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The Hollywood Collection - Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

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Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend is a DVD biography beloved movie star and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Focusing on her passionate if somewhat tumultuous life rather than the seamy rumors about her and her tragic death, Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend includes highlights from her greatest movie moments in films such as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "How to Marry a Millionaire", "Some Like It Hot", and more. Extra features include a photo gallery, a "meet the producers" segment, and an interview with director Gene Feldman. An upbeat tribute that pays homage to the unforgettable pop culture contribution of a Hollywood icon. 115 minutes, color (some black-and-white scenes).

This is still one of the most comprehensive documentaries on the short life and career of Marilyn. MARILYN MONROE: BEYOND THE LEGEND (1987) carries a wealth of solid film clips and candid interviews with some of the friends and co-stars who knew the real Monroe.

Narrated by Monroe's "Don't Bother to Knock" leading man Richard Widmark, BEYOND THE LEGEND focuses on Monroe's professional career and personal life, but stops short at exploring the lurid and still highly-controversial aspects surrounding her untimely death. The interviews are often very frank: Celeste Holm doesn't shy away from sharing what she thought of the young Monroe when she first arrived on the set of "All About Eve" in 1950.

Shelley Winters talks about the days when she and Marilyn were starlets dreaming of fame and husbands. Director Joshua Logan discusses his surprise at the quality and depth of Monroe's performance in "Bus Stop" (and co-star Don Murray remembers the difficulties the director had in filming a crucial intimate scene in CinemaScope). Susan Strasberg, whose family took Monroe in for a period of time, talks about the shy, insecure little girl inside the blonde bombshell body. There are also interview segments with Sheree North, Laszlo Willinger and Clark Gordon.

There's only ever been one Marilyn. This documentary paints a selective picture, but for her fans it will be a must-see.