Andre de Dienes, Marilyn (Photobook S.) [Hardcover]

Steve Crist (Author), Andre De Dienes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Photobook S. | Publication Date: September 1, 2004

The fashion photographer and former fiance of Marilyn Monroe details his entire relationship with the star, including many private moments shared only between the two in his secret memoirs, which were discovered after his death in 1988. Photos.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Crist is a book editor and photographer. His first project for Taschen was Marilyn by Andre de Dienes. He is currently in production on projects with Playboy, Polaroid, and photographer William Claxton. A California native, Steve is based at the Taschen America offices in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822832243
• ISBN-13: 978-3822832240
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,901,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Complete, but Good., July 14, 2008

By 

Girl3000 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Andre de Dienes: Marilyn (Paperback)

Andre de Dienes has taken some of the most precious photographs of Marilyn Monroe that there are. If you know that, or are a big Marilyn Monroe fan, know this: they are not all here, not even close. However, it's one of the nicer books for the collector. I am disappointed because they've altered some photos, ie, placed the image of her head in the sky, etc., where I would have preferred to see the original photo instead. I am hoping for a more complete, color photo book of his work at some point, but this is definitely worth getting.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic memoirs and the greatest Marilyn Monroe photographs ever., December 12, 2007

By 

Shlomo Sinatra (Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Andre de Dienes: Marilyn (Paperback)

This book is simply fantastic. Andre de Dienes captured Marilyn Monroe's beauty when she was still Norma Jeane, and nobody ever captured her in her truer state.
These photographs (which of course are accompanied by a text of Andre de Dienes' memoirs--or is it the other way around?)-- they are absolutely the most stunning, beautiful images ever taken of the most photogenic GODDESS that the world-at-large has ever known.
One of the most incredible ones is frustratingly not blown up to regular size, but merely shown from his proof sheets (pages 130 and 206 feature the image(s) I am referring to). The cover shot has long been my favorite Marilyn photo, and I now see that a few others that particuarly intoxicated me for many years are all here! Andre de Dienes was simply the best photographer Marilyn ever had; a photographic genius.
But he was a lot more than that; a friend, a lover (who, like many of those who fell in love with Marilyn first-hand, never stopped loving her).
The stories are riveting; incredible at times, even.
And the aforementioned photographs are simply breathtaking.
I particuarly love all the shots from Tobey Beach; she's never so radiant with her beauty so lush, warm and comforting. Pages 27 and 43 feature the Norma Jeane I TOO prefer to the more common image(s) of Marilyn Monroe, the "glamorous" Hollywood take on her beauty, which rings less natural in comparison to these wonderful shots. The photo on page 119 is one to die for, her tenderness so entrancing (and that's from the " The End of Everything" session!)
The bubble bath photos from '52 are also unbelievable.
The photos perfectly accompany the story, which add to them tremendously; seeing Marilyn eating a sundae -- as simple as that -- is an image that is heartwarming and beautiful in context, an absolute joy.

Thi is neither just a memoir (albeit however fascinating it IS); nor a mere photobook (although when referring to Marilyn Monroe's beauty AND a genius photographer like de Dienes, "mere" doesn't fit either!).
It's SOMETHING ELSE!

I am very glad that Steve Crist put this together; he did indeed stumble upon treasure.
And Mr. de Dienes' widow, without whom this could not, would not exist?
Ms. Shirley T. Ellis de Dienes' acknowledgements in the back of the book were enough to bring me to tears.

This book is an absolute must for any Marilyn Monroe fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, April 5, 2010

By 

Michael Luke Guarilia (Duryea, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Andre de Dienes, Marilyn (Photobook S.) (Hardcover)

how ethereal was marilyn caught by headlights? this book contains some of the most innocent, and stunning photographs of marilyn monroe. the colors are super saturated, the 4 x 5 chromes are amazingly sharp, and the compositions rival anything shot of the starlet. great book. mr de deines recollections are fascinating reading.