Rare Marilyn Monroe Footage Surfaces in Melbourne

A 17 second excerpt from the Marilyn Monroe footage of 2 1/2 minutes



Press Release: Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:00am AEST

A remarkable 2 1/2 minute amateur film of screen goddess, Marilyn Monroe, has surfaced almost 50 years after it was presumed lost. The 8mm film is still in its original Kodak box and includes candid images on the set of "Some Like It Hot", which the American Film Institute listed as the greatest American comedy film of all time.

It was directed by Billy Wilder and starred Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The footage, featuring Monroe, Wilder and Curtis, was taken in early 1959 by a young naval officer when Monroe visited his base in San Diego. Later that day he was invited by Monroe to visit the set at the nearby Hotel Del Coronado.

Earlier this year an amateur film of Monroe on the set of "The Misfits" sold in the US for US$60,000. Auctioneer Charles Leski believes this latest find may be more valuable as it pre-dates "The Misfits" and because of the status of "Some Like It Hot" in American filmography.

The purchaser of the film also acquires full commercial rights worldwide.

The lot including a CD copy and a DVD copy together with the original 8mm film, will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Thursday, September 25th at 6:30 pm. It has a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 - $30,000

Mr. Leski said the vendor is the daughter of the naval officer, and the film was discovered by chance among her late father's possessions. "Marilyn Monroe memorabilia is always in demand, but rarely do we get one-off material like this," he said. "It is also extremely rare for such important archival footage to be auctioned outside of the US before its domestic release, and for that we are extremely proud."

02/09/2008 05:52 - Source 2008 Reuters

CANBERRA (Reuters) - An amateur film of Marilyn Monroe on the set of "Some Like It Hot" has surfaced in Australia almost 50 years after it was shot and is being put up for auction.

Auctioneer Charles Leski said the 2.5-minute-long, 8mm film shows Monroe and co-star Tony Curtis on the set ahead of shooting a beach scene in which the actress is bouncing balls to get the actor’s attention.

The footage, which also shows director Billy Wilder, was taken in early 1959 by a U.S. naval officer who was invited to the set of the movie after Monroe visited his base in San Diego.

The film, in its original Kodak box, was passed on to his daughter who lives in Melbourne, Australia, when he died and she decided to put it up sale, thinking it may be of some significance to the film world.

"It’s been a significant part of the family folklore for many decades but it has been sitting in her drawer for about a decade as she didn’t know what to do with it or if it had some broader interest," Leski told Reuters.

Earlier this year, a 47-minute amateur film of Monroe and Clark Gable on the set of the 1961 film "The Misfits" sold in the United States for US$60,000 (33,480 pounds) after it was put up for sale by the family of an actor who had a small part in the movie.

Leski said this latest find was older and likely to attract private and public interest with "Some Like It Hot" listed by the American Film Institute as the greatest American comedy film of all time.

"It is colour which is very nice because the film "Some Like It Hot" is black and white," he said.

"From a documentary point of view there is still great interest in any Marilyn Monroe image, moving or still, or any recording of her voice, as she has been such an iconic presence in the 20th century. Her influence on fashion, film and comedy and many other areas still continues."

Monroe died in August 1962, aged 36, from a drugs overdose.

The lot, including a CD copy and a DVD copy together with the original film, will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on September 25 with a pre-sale estimate of A$20,000 - A$30,000 (9,485-14,228 pounds). The purchaser also acquires full commercial rights.

Reuters/Nielsen


Actual still taken from the footage, standard, then colour adjusted version