Young Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) gets a foot inside a British movie studio just in time to witness the chaos behind Laurence Olivier’s new film project, which partners him with Marilyn Monroe. A very entertaining, sweet and elegant look behind the scenes of the making of The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) where two icons clashed. It’s all seen through the eyes of a 23-year-old who is dragged into Monroe’s deep insecurities and needs. Perhaps this film goes a little too far in its dreamy portrait of the star, but Michelle Williams deserves praise; Kenneth Branagh is an equally colorful Olivier. Alexandre Desplat contributed a beautiful piano theme for Marilyn.
2011-Britain. 99 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein. Directed by Simon Curtis. Screenplay: Adrian Hodges. Books: Colin Clark (“My Week with Marilyn”, “The Prince, the Showgirl and Me”). Cast: Michelle Williams (Marilyn Monroe), Kenneth Branagh (Laurence Olivier), Eddie Redmayne (Colin Clark), Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Dominic Cooper… Julia Ormond, Toby Jones, Dougray Scott, Derek Jacobi.
Trivia: Amy Adams and Kate Hudson were allegedly considered for the part of Monroe; Catherine Zeta-Jones as Vivien Leigh.
Golden Globe: Best Actress (Williams).
Last word: “I always had great faith in [Williams] and really believed in her and really liked her. In my experience, those things are very valuable. But there was a time where she worked and we did a big make-up and costume test on camera, and I went to collect her from the dressing room, and seeing the crew’s jaws drop as she walked on set as full Marilyn for the first time was very encouraging. She brought everything to the part. It was a privilege to work with her. I couldn’t ask for more from her process or the way she worked and so on.” (Curtis, Collider)
