Customer Reviews

Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting (Stern Portfolio)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection of photographs from Marilyn's last official sitting is haunting and extraordinary. The pictures show so many different sides of her, and I think that Stern did a fabulous job capturing them with the clothes, scarves, and props he provided. His introduction is interesting and gives the reader an idea of what it would be like to work with Marilyn in that way; however, he seems to fall under the Marilyn love spell, like every other man who encountered her, and becomes maudlin imagining a romantic encounter. I have to add that seeing the damage that Marilyn did to the negatives she didn't like gave me goosebumps; it is chilling to know that she thought so little of herself, especially so close to death.

Buy this book, run everybody off, pour yourself a glass of wine and vist Marilyn. There are no retouches here. You can look at these pictures and see how she would have grown and changed had she lived. She looked high and rough in some photos which makes her seem like a real person instead of a product. It's Marilyn at work giving us Marilyn but you can be privy to a sort of behind the scenes element that makes you feel like you were there.

Stern's introduction is a little heavy. He comes off like deifying Marilyn deifies him and when he plays up the sexual tension he percieved between them he seems a tad naive or maybe boastful. She was just doing what she did best. I think he had his camera confused with himself. I'll bet she was just downing Dom and being pure Marilin and it translates better than any glam portrait sitting.

If you are any kind of Marilyn fan at all...then you need to have this extraordinary book!!! The hefty pricetag is well worth it. My favorite photos in the book are of Bert Stern's and Marilyn's first session together (with the see-thru scarves)because it has lots of fine close-ups of Marilyn's face. I also like the "bed" series that took place at the end of their second session. I was less thrilled with the fashion shots because i feel that the people at vogue had some odd ideas about what clothing to put Marilyn in...all those black dresses and stiff poses felt unnatural to me. But those photos also showcase Marilyn in a different light altogether...and that makes them interesting. I can never get enough of looking at this book and i wish they had the space to enlarge every single photo..but i guess that's being a little greedy!!! hahaha Marilyn was an incredible beauty and i think this book shows that fact of well.

"The Complete Last Sitting" is a book every Marilyn Monroe fan should make the effort of acquiring. It is a huge book, full of pictures, and the edition is tasteful and high-quality. Even if Bert Stern's photographs of Marilyn are not your absolute favorites (as is my case), the book is well worth its price. I don't regret it. You'll see Marilyn in different moods and under different lights. It's a wonderful experience.

I own dozens of other books and pictorials about Marilyn that claim to have "...never before seen pictures..." inside, which turn out to be the same ones used in every other book. However "The Complete Last Sitting" provided me with hundreds of beautiful pictures that I can quite honestly say I have NEVER seen before. Marilyn had never looked better. It's so nice to see her looking relaxed and natural instead of the usual posing, and she even shows off her playful sense of humour by donning a Jackie Kennedy style wig! This collection of photographs is just stunning, quite simply a MUST-HAVE for any Marilyn Monroe collectors/fans.

The Complete Last Sitting is a huge book, as heavy as beautiful. This is a reprint of the original first 1982 edition. I waited for this book for a long time because in the internet autions something the book was sale for more than $500. Now in this brand new exactly edition you have the chance to see and enjoy the last and real Marilyn. A monumental book!

Wonderful book, Amazing pictures! I highly recommend, even though it has a hefty price tag it is well worth it.. this is a HUGE book. With pretty much every page filled with high-quality photographs that are just gorgeous. Marilyn Monroe was a true beauty. She was a classic, and so is this book.

I have to admit this is one of the best photographical collections of Marilyn's. Although all of the pictures were taken in one single photo shooting section and you'd encounter hundreds of Marilyn in the same costume with slightly different postures and facial expressions, you'd be thrilled as I was to see how stunning and gorgeous she was in all these. You just can't have enough of her! Although the book is a bit [costly],you won't regret for a penny you've paid!

When I received this book in the mail - my honey bought it for me knowing I am a die hard fan, I cried! I sat down and prepared to spend a night with my Marilyn - and rightly so, as it took all night! The foreward to the book was so enlightening and funny and really made me feel as if I was there. And the pics - I can't even think of words to describe them! It is somewhat sad to know that these pics were taken so close to the time of her death, but it shows Marilyn at her best. There is just a raw sensuality and sexuality that made Marilyn the sex icon that she is. And it is all here in this book. This is the ultimate book and it my very prized possession!

One of the best books I ever invested in. By far one of the top 10 best Marilyn Monroe books ever. Has over a thousand photographs, super thick, the book is huge, photographs are very rich in color and quality. You wont be disappointed. Incredible.