Marlene Dietrich hosted a dinner party for Marilyn Monroe, where psychologists invited by Dietrich ambushed Monroe.
This sounds like the best Intervention episode to never air, but did it truly ever happen? Let me know whether you've got evidence to support this tale. At the very least, let me know whether and where you've heard or read about this. In the meantime, I'll conduct my own investigation.
Have not encountered that story in reading MD or MM bios. As I recall, the pix is from the event announcing formation of MM Productions in New York.
ReplyDeleteAccording to one of James Haspiel's books on MM, MM did go to MD's after the launch, but I've never seen or heard a story that psychologists ambushed Monroe.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to have stood between these two!!
Hope you are well Joseph!
IIRC, Monroe did a photo spread for Life magazine where she portrayed iconic film characters of the past...and one of them was Dietrich as Lola from "The Blue Angel." Did Marlene ever publicly comment on it? (Part of her must have been flattered, but beyond that...)
ReplyDeletelx, others have captioned these photos as such, so I'm sure you're right. After watching this YouTube clip, I'd guess that Dietrich and Monroe met later in the evening (e.g., some kind of reception), as Monroe appears to have gradually stripped off her coat and gloves in her photos with Dietrich.
ReplyDeleteUmaneo, I'm doing well--just terribly busy. I'm curious to know where the Garbo fan heard/read this story because I can't find any hint of it online.
VP, I've never read any public statements from Dietrich about that photo, but I know few instances of Dietrich publicly discussing any celeb (most of which are in her ABCs book, her autobiography, and the Schell documentary). The bulk of her now-public opinions about other celebs were initially expressed privately but publicized by others (e.g., this photo of Meryl Streep with Dietrich's own special caption, Maria, other biographers, other celebs, etc.).
The person who asked about this has other questions, too. Before I mention them, let me say that I really can't fathom the party with psychiatrists. Dietrich expressed disdain for shrinks. Now for the other questions:
ReplyDeleteThe person who emailed me asked whether Dietrich had an affair with Monroe. Honestly, who knows with Dietrich? I doubt it ever happened, though. Blame the cheap pinot noir for the vulgar comment I'm about to write, but the closest either ever got to clam diving was on JFK's linguine.
Also, the same person mentioned that Dietrich and Monroe did a show together at Madison Square Garden. I'm thinking this comment was in reference to one of the charity circuses, and didn't they participate for different years and charities? By the way, I've read that there's a photo of Dietrich with Gloria Vanderbilt. Please, please, please share it with us if you know where it's available!
Update: Missladiva kindly shared a Dietrich-Vanderbilt (& Ringling!) photo here. Also, I just spotted an alternate shot at one of my favorite sites, The Legendary, Lovely Marlene.
DeleteI dont think this is true... I think it´s a lie.. besides, just take a look at the list of Marlene`s friends: Mercedes de Acosta, Dolores del Rio, Hedy Lamarr, Mae West, etc. all of them very smart,(if not pretty) and refined ladies... So I dont see how Marilyn and Marlene would have gotten along...enough to arrange a whole evening with shrinks.
ReplyDeleteGarbo fans always attack the "mean" side of Dietrich in order to make Garbo look like a nice person...
I just cannot imagine that as happening,seems ridiculous to me.I have just found some rare colour film of Marlene arriving in Edinburgh for the festival in 1964.
Deletessa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=0459
Paul
Paul, thanks for sharing that! For anyone who wants to watch, please go to the link Paul wrote because I doubt I can repost the video. The Dietrich bit begins around 12:10. Isn't that Burt coming down the stairs in front of Dietrich?
DeleteSerch, I also don't see how Dietrich could have made any effort to befriend Monroe except for a photo op. The Garbo fan hasn't told me about the origin of this Dietrich-Monroe story, and I suspect that the story feeds off Dietrich's self-cultivated image as a savior (see Leatrice Gilbert Fountain).
One of the foremost authorities from the other side of the Atlantic says that he checked a few reliable sources and the story is untrue of a Dietrich/Monroe dinner party, attended by psychiatrists, where Marilyn (arriving, typically late) suddenly realized that everyone around the table was a mental health professional. Did they all think her crazy? What did Marlene do, at the other end? Smile, demurely, like a big Cheshire cat? Well, folks, according to the experts in the UK (like they ought to know) the story is entirely fictitious. But, what if it really happened? What would they have they talked about? How did Marilyn react? Was she shattered? Did she laugh? What could their relationship have been like, afterwards?
ReplyDeleteThere's a new play in Hollywood coming out about this period between the two big blonds. All very "hush, hush," at this point. And certain aspects of their lives should stay that way. But there had to be something there. They remained on good terms, if only by telephone from time to time. Certainly, someone knows, but isn't talking.
Gussie, thanks for emailing us about this. Sometimes it takes an outrageous rumor to jump-start this blog. What's this play you're talking about? Fictionalized Dietrich dramas may be so 2011 on the East Coast, but the West Coast could use the culture. I'm sure you could give us some details in your best stage whisper, especially if you have a hand in it. I promise it'll remain amongst us and Google.
DeleteGeorge Masters attended a dinner party in Hollywood many years ago, and disclosed that Marilyn's number one idol was Marlene Dietrich. Not Jean Harlow, although Marilyn was considering the part of Harlow in a film at the time she met Miss Dietrich and they began their affair as friends. Marilyn would've wanted to keep it that way. George didn't elaborate, but it is reasonable to think that Marilyn would've lost respect for Dietrich, if she had tried anything untoward, still Marilyn's esteem for Marlene remained high. Mr. Masters mentioned how much Marilyn loved Dietrich's wide set eyes, and the little makeup tricks she would employ to have her own eyes appear similarly wide apart.
ReplyDeleteMarlene may also have been quite taken by Marilyn. Perhaps the longing of her eyes in those photos is for the loss of the young woman Marlene once was, and Marilyn, arriving already tipsy and late for cocktails that night on Park Avenue was obviously in trouble from the moment she walked in. Marlene may've waxed more maternally than anything else. Except for occasional stints as a babysitter, what other business did she have in New York? And it was perhaps no accident that Dietrich frequently found reasons to leave town: Rio, Paris, London. But she would've been kind in that first meeting with Marilyn Monroe. She knew the pitfalls. She also would have eventually grown tired of Marilyn's constant whining. But in 1955 Monroe was at her zenith, only beginning to totter near the abyss, so why wouldn't Marlene have been sweet to her, wie ein Mensch? You can bet, that Marilyn admired Marlene for good reason. Ambitious blonds stick together. For a little while, between marriage and career, MM might have found time to meet MD for a sandwich, where one of them could have suggested visiting Kenneth's hair salon to the other. Odd, how they both had the same look, at the same time, during the early sixties. Marlene managed to hold onto hers up until the Copenhagen interview years later.
Little beyond speculation is known about the two bombshells together in New York. But each of them were Hollywood blonds in exile, with Manhattan at their feet and living only twenty-some-odd blocks apart. What on earth did they do there on weekday afternoon's? Did they go shopping? Did they see plays? Hit the museums? Wear black wigs? Ride they Staten Island Ferry? They may have had only a few friends in common, but were neighbors for the better part of a decade in New York.
But what did they talk about? Did Marilyn ask about Danny Thomas? She must have watched his show on television during the fifties with Jean Hagen, who'd been so brilliant in Singing in the Rain as the kind of movie star Marilyn resembled most. Did Marlene ask about Brando? Frank Sinatra? What did they share? Perhaps they exchanged notes on good books, or where to buy fabric, or where the best Delicatessens were located, which parts in films to play, career moves to make? Where to learn acting? Not on Marlene's list, but surely she knew. She also knew circus owners, and may have been the one who suggested that Marilyn make an appearance under Madison Square Garden's "big top" for charity. It followed their first meeting by only two months.
You see? The possibilities are endless. So, don't think they didn't get together for a good laugh or two.
Not a word about the new play until it's good and ready, I'm afraid. Mustn't jinx it. An old gypsy custom.
Oh, all right, just a little hint. It's called, Dial 'M' for Marlene.
But that's all.
Surely, no one would be interested in such a story, anyhow.
Gussie, we are interested, and I would venture to say that your comment is the best I've ever seen on this blog--even better than David Bret's. By the way, I haven't read the play, but may I suggest the title "Stage Method Fright"?
DeleteDear Last Goddess Webmaster:
ReplyDeleteThe play will be showcased during the final week of June and the first two weeks of July on "theater row" in Hollywood. It concerns an intimate cocktail party, which took place at 993 Park Avenue, in the wee hours following Marilyn Monroe's January 7th, 1955 press conference, announcing her break with Hollywood and relocation to New York. It also focuses on separate charity appearances by each of the legendary blonds, under the auspices of Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey's Circus at old Madison Square Garden, and is a biographical drama, based upon actual events (details to follow).
And please don't mention "stage" and "fright" in the same sentence. This is no womanly hymn to laziness, unless, of course, you're talking about that girl from the Joyless Street, who wafts in and out between window shopping excursions.
Gussie, I read your profile, and we are two peas in a pod! I was drinking Cutty Sark last night in honor of Kathleen Turner and Jennifer Tilly, who brought life to that self-promoting infomercial Bravo tries to pass off as a late-night show--Watch What Happens Live.
DeleteAnyway, I can't wait for the play and hope to attend with bells on. When you've got a press release, etc., I'll be more than happy to copy-and-paste it here. Or perhaps you'd be willing to post it yourself as a guest blogger?
Maybe I can add a little something here ... I have three other photos like this one, on one a very young Milton Greene looks on . They are dated 07/01/1955 , New York . And also a very small Dutch newspaper article about it. It seems to be at a press conference held to announce that Marilyn and Milton Greene formed Marilyn Monroe productions, Inc. " So I can play the better kind of roles I want to play ". Unsatisfied with her results at 20th Century Fox . Later that day Monroe meets Dietrich ; slim , looking smart in a dark suit lined with seems to be monkey(?) fur . And looking extremely bored between her two engagements in London . "I like to work there , even for nothing , well.. almost nothing ". " Here in Las Vegas they have to pay me 30.000 Dollar a week !"
ReplyDeleteAt 22.00 the party was over . Marilyn was heading for the Copacacana nightclub . Dietrich did not want to join the party . " No nightclubs for me , I know a wondelfull small Italian shop here , where they sell those delicious big sandwiches ".
I've seen a photo that includes Milton Greene and sometimes come across it with him cropped out! Shame on those who show no reverence for such a visionary among celebrity photographers. Do you have this photo or a different shot? Whatever you have, that article is quite charming. I didn't know Dietrich was fond of subs.
Delete