by Colin Clark
I suggested caution to SLO, but he had a mischievous look in his eye. Perhaps he thought Vivien might inspire MM to greater efforts.
Vivien arrived at lunchtime, after we had endured another painful session in the purple room. SLO, in full costume, escorted her on to the set as if she were royalty.
‘Hello, Colin darling’ – that got the crew’s attention – ‘Are you looking after Larry for me like you promised?’
Me: ‘Gulp.’
Tony: ‘We are all trying our best, Vivien.’
Vivien advanced and, to MM’s intense surprise, kissed her lightly on both cheeks.
‘Marilyn,’ she sighed, ‘Larry tells me you are quite, quite superb. He never stops singing your praises. I’m getting a little jealous.’
Very sweet, very sincere, what an actress! MM smiled and fluttered her eyelids, easily flattered although not quite convinced. Since Vivien was looking stunning in a little Jacques Fath suit and MM was looking like a plump frump in a towelling robe, the crew could hardly imagine Vivien being jealous. But still, it was a true meeting of the stars. Everyone was impressed, even Paula. Vivien quickly made her excuses.
‘I know how frantically hard Larry makes you all work etc.,’ and she vanished in a cloud of very expensive perfume. Even David, who has bellowed at every film star in Britain, was in a bit of a dream.
MM took a long time to emerge in the afternoon, but she did definitely seem more committed and we got a surprising amount done. Tomorrow we do the love stuff on the armchair. Fingers crossed.
THURSDAY, 23 AUGUST
I have been watching MM very closely. She is really like a lovely child. Whatever possessed her to become an actress? I suppose it was some sort of clichéd idea about Hollywood. In America pretty blondes with buxom figures often think that they are meant to be film stars. Or perhaps it was some man who found that the quickest way into her pants was to promise that he could get her into movies. MM is certainly very ambitious. Once she got to LA,59 I’m sure she found a whole string of men who told her that they could get her into the movies, and she must have been very single-minded to get where she has. Many pretty girls are convinced that they are ‘someone special’, and she was proved right!
A natural on camera MM certainly is, but a great actress she is not. When SLO, or Dicky or Dame Sybil act, they stop being who they are and become the character who they are acting. They enjoy changing into someone else completely. It feels natural to them, often better than real life. They can become heroes, villains, lunatics, poets etc. depending on the script they are given.
With the minor actors on the set it may be different. Take the footmen, for example. One or two may be burning with ambition. They will be acting footmen with all their might – dreaming of the day when they will be acting the Grand Duke. The other two may be earning their living the easiest way they can, and just walking where they are told to, without a thought in their heads.
MM is different again. She desperately wants to be an ‘actress’. She has been told many times, by the people who see her magic in front of the camera, and also by unscrupulous people who just want her money, that she is a wonderful ‘actress’. She is not. MM is always MM. Can one imagine her playing a ruthless spy? Most of the time she is desperately trying to remember her lines and the ‘motivation’ of the character who speaks them. This automatically precludes ‘being’ the character. The character doesn’t have to think of lines and motivation. So the process of acting is very frightening for her. She needs Paula a few feet away and Lee at the end of a phone to reassure her. But there is no easy formula, no short cut. I suspect that there have been quite a few ‘Paulas’ in the past, and all of them will ultimately fail because they are substitutes for a training which is just not there.
FRIDAY, 24 AUGUST
MM’s scenes are made even harder by the idiotic Rattigan script. In the middle of her first love scene, after the Grand Duke has finally kissed her on the sofa, she is supposed to run her fingers through his hair. Well this is very difficult and unpleasant because SLO’s hair is greased absolutely flat, but would she really ask him what he used on it? She’s not a beautician. But this is what the script would have her do.
‘Oh, a little pomade,’ the Grand Duke replies abstractedly, and she is meant to reply ‘You should use Pinaud’s “Lilac”.’
What on earth is this interchange doing in the love scene between Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier? It’s hardly the place for a witty quip, or a laugh for that matter.
It was far too much for MM to remember – no ‘motivation’ at all. She plunged in bravely, forgot, desperately tried to remember after all, and finally blurted out: ‘You should use’ – loud squeak – ‘I know, er, er, er, PINAUD’S “LILAC”’ giggle giggle. SLO, his face two inches from hers and due to kiss her passionately in the next shot, was trying frantically to cover the gaps and keep a straight face.
‘Think of love, my darling,’ he gabbled. ‘Don’t forget our love.’
After many attempts, he decided to print everything and choose the best one. Everyone hopes it will work, but it may look a little odd, to say the least. Perhaps it will be a triumph of nature over art.
It has been a tough week. SLO and Milton are shattered. So is AM. He came over to collect MM but ended up sending her on ahead with Paula and Whitey and Plod. I went into SLO’s dressing room with fresh whisky and cigarettes.
‘I’ve had it,’ said SLO. ‘I think I’ll go off to China for a month.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ said Milton, laughing.
‘So will I,’ said AM grimly.
‘Come now, dear boy,’ said SLO. ‘Your new bride.’
‘She’s devouring me,’ I heard AM say as I left.
Three strong, famous men all in awe of that young lady. Luckily they take no notice of me whatsoever, which I think is a compliment.
Before I left the studio, Plod rang from Parkside. MM had announced that she wants to go shopping tomorrow – incognito. Plod is nervous and wants me there too. Parkside at 10 a.m. But no one is to tell Milton. I went and told Milton right away and then came back here for supper.
SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST
I arrived at Parkside at 9.45 a.m. Milton was already there.
‘Colin. What’s the smartest shopping street in London?’
‘Bond Street.’
‘OK. We’ll go there.’
Plod went off to make a discreet phone call (to Gerald Row Police Station I expect) and Milton and I sat and waited . . . for one and a half hours. Milton is a great charmer, very easygoing and direct. He told me he used to be a top photographer which is how he got to meet MM.60 He genuinely feels that MM was being exploited by 20th Century Fox – nothing new about that – and he wanted to help her escape from her contract. And that I can understand too. Everyone who meets MM wants to help her, even me. It is another part of her magic. Milton teamed up with a lawyer called Irving Stein who Milton said is as brilliant as he is unsympathetic. (The ‘unsympathetic’ bit is right. I ‘met’ him when MM first arrived.) Together they succeeded in getting MM free and Milton set up Marilyn Monroe Productions. But he underestimated the power that MM generates, and the number of people who are determined to get a piece of that power. Trying to control MM is like riding a tiger. With the best will in the world, you can’t really control, or even forecast, which way it is going to go. So Milton is forever trying to manipulate MM with promises, threats, even drugs61 – and he has to compete with Paula, AM, Hedda Rosten, various psychiatrists and doctors and, ultimately, SLO and me. I feel sorry for Milton. He wants to get the film made as much as we do, and he has a very difficult job, as pig in the middle.
When MM did come down at 11.30 she was in a sulky mood. She was all in beige as usual – tight blouse, slacks, head scarf – and dark glasses, with very little make-up. She looked like she had when she first turned up at the studio. She was not in the least surprised to see Milton, or me. AM and MM and Milton and Plod got into the Princess and I f
ollowed in the Bristol. When we got to Bond Street, I could immediately see a problem. We were late, as usual, and all the shops were going to shut at 12.30 (Saturday early closing). Nobody else in the party seemed to mind, however, so we all got out and trooped along behind AM and MM. As AM is pretty tall and MM is pretty wiggly, we expected quite a reaction, but no one seemed to notice. The most famous couple in the world (bar two, I suppose62) were strolling along a busy street with no protection, and nothing happened.
All of a sudden Milton realised that MM was not happy about this. She wanted to be incognito, but she didn’t want to be that incognito. Not mobbed, perhaps, but a round of applause might have been nice! But the shops were now shutting and the crowds were thinning out.
‘Where are the big shops, Colin? Where is everybody?’
I wheeled the party into Regent Street. I could see a few policemen around, winking at Plod, so I felt reassured. Then suddenly we were surrounded. I don’t know who spread the word, the police or Milton, or perhaps some reporter Milton had called earlier. The crowds picked up the scent of a ‘star’ and it took all Plod’s chums to help us fight our way back to the cars. For the first time I saw how dangerous a leaderless mob can be, although in this case they were driven only by curiosity. Poor MM was quite upset and shaking, despite AM’s arm round her. But perhaps she is used to this sort of horror, and even welcomes it, to confirm her view of the awfulness of her life. AM had also had quite a fright, though nothing really shakes his air of smug complacency. He is much more pleased with himself than MM is with herself, that’s for sure. Plod worships MM, and can’t stand AM, and nor can I. (And to be honest, we are probably a little bit jealous too!)
MONDAY, 27 AUGUST
No MM today. Calls to Plod yielded no clues, and at lunchtime we gave up hope. Finally AM called to say that MM wasn’t well. A fever. Hmm. We had some shots we could do with SLO, Paul and Dicky. We also have prepared the corridor outside the purple room for shots of the valet and the other staff playing music in case MM doesn’t come tomorrow.
When MM isn’t on the set, SLO is a different man – tough, direct, clear-minded. Filming goes like clockwork, of course, because the other actors know him so well. But we all seem to feel that the centre of the film is missing, that what we are doing is peripheral. It’s almost too easy. MM is so difficult to work with that even hardened technicians are driven crazy. But when she doesn’t show up, we miss her! What a paradox. All of a sudden, filming is so routine that there is nothing to write about.
TUESDAY, 28 AUGUST
Despite our fears, MM did show up this morning, and at 8.30, but she didn’t look well. I reported as much to SLO in his dressing room. A lot of people see each of them as soon as they arrive, but I’m the only one who sees them both.
‘What shall we do, Colin?’ he said wearily. ‘What can we do?’
‘Can we switch to something simple? It’s that or nothing, I fear.’
‘OK, send Jack (Cardiff) along. And Elaine (Continuity). We’ve got time to change things around.’
I explained the situation to Jack, and to David. Jack went to see MM for himself, but came out after a few minutes.
‘I think she’s drugged,’ he said to SLO. They looked at the shot list to find something easy which we could use in the only set which was already built and lit. Luckily there were two shots of MM in close-up, lying on the floor. Jack went off and spent an hour with MM’s stand-in and the lighting crew. At this stage in the film, MM is supposed to have drunk too much vodka and passed out just as the Grand Duke is about to seduce her. So all she had to do this morning was to lie back and giggle ‘Oh, look at those lovely cherubs on the ceiling,’ and ‘Good night, my darling. See you in the morning.’
Even in her woozy state, MM managed to do this quite quickly, so after lunch we filmed her and SLO on the sofa. By now she was so relaxed that she was actually very funny. Dicky W has to burst in and interrupt SLO and MM in a clinch. He has an alibi that MM no longer needs.
‘Your aunt has been in a serious motor accident, Miss Marina.’
‘Oh, go away you silly man,’ giggled MM. ‘Serve her right. She shouldn’t be out at this time of night. She’s 93!’ More giggles. Suddenly she really was acting. And for a moment we forgave her everything.
WEDNESDAY, 29 AUGUST
MM was very late this morning. Paula was tense and Milton was even tenser. Plod told me that MM and AM had a row in the night, and AM could not control MM at all. She was wandering around the house in a very distressed state. There had been a lot of phone calls, many of them transatlantic. Finally Milton had gone over with extra pills. MM had called for Whitey Snyder, but of course he is long gone. In the end one of the doctors in New York talked to her until she was calm enough to go to sleep. (Imagine what that cost!) AM had completely washed his hands of her, and Paula, usually her best friend and sort of surrogate mum, couldn’t help on this occasion. Although Paula does want to control MM as an actress, she genuinely does not want to get between MM and AM.
We managed one long-shot of MM warning the Grand Duke that he’d better watch out because she is falling in love with him – just before she passes out.
SLO had to murmur ‘Oh my darling, my beloved’ or some such nonsense just to keep her going, and this did seem to test his acting skills to the limit. MM was in another world – quite cheerful but ga-ga. Booze and drugs I suspect. Nothing seemed to get through to her. But she is meant to be drunk in that scene, so I expect it will look wonderful, as usual. At least the scene is ‘in the can’. When MM went back to her dressing room, it was clear she wouldn’t be back on the set again, even though she didn’t leave the studio.
We did reaction shots on SLO but our troubles weren’t over. A piece of painted ceiling to go over SLO’s head – referred to by MM yesterday – ‘Oh what pretty cherubs . . .’ – was not ready and there was a great row. Teddy, Roger and even Carmen were all in a flap. I think it was partly the aftermath of the tension with MM. When she is so removed from the everyday world we live in, it is very hard to keep patience. The whole studio gets ‘on edge’. One thing is certain, however. If you scream at her or even frown, she retreats further into her unreal world, and gets even harder to reach. SLO calls it the Ophelia Complex. We don’t expect her in tomorrow.
THURSDAY, 30 AUGUST
AM went off to Paris today, which may explain why MM was in such bad shape yesterday. Rumour has it that he is going back to NYC after Paris and will be away for over 10 days. AM seems big-headed, insensitive and super-selfish. I never saw him look tenderly at MM, only with what looks like a sort of boasting self-satisfaction. What bad luck on MM. Why couldn’t she have found what she really needs — someone sympathetic to support her? She doesn’t move around with those sort of people I suppose.
We’ve finished all the ‘cut-away’ shots we can in the purple room. We will do the Grand Duke’s dressing room next, and then we will move on to the hall and staircase.
In the meantime, we have scheduled a day on the lot for tomorrow. We have ordered all the ‘extras’ available – about 500 – from the FAA. The costumes are already prepared, which means a lot of visits to the wardrobe department. The atmosphere up there is arctic, but, alas, there is nothing I can do. It is over. Poor little Wdg. She’ll probably be married in a couple of years. Two kids and a family car. Wdg heaven!
Milton spent a long time with SLO and they decided to give MM a day off tomorrow. Then she can have a long weekend to rest in. She doesn’t claim to be ill, but there is definitely more than one problem on her mind. Perhaps with AM gone, she’ll get a chance to work quietly on the script with Paula. A lot of film stars first look at the day’s lines while they are being made up – as MM does – but no other actor on this film does that. SLO expects them to know the whole script by heart before they arrive, like in a play.
FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST
500 extras are a hell of a handful. Just as David warned, they go to amazing lengths to avoid working. They also m
ake desperate efforts to get paid double and the combination of both these pressures is bizarre. If they are in a medium shot with a principal actor, what they call ‘cameo’, they get more. If they have any special responsibility – whistling, juggling, grinning, they get more. If they wear any item of their own clothing, they get more etc. They are each issued with a pay slip and it is up to the assistant directors to add on bonus items. We also have to sign each slip before they can get paid at all. Our ultimate threat is to sign them off early, or refuse to sign. This is very often threatened, all day long, but almost never done. Poor things, they are the absolute bottom of the acting profession, but some of them have a pathetic desire to be appreciated. Quite a few get steady work, especially if they are chosen to be a stand-in. Most of them have other professions to keep them going. The oldest are in their 70s – wise, benevolent, seen it all, and looked up to by the young ones. They are successful career extras! But a lot of the ladies look like ageing nightclub hostesses, and the men like street buskers. Quite depressing.
Today we had to get them all done up like a 1911 Coronation crowd. Then they had to be individually vetted to make sure they weren’t wearing modern spectacles, watches and so on. Finally they were arranged in a long stand lining the roadside. The ‘roadside’ was actually a track for the camera to run on with a wide column at either end. The camera rode down this on a ‘dolly’, panning past the waving, cheering crowd, from column to column. Then we ‘cut’, re-arranged the crowd, pulled the camera back to its original position, and did it again. By splicing the film, or mixing from shot to shot, as the camera went past a column, the crowd could appear to be as large and long as was needed. It will be projected behind the coach with SLO and MM in it on its way to the Abbey.