Editing Marilyn Monroe (section)

=== 1956–1959: Critical acclaim and marriage to Arthur Miller ===
[[File:Monroe and Murray argument in Bus Stop.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Monroe and Don Murray in ''Bus Stop''. She is wearing a ragged coat and a small hat tied with ribbons and is having an argument with Murray, who is wearing jeans, a denim jacket and a cowboy hat.|Monroe's dramatic performance in ''[[Bus Stop (1956 film)|Bus Stop]]'' (1956) marked a departure from her earlier comedies.]]

Monroe began 1956 by announcing her win over 20th Century-Fox.{{sfn|Banner|2012|pp=296–297}} On February 23, 1956, she legally changed her name to ''Marilyn Monroe''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bodenner |first=Chris |date=2016-02-24 |title=The Day Norma Jean Died |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2016/02/marilyn-monroe-norma-jean/624878/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> The press wrote favorably about her decision to fight the studio; ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called her a "shrewd businesswoman"{{sfn|Spoto|2001|p=341}} and ''[[Look (American magazine)|Look]]'' predicted that the win would be "an example of the individual against the herd for years to come".{{sfn|Banner|2012|pp=296–297}} In contrast, Monroe's relationship with Miller prompted some negative comments, such as [[Walter Winchell]]'s statement that "America's best-known blonde moving picture star is now the darling of the left-wing intelligentsia."{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=343–345}}

In March, Monroe began filming the drama ''[[Bus Stop (1956 film)|Bus Stop]]'', her first film under the new contract.{{sfn|Spoto|2001|p=345}} She played Chérie, a saloon singer whose dreams of stardom are complicated by a naïve cowboy who falls in love with her. For the role, she learned an [[Ozark English|Ozark accent]], chose costumes and makeup that lacked the glamor of her earlier films, and provided deliberately mediocre singing and dancing.{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=352–357}} [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] director [[Joshua Logan]] agreed to direct, despite initially doubting Monroe's acting abilities and knowing of her difficult reputation.{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=352–354}} The filming took place in Idaho and Arizona, with Monroe "technically in charge" as the head of MMP, occasionally making decisions on cinematography and with Logan adapting to her chronic lateness and perfectionism.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=354–358, for location and time|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2p=297, 310}} The experience changed Logan's opinion of Monroe, and he later compared her to [[Charlie Chaplin]] in her ability to blend comedy and tragedy.{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=254}}[[File:Monroe Miller Wedding.jpg|thumb|upright|right|alt=Cropped photo of Monroe and Miller cutting the cake at their wedding. Her veil is lifted from her face and he is wearing a white shirt with a dark tie.|Monroe and [[Arthur Miller]] at their wedding, June 1956]]On June 29, 1956, Monroe and Miller were married in a four-minute civil ceremony at the Westchester County Court in [[White Plains, New York]]; two days later they had a [[Jewish wedding|Jewish ceremony]] at the home of [[Kay B. Barrett|Kay Brown]], Miller's literary agent, in [[Waccabuc, New York]].{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=364–365}} With the marriage, Monroe [[Gerim|converted to Judaism]], which led Egypt to ban all of her films.{{sfn|Meyers|2010|pp=156–157}}{{efn|Monroe identified with the Jewish people as a "dispossessed group" and wanted to convert to make herself part of Miller's family.{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=256}} She was instructed by Rabbi Robert Goldberg and converted on July 1, 1956.{{sfn|Meyers|2010|pp=156–157}} Monroe's interest in Judaism as a religion was limited: she called herself a "[[Jewish atheist]]" and did not practice the faith after divorcing Miller aside from retaining some religious items.{{sfn|Meyers|2010|pp=156–157}} Egypt also lifted her ban after the divorce was finalized in 1961.{{sfn|Meyers|2010|pp=156–157}}}} Due to Monroe's status as a sex symbol and Miller's image as an intellectual, the media saw the union as a mismatch, as evidenced by ''Variety''{{'}}s headline, "Egghead Weds Hourglass".{{sfnm|1a1=Churchwell|1y=2004|1pp=253–257|2a1=Meyers|2y=2010|2p=155}}

''Bus Stop'' was released in August 1956 and became a critical and commercial success.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=358–359|2a1=Churchwell|2y=2004|2p=69}} ''[[The Saturday Review of Literature]]'' wrote that Monroe's performance "effectively dispels once and for all the notion that she is merely a glamour personality" and Crowther proclaimed: "Hold on to your chairs, everybody, and get set for a rattling surprise. Marilyn Monroe has finally proved herself an actress."{{sfn|Spoto|2001|p=358}} She also received a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Golden Globe]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy]] for her performance.<ref name=gg />

In August, Monroe also began filming MMP's first independent production, ''[[The Prince and the Showgirl]]'', at [[Pinewood Studios]] in England.{{sfn|Spoto|2001|p=372}} Based on [[The Sleeping Prince&nbsp;(play)|a 1953 stage play]] by [[Terence Rattigan]], it was to be directed and co-produced by, and to co-star, [[Laurence Olivier]].{{sfn|Spoto|2001|p=341}} The production was complicated by conflicts between him and Monroe.{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|pp=258–261}} Olivier, who had also directed and starred in the stage play, angered her with the patronizing statement "All you have to do is be sexy", and with his demand she replicate [[Vivien Leigh]]'s stage interpretation of the character.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=370–379|2a1=Churchwell|2y=2004|2pp=258–261|3a1=Banner|3y=2012|3pp=310–311}} He also disliked the constant presence of Paula Strasberg, Monroe's acting coach, on set.{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=370–379}} In retaliation, Monroe became uncooperative and began to deliberately arrive late, later saying, "if you don't respect your artists, they can't work well."{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|pp=258–261}}
[[File:Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe Prince and the Showgirl 1957.jpg|thumb|170px|Monroe with [[Laurence Olivier]] in a publicity photo for ''[[The Prince and the Showgirl]]'' (1957)]]
Monroe also experienced other problems during the production. Her dependence on pharmaceuticals escalated and, according to Spoto, she had a miscarriage.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=368–376|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2pp=310–314}} She and Greene also argued over how MMP should be run.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=368–376|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2pp=310–314}} Despite the difficulties, filming was completed on schedule by the end of 1956.{{sfnm|1a1=Churchwell|1y=2004|1p=69|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2p=314, for being on time}} ''The Prince and the Showgirl'' was released to mixed reviews in June 1957 and proved unpopular with American audiences.{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|p=69}} It was better received in Europe, where she was awarded the Italian [[David di Donatello]] and the French [[César Award|Crystal Star]] awards and nominated for a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]].{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=346}}

After returning from England, Monroe took an 18-month hiatus to concentrate on family life. She and Miller split their time between NYC, [[Connecticut]] and [[Long Island]].{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=381–382}} She had an [[ectopic pregnancy]] in mid-1957, and a miscarriage a year later;{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=392–393, 406–407}} these problems were most likely linked to her [[endometriosis]].{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|pp=274–277}}{{efn|Endometriosis also caused her to experience severe [[Dysmenorrhea|menstrual pain]] throughout her life, necessitating a clause in her contract allowing her to be absent from work during her period; her endometriosis also required several surgeries.{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|pp=274–277}} It has sometimes been alleged that Monroe underwent several abortions, and that [[unsafe abortion]]s made by persons without proper medical training would have contributed to her inability to maintain a pregnancy.{{sfnm|1a1=Churchwell|1y=2004|1pp=271–274|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2pp=222, 226, 329–30, 335, 362}} The abortion rumors began from statements made by Amy Greene, the wife of Milton Greene, but have not been confirmed by any concrete evidence.{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|pp=271–274}} Furthermore, Monroe's autopsy report did not note any evidence of abortions.{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|pp=271–274}}}} Monroe was also briefly hospitalized due to a barbiturate overdose.{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=321}} As she and Greene could not settle their disagreements over MMP, Monroe bought his share of the company.{{sfn|Spoto|2001|pp=389–391}}

[[File:Some like it hot film poster.jpg|thumb|alt=A ukulele-playing Monroe with a cross-dressing Lemmon in the bass and Curtis in the saxophone. There are also three other women playing different instruments.|left|Monroe with [[Jack Lemmon]] and [[Tony Curtis]] in ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'' (1959), for which she won a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Golden Globe]]]]
Monroe returned to Hollywood in July 1958 to act opposite [[Jack Lemmon]] and [[Tony Curtis]] in Billy Wilder's comedy on gender roles, ''[[Some Like It Hot]]''.{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=325 on it being a comedy on gender}} She considered the role of Sugar Kane another "dumb blonde", but accepted it due to Miller's encouragement and the offer of 10% of the film's profits on top of her standard pay.{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=325}} The film's difficult production has since become "legendary".{{sfn|Churchwell|2004|p=626}} Monroe demanded dozens of retakes, and did not remember her lines or act as directed—Curtis famously said that kissing her was "like kissing [[Hitler]]" due to the number of retakes.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=399–407|2a1=Churchwell|2y=2004|2p=262}} Monroe privately likened the production to a sinking ship and commented on her co-stars and director saying {{nowrap|"[but]}} why should I worry, I have no phallic symbol to lose."{{sfnm|1a1=Banner|1y=2012|1p=327 on "sinking ship" and "phallic symbol"|2a1=Rose|2y=2014|2p=100 for full quote}} Many of the problems stemmed from her and Wilder—who also had a reputation for being difficult—disagreeing on how she should play the role.{{sfnm|1a1=Churchwell|1y=2004|1pp=262–266|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2pp=325–327}} She angered him by asking to alter many of her scenes, which in turn made her stage fright worse, and it is suggested that she deliberately ruined several scenes to act them her way.{{sfnm|1a1=Churchwell|1y=2004|1pp=262–266|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2pp=325–327}}

In the end, Wilder was happy with Monroe's performance, saying: "Anyone can remember lines, but it takes a real artist to come on the set and not know her lines and yet give the performance she did!"{{sfn|Spoto|2001|p=406}} ''Some Like It Hot'' was a critical and commercial success when it was released in March 1959.{{sfnm|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2p=346|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1p=406}} Monroe's performance earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marilyn Monroe |url=https://goldenglobes.com/person/marilyn-monroe/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=Golden Globes |language=en-US}}</ref> and prompted ''Variety'' to call her "a comedienne with that combination of sex appeal and timing that just can't be beat".{{sfn|Banner|2012|p=346}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1959/film/reviews/some-like-it-hot-2-1200419454/|title=Review: 'Some Like It Hot'|work=Variety|date=February 24, 1959|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031205405/http://variety.com/1959/film/reviews/some-like-it-hot-2-1200419454/|archive-date=October 31, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> It has been voted one of the [[List of films considered the best|best films ever made]] in polls by the [[BBC]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170821-the-100-greatest-comedies-of-all-time|title=The 100 greatest comedies of all time|publisher=BBC|date=August 22, 2017|access-date=January 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111175543/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170821-the-100-greatest-comedies-of-all-time|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[American Film Institute]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53017|title=Some Like It Hot|publisher=American Film Institute|access-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517064546/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53017|archive-date=May 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Sight & Sound]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time|title=The top 50 Greatest Films of All Time|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|date=September 2012|access-date=September 5, 2015|first=Ian|last=Christie|author-link=Ian Christie (film scholar)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905061731/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>