The Misfits [Hardcover]

Serge Toubiana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2000

Tells the story of the making of the legendary film "The Misfits" (1961), directed by John Huston and starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift. As part of the promotional strategy for the film, The Magnum photographic agency was given the exclusive right to take photographs during the shooting. Eight of its most famous photographers covered the production, both on and off the set. Two hundred of their pictures are reproduced here in rich duotone, providing both a documentary of the making of a film and an intimate portrait of three of the most famous film stars of all time. The photographs are accompanied by an essay recounting the tragic and triumphant story of the film and an interview with Arthur Miller, husband of Marilyn Monroe and writer of the movie.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The last film made by Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, one of the last made by Montgomery Clift, and the only one scripted by playwright Miller, then at the peak of his career, The Misfits (1961) was a prestige picture, whose entourage included a team of stellar photographers from the photojournalist agency Magnum. The lensers' work furnishes the enthralling core of this book, but the contributions of Miller and Toubiana, editor of the French film journal Cahiers du Cinema, aren't negligible. Interviewed by Toubiana, Miller says the film was intended as a vehicle for Monroe to establish her credentials as a dramatic actress, and he expresses disappointment that director John Huston allowed so few long shots, for Miller felt that showing the characters in the vacant western landscape of its setting would be a powerful visual metaphor of their social isolation. Toubiana's discussion of the production valuably augments Miller's perspective and critiques previous written accounts. Even without so many splendid photographs of such photogenic people, this would be a fascinating film book. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Publisher

Tells the story of the making of the legendary film "The Misfits" (1961), directed by John Huston and starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift. As part of the promotional strategy for the film, The Magnum photographic agency was given the exclusive right to take photographs during the shooting. Eight of its most famous photographers covered the production, both on and off the set. Two hundred of their pictures are reproduced here in rich duotone, providing both a documentary of the making of a film and an intimate portrait of three of the most famous film stars of all time. The photographs are accompanied by an essay recounting the tragic and triumphant story of the film and an interview with Arthur Miller, husband of Marilyn Monroe and writer of the movie.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 191 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (January 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714839361
• ISBN-13: 978-0714839363
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miller's The Misfits in Pictures and Interview, June 6, 2000

By 

Stefani Koorey (Fall River, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Misfits (Hardcover)

This is the book that I have been waiting for! Contains dozens of never-before-seen black and white candids/poses/portraits/studies of the making of THE MISFITS by renowned Magnum photographers (including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Bruce Davidson, and Eve Arnold), a lengthy interview with screenwriter/playwright Arthur Miller and his wife (and Magnum photographer) Inge Morath on their memories of this momentous movie, and a wonderful piece by Serge Toubiana on the making of the fillm.

Of note are several sad studies of Miller and Monroe and the disintigration of their marriage. One important photo, taken by Inge Morath, is haunting in its depiction of two people separated by an ocean of anguish.

I would recommend this book for the Marilyn Monroe fan, the Arthur Miller scholar, the film-history buff, and those interested students of the photo-essay.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Story of The Misfits, September 13, 2000

By 

M. Rodriguez "You don't see the knives people... (Brick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Misfits (Hardcover)

I was so excited when I heard a book of The Misfits was coming out, my favorite movie with my favorite stars. The layout is beautiful and the pictures are great. I only gave the book 3 stars because it didn't tell me anything 'new' about The Misfits. Just another book with the same things that have been written over and over agin. But for any die hard Marilyn, Monty, Gable, Huston, or Miller fans worth reading.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Misfits is definitely a must have for Marilyn's fan!!!, March 27, 2009

By 

Jonathan Chin "John" (PA,USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Misfits (Hardcover)

I think this is the best book that tells the story of The making of The Misfits complete with many stunning rare images of Marilyn.I'm blown away by them.Get yours now!