Photo: ‘The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes’ The first thing I want to say about this documentary is to watch it if you’re interested in Marilyn Monroe’s life because “it is centered around the life and untimely death of American actress and cultural icon Marilyn Monroe and is told through archival footage and unseen interviews with friends of the star”. This documentary feels like more of “Hey! Look check out these unheard tapes that don’t tell us any more new information”, the tapes come from Anthony Summers, the author of Goddess (1985), he spent three years collecting 650 tape-recorded interviews with people who either knew Monroe in her lifetime or had knowledge concerning her death. For me, this documentary doesn’t feel respectful to Monroe and it feels like a cash grab because the doc mostly expands on the conspiracy theories of Monroe’s relationship with the Kennedy men.
- 5/23/2022
- by Ayana Hamilton
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
The word “tabloid” has a sleazy mystique. It’s such a potent word that it can influence the way you think about the subjects that fall into that category. “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” is a documentary that dives into what we think of as the most tawdry and sensational aspects of the Marilyn Monroe story: her death, on August 4, 1962, from an overdose of barbiturates; the hideous downward spiral of depression and narcotics that led up to it; and, buried deep in the weeds of all of that, the most scandalous piece of gossip ever connected to Marilyn Monroe — her clandestine affairs with John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
This is dark, squalid, squinting-through-the-keyhole stuff, and it can make a film like “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe” sound like a guilty-pleasure piece of true-crime trash, one of those glorified tabloid-tv exposés with a patina of investigative credibility.
This is dark, squalid, squinting-through-the-keyhole stuff, and it can make a film like “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe” sound like a guilty-pleasure piece of true-crime trash, one of those glorified tabloid-tv exposés with a patina of investigative credibility.
- 5/7/2022
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
When making a documentary about Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys, there’s more to sift through than mere facts. They occupy such prominent roles in the public consciousness that our idealized images of them have impacted pop culture just as much as their real selves. How can a documentarian possibly cut through preconceived notions and say something new about people who serve as foundational bricks in our national narrative?
In Emma Cooper’s words, “it’s quite helpful that I’m British.”
“Of course I knew who they are,” she said in an interview with IndieWire. “But I know way more about Prince Charles.”
Cooper, the director of “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes,” admits she never understood the mystique surrounding Marilyn Monroe before she began work on the film. Nor did she have any sentimental attachments to the idealized America that the Kennedy presidency represented.
When she was approached by Anthony Summers,...
In Emma Cooper’s words, “it’s quite helpful that I’m British.”
“Of course I knew who they are,” she said in an interview with IndieWire. “But I know way more about Prince Charles.”
Cooper, the director of “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes,” admits she never understood the mystique surrounding Marilyn Monroe before she began work on the film. Nor did she have any sentimental attachments to the idealized America that the Kennedy presidency represented.
When she was approached by Anthony Summers,...
- 4/27/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes,” the latest documentary on the movie star who passed away in 1962 but is still revered. The film will stream on Netflix beginning April 27th.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
The tapes in the title are a cache of audio interviews that were conducted by Anthony Summers from 1982 through 1985, as he created the Marilyn biography book “Goddess,” which was released in 1985. Nearly 40 years later, Summers publishes the audio again for this new doc and for a fresh look at the secrets he had revealed, with people who were still alive in the ‘80s – only 20 years after Monroe’s death – willing to talk about the actress and her mysterious demise.
”The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” is streaming on Netflix beginning April 27th. Directed by Emma Cooper. Rated “TV-ma”
Click Here for Patrick McDonald’s audio...
Rating: 5.0/5.0
The tapes in the title are a cache of audio interviews that were conducted by Anthony Summers from 1982 through 1985, as he created the Marilyn biography book “Goddess,” which was released in 1985. Nearly 40 years later, Summers publishes the audio again for this new doc and for a fresh look at the secrets he had revealed, with people who were still alive in the ‘80s – only 20 years after Monroe’s death – willing to talk about the actress and her mysterious demise.
”The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” is streaming on Netflix beginning April 27th. Directed by Emma Cooper. Rated “TV-ma”
Click Here for Patrick McDonald’s audio...
- 4/27/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Marilyn Monroe would surely be unsurprised by the morbid fascination that followed (and continues to follow) her shocking death at the age of 36 in 1962 — after all, the public’s insatiable appetite for her private dramas was a constant presence throughout the last 15 years of her life, and a contributing factor to the barbiturate overdose that cut it short. Monroe understood better than anyone how dehumanizing it was to become a symbol. She knew that titillation led to entitlement, that a single woman’s sexuality could spark an entire country’s schadenfreude, and that tabloids would breathlessly continue to report or invent new details about their most unknowable subjects until they ran out of column inches to fill. Even if she had lived to be 100, the obsession with Marilyn Monroe was always going to outlast the body of Norma Jeane Mortenson.
What Monroe may not have been able to anticipate is...
What Monroe may not have been able to anticipate is...
- 4/26/2022
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The brief, brilliant career of Marilyn Monroe has haunted Hollywood for more than 50 years, her life and work and untimely death the subject of endless litigation and debate. A new Netflix documentary, “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes,” dives back into the lurid lore surrounding Monroe, tapping into all too familiar themes of trauma and addiction before landing right back where it began.
Directed by Emma Cooper, “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” focuses not directly on Monroe herself but on writer and journalist, Anthony Summers, author of the book “Goddess” (about who else but Monroe). “Goddess,” published in 1985, is a requisite biography, full of conversations with Monroe affiliates and allies. Cooper’s documentary, in turn, pulls from the audio used for that book, hours of Summers in conversation with people who knew Marilyn (or who knew people who knew Marilyn). What follows is more like a podcast,...
Directed by Emma Cooper, “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” focuses not directly on Monroe herself but on writer and journalist, Anthony Summers, author of the book “Goddess” (about who else but Monroe). “Goddess,” published in 1985, is a requisite biography, full of conversations with Monroe affiliates and allies. Cooper’s documentary, in turn, pulls from the audio used for that book, hours of Summers in conversation with people who knew Marilyn (or who knew people who knew Marilyn). What follows is more like a podcast,...
- 4/25/2022
- by Fran Hoepfner
- The Wrap
“The true things rarely get into circulation,” Marilyn Monroe once said. Indeed, her complicated life and premature death spawned many conspiracies. This film separates fact from fiction, helped by never-before-heard interviews from the archives of Monroe biographer Anthony Summers. Here’s what shocked us. —Ileane Rudolph 1. Monroe’s then-husband, baseball great Joe Dimaggio, was so incensed after she filmed the billowing-dress scene from The Seven Year Itch, “he beat her up,” according to hairdresser Gladys Witten. 2. The troubled beauty, who’d lived in foster homes as a child, was a patient of psychiatrist Ralph Greenson. Part of his unorthodox treatment: including the movie star in his own family gatherings! 3. According to insiders, after the icon died by overdose in 1962 at her L.A. home, hired fixers for President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, with whom Monroe allegedly had affairs, removed from the premises items that had to do with the men.
- 4/24/2022
- TV Insider
New Netflix documentary series “The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann,” about a missing girl whose case has sparked fevered speculation in Britain for more than a decade, is set to drop on the streaming platform Friday. The eight-part series is controversial and anticipated in equal measure, with the girl’s family suggesting it could hinder the long-running police investigation and a tabloid saying there could be explosive new revelations.
Three-year-old British toddler Madeleine McCann went missing from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz while on vacation with her parents in 2007. Her disappearance sparked a huge investigation involving Portuguese police and Scotland Yard, which is still pursuing leads. It remains one of the highest-profile cases in modern U.K. crime history and the subject of intense media scrutiny, especially from Britain’s sensationalist tabloids.
The Netflix series promises new interviews with people connected to the case, with input from more than 40 contributors in all.
Three-year-old British toddler Madeleine McCann went missing from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz while on vacation with her parents in 2007. Her disappearance sparked a huge investigation involving Portuguese police and Scotland Yard, which is still pursuing leads. It remains one of the highest-profile cases in modern U.K. crime history and the subject of intense media scrutiny, especially from Britain’s sensationalist tabloids.
The Netflix series promises new interviews with people connected to the case, with input from more than 40 contributors in all.
- 3/14/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
To celebrate the release of Notebook contributor Clare Nina Norelli's book for the 33 1/3 series, Soundtrack from Twin Peaks, the following is an excerpt from its introduction. A bass sounds a twangy, resonant low F accompanied by a barely there, quarter-note cymbal ostinato. An F(add2) chord follows on Rhodes, warm and inviting, like a secret confession. Straining for resolution, the chord descends to settle on a straight F chord, its downward trajectory forming the musical approximation of a lovelorn sigh. The pattern is repeated, but two steps lower, beginning on a D in the bass. Suddenly, a wash of synthesized strings and French horn pours over the mix accompanied by a cool wave of guitar tremolo, oscillating between B-flat(sus2) and B-flat major chords and then sliding up to C(sus2) and C major. The melody in the synth-strings and French horn swirls, as if caught in a whirlwind, and then begins to rise,...
- 3/27/2017
- MUBI
Title: American Promise Rada Film Group Director: Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson Screenwriter: Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson Cast: Idris Brewster, Anthony Summers, Stacey O. Summers, Oluwaseun (Seun) Summers Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 9/18/13 Opens: October 18, 2013 Though this film focuses on four African-Americans—Joe Brewster and Michèle Brewster and their child Idris, and Anthony Summers and Stacey O. Summers and their boy Seun (pronounced Shay-Awn), I can relate closely to their joys and fears. Like Idris and Seun, I am a long-term Brooklynite spending several years in a private high school, (Poly Prep), though I arrived straight from a public junior high where I had completed three years in a [ Read More ]
The post American Promise Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post American Promise Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 9/20/2013
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
Nothing, it seems, can stand in the way of the Margaret Thatcher biopic: you literally couldn't avoid it
The big story
There was only one film in town this week: The Iron Lady. Guardian political grandee Michael White failed to square the screen Thatcher with the one he knew, Alex von Tunzelmann told us there was more to Margaret Thatcher than a fabulous blow dry, Meryl Streep raced to the front of the queue in the best actress Oscar betting, the Thatcher family apparently turned down an invitation to watch the film, and the premiere – on a blue carpet – triggered the usual shenanigans. Our man Peter Bradshaw, though, has the definitive word on the film.
In the news
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 should get an Oscar, say its makers
Warner Bros deny cleaning up the audio on The Dark Knight Rises, after complaints no one could understand...
The big story
There was only one film in town this week: The Iron Lady. Guardian political grandee Michael White failed to square the screen Thatcher with the one he knew, Alex von Tunzelmann told us there was more to Margaret Thatcher than a fabulous blow dry, Meryl Streep raced to the front of the queue in the best actress Oscar betting, the Thatcher family apparently turned down an invitation to watch the film, and the premiere – on a blue carpet – triggered the usual shenanigans. Our man Peter Bradshaw, though, has the definitive word on the film.
In the news
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 should get an Oscar, say its makers
Warner Bros deny cleaning up the audio on The Dark Knight Rises, after complaints no one could understand...
- 1/5/2012
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
For half a century, the FBI director waged war on homosexuals, black people and communists. Now, a controversial film by Clint Eastwood is set to reveal some of the explosive truth about him. Here, his biographer Anthony Summers tells all
J Edgar Hoover was a phenomenon. The first Director of the FBI, he remained in office for 48 years, from his appointment after the First World War to his death in 1972, achieving fame and extraordinary power. For public consumption when he died, President Richard Nixon eulogised him as: "One of the giants… a national symbol of courage, patriotism and granite-like honesty and integrity." He ordered flags to fly at half-mast and that Hoover's body lie in state in the Capitol.
In private, on hearing that he had died, Nixon had responded merely: "Jesus Christ! That old cocksucker!" Months earlier, closeted with key advisers, he had held forth on the need to...
J Edgar Hoover was a phenomenon. The first Director of the FBI, he remained in office for 48 years, from his appointment after the First World War to his death in 1972, achieving fame and extraordinary power. For public consumption when he died, President Richard Nixon eulogised him as: "One of the giants… a national symbol of courage, patriotism and granite-like honesty and integrity." He ordered flags to fly at half-mast and that Hoover's body lie in state in the Capitol.
In private, on hearing that he had died, Nixon had responded merely: "Jesus Christ! That old cocksucker!" Months earlier, closeted with key advisers, he had held forth on the need to...
- 1/3/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
I've just now become aware of a week-old article at USA Today where William Branon, chairman of the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation, and the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI are expressing some concern over the potential depiction of any kind of relationship between J. Edgar Hoover (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his former top aide Clyde Tolson (played by Armie Hammer) in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar. The capture above from the film's first trailer depicting Hoover placing his hand on top of Tolson's is just one cause for the growing concern as Branon fired off a letter to Eastwood at his Warner Bros. production house, Malpaso Productions, writing: "There is no basis in fact for such a portrayal of Mr. Hoover... It would be a grave injustice and monumental distortion to proceed with such a depiction based on a completely unfounded and spurious assertion." [...] "These allegations...
- 10/10/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Despite director Clint Eastwood sounding sure of her casting a few weeks back, Charlize Theron has backed out of appearing in J. Edgar to star in Snow White & The Huntsmen, by my count about the half dozenth film she was supposed to be shooting early this year that never came to fruition (others include Mad Max 4).
You see, an actress like Theron is barely without offers. Vulture are reporting that 20th Century Fox are keen on the blonde beauty, a big name with some star power, to lead Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel but Scott has been pretty much adamant since day one that he wants The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Scandinavian actress Naoomi Rapace to lead. Fox are less keen on that.
The studio are concerned that without star power, there will be little for audiences to distinguish this new Alien movie from the last couple of...
You see, an actress like Theron is barely without offers. Vulture are reporting that 20th Century Fox are keen on the blonde beauty, a big name with some star power, to lead Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel but Scott has been pretty much adamant since day one that he wants The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Scandinavian actress Naoomi Rapace to lead. Fox are less keen on that.
The studio are concerned that without star power, there will be little for audiences to distinguish this new Alien movie from the last couple of...
- 1/11/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
It’s funny how the landscape has changed for young Californian actor Armie Hammer. Not three years ago he was the butt of daily jokes from rabid fanboys who were incensed and confused at the sheer audacity of somebody they had never heard of, or had even seen a picture of, with an awkward sounding name, finding himself wearing the cape and cowl as Batman for George Miller’s failed Justice League of America.
When the project fell apart, many predicated that the burden of unwittingly becoming the face of everything that was wrong about the Jla film would be too much for Hammer to bare and he would barely be heard from again.
But director David Fincher saw whatever George Miller had seen in him a few years earlier and cast him twice for The Social Network, as the Winklevoss Twins, and now everybody else has seen what the...
When the project fell apart, many predicated that the burden of unwittingly becoming the face of everything that was wrong about the Jla film would be too much for Hammer to bare and he would barely be heard from again.
But director David Fincher saw whatever George Miller had seen in him a few years earlier and cast him twice for The Social Network, as the Winklevoss Twins, and now everybody else has seen what the...
- 12/8/2010
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
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