Good point. I've seen plenty of unimpressive pictures of young Liz Taylor. I don't get the fuss really.

[–] denis-38 16 years ago

I've seen Elizabeth Taylor in person (first time in 1973) and I have to say, no photo or film did her justice. She is almost un-photogenic, in terms of the comparison to what she looked like in the flesh. The camera always caught her worst features (jawline) which you didn't really notice in person. But the odd thing is that Taylor's beauty, though genuine and more "classic" than Marilyn, is not appealing to modern audiences, whereas Marilyn is almost always cited as a great and even contemporary beauty. It was something that came from inside Marilyn, although she had features that were better for the camera than La Liz--firmer jawline, more defined cheekbones; even when she was plump, MM's face usually remained slender. (The first five extra pounds Elizabeth gained went straight to her face.)

As to "Bus Stop"--she was supposed to pasty, bedraggled, worn out. She did, but there was still that luminous quality.

And as all Monroe fans know, she was never lovelier than in 1961-62, slim again and her look more refined. Alas, I don't think Marilyn appreciated her maturing beauty. I'm sure she saw only the tiny lines, the girlishness diminishing. Her image had always been bouncy and adorable, how to take that, and make it work for a woman of 36 and beyond? The best of Bert Stern's photos--the fashion shots--showed the direction she might have taken. Of course, then there were the inevitable nudes, some wonderful, some not. She was unsure, probably terrified. But she never went beyond, we never saw her truly age. I believe she was a suicide, straight out. And I think it was fear of her appeal waning, that played a big part.

[–] tnikkane 15 years ago

What makes you think she was afraid of becoming older? I don't buy her committing suicide; too many plan's and changes in her personal life (fireing her house-keeper and her psychiatrist, her renewed relationship with Joe Di Maggio, the planning of the SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE after she was re-hired).

Just look at Donald Spoto's remarkable biography, where he quite impressively states that her death was a terrible mistake by her psychiatrist and house-keeper- they were responsible for her death.

[–] Viv70 16 years ago

"The same goes for the supposedly so called ultimate beauty, Elizabeth Taylor that a few here have mentioned. There are instances in some movies (yes even in her most young and prime time of her career) and she wasn't all that stunning"

LOL: Were those the scenes in "National Velvet" when she was forced to wear a short, coarse wig and those godawful fake "braces"?

[–] Jane_Doe01 16 years ago

And who exactly rates her talent high enough to make her overrated in that department?? She was never considered an acting great.

[–] tnikkane 14 years ago

Billy Wilder did--- just to name one whose opinnion has, I believe some weight

[–] AngelKH 16 years ago

For me Marilyn Monroe is the single most beautiful and charismatic person ever to be captured on film. I was born 18 years after her death so it isn't because I am of her generation. I think she is timeless.

[–] publicdefender 15 years ago

Yup, the most beautiful woman that ever lived, to me anyway. L, iz Taylor is definitely up there too, but to me, Marilyn had it all - beautiful face, amazing body, and adorable too. A rare combination.

[–] zuzupetal_99 15 years ago

Sometimes when I see pictures of her, I try to pin-point what exactly it is about her that made her so beautiful - her eyes, her smile, her figure, what!? Truth is, I really don't know, but I can't think of anyone that was more beautiful. I am a straight woman - but when I see her onscreen, I cannot take my eyes off of her, doesn't matter what else is going on in the scene or who she's standing next to. She also had a sweetness about her, that made her likeable, despite her incredible beauty; which I think is rare for a woman to be adored by both men & women!

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[–] vertigo2 14 years ago

I totally agree!!!!

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[–] wimmi99 16 years ago

Yes

[–] gonewiththewindlove 16 years ago

this really is a 50/50 debate
marilyn in my opinion really was beautiful and i don't know why people don't think she is, however the image fox gave her, which was the sex symbol and dumb blonde made her look kinda almost artificial...

however she was 1 of the most beautiful women in the world and in history. actually she was probably the most photogenic actress of her day or of all time. even though women like elizabeth taylor,sophia loren , and audrey hepburn were much prettier, no one looked better in a photo then our marilyn

[–] jttrbglv 15 years ago

Hope Lange was adorable in this film; but she wasn't the great beauty that Marilyn was. And although I think women like Sophia Loren and Liz Taylor are also beautiful, they couldn't hold a candle to Marilyn.

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[–] vertigo2 15 years ago

I agree Machiavellism.

In this movie Marilyn was made to look pasty and considerably less attractive than she could be. That was totally intentional and with good reason considering the film. But no matter what they did to Marilyn she still outshone everyone and looked so unique and beautiful.

[–] Weird_and_Proud1 14 years ago

I think she was definitely beautiful BUT her beauty was also definitely overrated. I absolutely hate it when people call any individual woman 'the most beautiful woman in the world' its just such an exaggerated (and for that reason insulting) term. Besides Marilyn's beauty wasn't free of worthy rivalries; for instance Elizabeth Taylor, who I think was prettier than Marilyn. At the end of the day beauty is subjective and whilst Marilyn was very beautiful, I think her beauty can sometimes be over-exaggerated.

[–] dclady55 14 years ago

Yes. No one can hold a candle to Marilyn Monroe, there will never be another her. She had such a sexual charisma, when she is on the screen I can't take my eyes off her. Other actresses will be held up to her-Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor, Sophia Loren, but, Marilyn still outdoes them all, she was the ultimate. And, the three actresses I mentioned, they can't walk like Marilyn!

[–] PoppyTransfusion 14 years ago

Absolutely. Compare her in the photos taken when she was 18 (I think) with brown hair and then the last photos of her from Eve Arnold. In both sets she is as beautiful as when she was at the peak of her career. She possessed a radiance and luminescence that few actresses capture and she was able to combine it with warmth, vulnerability, humour, sassiness and poise.

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