Suspension of disbelief


I know there was an earlier thread outlining the various reasons this cannot be regarded as a true story, but my question is a bit different.

Did anyone else find this impossible to enjoy because they could not get past the nagging feeling that is most likely complete fantasy? There were many elements of this I like. I though Williams did an admirable job in the very tough role of someone who is so well known, and Brannagh was also very accurate. Even though the the direction has been criticized, I liked how the scene when MM is mobbed on the street was handled, it get over the top very quickly, and shows how she and her husband felt, as well as the scene when she decides to "be her" for the staff of Windsor castle. I also liked the costumes, score, and period songs.

But the whole time I kept thinking "this never, ever happened." I am willing to accept that a film set gofer is always lurking in the shadows to overhear key dialogue, as this is needed to make the narrative move ahead efficiently. But I had a hard time believing that the directors or the actors ever believed that any of this was true, and yet they are excepting us to believe it. When Marilyn makes a joke about him hiding his state of excitement after a skinny dip, or her locking herself in her room and saying she would only speak to the third assistant director, I just wanted to cry foul at the screen.

Did anyone else feel the same way?

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You really took the words out of my mouth.
That's exactly what I felt and that's also why I couldn't enjoy the movie anymore when Colin and Marilyn started their "week" together.

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Anyway, taking all this into account, I don’t believe Colin Clark’s story.
I don’t believe it happened. I think he lied, though I can’t say I’m sorry he did.

http://blog.sfgate.com/mlasalle/2011/12/19/my-week-with-marilyn-is-it- for-real/


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Thx for posting this link. The article did a lot to reinforce my skepticism of MWWM's supposed veracity.

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It never happened. The whole thing was a frigment of Colin Clarks imagination.

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And then how Mr. Olivier always was talking to Colin. I've worked on SMALL film projects and the director hardly talks to anyone. I found that hard to believe as well. Why would someone with the grandeur of Olivier keep in touch with a third assistant? I'm not trying to say he's pompous but that's how show biz is.


The beginning seemed a bit rushed too. I wasn't even interested in the character Colin. I wasn't even concerned about his back story or what he had to offer.

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Probably because he was also assistant to Mr Olivier....if you had paid attention.

When all of your wishes are granted....
Many of your dreams...will be destroyed

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On a personal level, are you serious??? Directors don't converse with people with low positions.

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Not only was he Olivier's assistant but Olivier and Colin's father, Kenneth Clark, were friends.

If you don't know what they're saying, turn on the subtitles.

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The events in the movie seemed fairly believable to me. It's not like the author was claiming he saw Monroe turn into a scale-covered extraterrestrial alien or anything.

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Cookiela2001's bizarre comments aside, Clark hit on a great way to sell books and boost his ego as a wannabe film-maker by confabulating a wild story at a time when no one was alive to refute it. But he did apparently did have a working relationship with Olivier because he worked with him on several subsequent projects. ~~~~

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actually he was vivien lieghs lover..

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Nope. To me, if it's plausible then it's interesting... I accept that it never actually took place, but if the details on screen match the 'myth' of what Marilyn was like (using her sexuality to get men to love her, terribly insecure... ) then it still makes for a good story.

Even if it's approached directly as a fantasy from the beginning; why can't fantasies be engaging? ALL movies are fantasy on some level, anyway; this just has a bit more for a supposedly 'true' story... but if the movie manages to keep my attention, then I have no problem with that.






Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me

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It's actually a pretty dull fantasy. I never knew Monroe and I can up with much better material

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If you can, then I'd be interested to read it! (don't forget, it would have to be plausible, even if it were made up)






Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me

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What is shown in the movie is quite in character for Marilyn. Sorry if it harms your fantasy of her.

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my saying is, if this is a true story, then the Doctor (Doctor Who) really did marry Marilyn Monroe on Xmas Eve, lol, it's really that implausible-:)

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