MovieChat Forums > Let's Make Love (1960) Discussion > Leotards

Leotards

posted 17 years ago by dish55
10 replies | jump to latest

The main problem with this movie is that here we have a golden opportunity to view Monroe in and out of various rehearsal clothes, strapless gowns, and diaphanous leotards...and we keep cutting back to these boring office scenes and board meetings. I mean, come on people! Do you think ANYONE who watches this movie wants to see a bunch of middle-aged business men in white shirts and ties, wearing suits and standing/sitting around in a flatly lit office set when we could see Marilyn strutting her stuff on stage in an intimate and (supposedly) off-Broadway theatre? I know Cukor (the director) was gay, but that never stopped him from showcasing beautiful women before, letting them do what they do best. Here we get extended scenes featuring old fuds like Wilfred Hyde-White and Tony Randall, Milton Berle and even Joe Besser for cripes sake! And who is the stiff that sings with - rather at - Monroe in the show within the show? The guy has no personality and no part what so ever. Montand was an acquired taste, and apparently Marilyn found him irresistible. This movie needed more MONROE!

[–] winterm-1 16 years ago

there is not as much of monroe in this movie because she did not, initially have much of a part. miller fattened it up. also, she was overweight and didnt look that good in leotards so they probably avoided dressing her in them

[–] denis-38 16 years ago

Yes, she was plump, but it didn'ttop her from wearing leotards all through the picture! The point the other poster was making is that "LML" needed more MM in her tights and less of everything else. (while she was overweight, MM did nothing to conceal it. In fact, her costumes seemed designed to emphasize it!) As for Miller pading her role, he did and it's obvious where he did--he thought it was another draft of "The Misfits." And she STILL didn't have much to do. Lousy script and very lanquid direction by Cukor. He hadlost his touch by then. Why they paired Cukor with her for "Something's Got To Give" is one of the great mysteries and frustrations of MM's career.

[–] lostwriter2001 15 years ago

She looked great, loved seeing her black tights.

[–] tnikkane 15 years ago

Yes, she look's little overweight in this movie- actually already in the PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL she does- but in SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE she is just gorgeous!

LTL is a strange film- overtly long! And quite a thin story, and bad development of it.
And I feel it cannot decide whether being a light comedy or something else (I guess those restaurant conversations were written by Miller). And yet, it is in parts entertaining and funny- I like the beginning and the musical numbers(apart from the uh.. vulgar DADDY-song).

[–] denis-38 13 years ago

She looks pregnant to me in "The Prince and the Showgirl." The belly is up and down. It's been rumored she miscarried during filming. She was definitely pregnant in "Some Like Hot"--really pregnant! She lost the baby after the shoot was over.

And after that, the weight stayed on until '61 when she was hospitalized at Payne Whitney. Then she lost a lot, quickly. Even after she was moved to Columbia Neurological, the weight fell off--she was deeply depressed by the horror of being locked up. By the time she had her gall bladder out later that year, she was truly slender again, as she hadn't been since '53. (People always say, "she lost weight after the gallbladder surgery," as if she entered the hospital plump and came out a week later twenty pounds lighter. You can see how slim she is with Joe in Florida, on the beach in her shorts and bikini top--before the surgery.)

As for "LML" she is charming in it, given what little she has to do. Yes, that ridiculous detour the restaurant scene takes--"well, I've done some things it's hard to talk about." That's Miller. And it makes no sense.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] grumpy736-1 11 years ago

I think MM looked great in the film and I've looked it up on IMDB to see who wrote, directed and produced this monstrosity. I'm happy to see the list of actors who turned down the male leading role --showing some sense. It must have been the dullest film of 1960. Story idea was interesting but lamely enacted. I can see Yves might have been her 'type' -- like Dimaggio and Arthur Miller (ugh!)but I'm stunned, appalled, and perplexed about how such a talented milieu could have agreed to release this bomb on the public. Somebody here said her costumes were designed to show off her body and that's very true. Great bod. Deserved better material.

I miss Big Band music and talented singers. Leonard Cohen is my idol. Civility, harmony, unity!

[–] Bilwick1 10 years ago

I thought MM looked pretty sexy in those leotards.

[–] DorianGray502 10 years ago

Marilyn had the power to replace Cukor, why she accepted him is curious, I think at this point her reputation had suffered so much from all that went on during Some Like It Hot while she was pregnant, I think she just wanted to allay that thinking. The mystery that she accepted him on her last film was self destruction. However, tho Marilyn was beyond her 118 pound weight, she was still dynamite in those tights. These are some of my all time favorite shots of her posing with her boy backup dancers. No one else comes close to all that Marilyn was on the screen.

[–] denis-38 9 years ago

Dear D--probably, Marilyn was pleased, initially, to be working with the man who had directed Harlow and Crawford and Garbo, back in the day. But he had lost his touch. Monroe's role was so small, that Miller went in and padded it, but she still had very little screen time (and his additions were ridiculous.) Aside from any issues MM had, the main fault of "LML" is Cukor's directing, and the sometimes very unflattering filming of her, and the neglect to her hair and makeup. (Tho of course she has her adorable, wonderful moments.)

As for "SGTG" she didn't want Cukor again, but had to accept him, because he was on her list of approved directors. The question is, why would FOX assign him to MM when he had directed her least successful staring vehicle, two years previously? They just didn't care. The studio's negative attitude toward her was almost pathological. But at least she was being photographed beautifully, and the clothes were good, except for, IMO, the beige suit, which didn't seem to fit her properly, and less so as she lost weight during the production.

I think with a director she trusted, she wouldn't have gone all the way with the nude pool swim. By that point, she knew she was trapped in another Cukor dog, and made the calculated, well-choreographed decision re the pool scene. She was fighting for her professional life, even prior to being fired. Although, despite the worldwide publicity, that scene generated a lot of negative comment, as well. But, she looks glorious.