Plot

Originally made for cable television, this imaginative biopic chronicles the life of Marilyn Monroe (Mira Sorvino), including the years before she changed her name from Norma Jean Baker (Ashley Judd) and was transformed into the screen persona that made her a legendary sex symbol. The movie employs unconventional, dream-like storytelling techniques in which Marilyn and her former self, Norma Jean, frequently appear in scenes together, with Norma Jean often taunting Marilyn for not living up to her earlier aspirations. Many facets of Monroe's life are examined, including her childhood and adolescence when Norma Jean had to live with foster families because of her mother's psychological problems. In addition to referencing Monroe's work on such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), and Some Like It Hot (1959), the movie explores her marriages to baseball great Joe DiMaggio (Peter Dobson) and famous playwright Arthur Miller (David Dukes), and her romances, including her purported relationship with U.S. President John F. Kennedy (Steven Culp). The film also offers a hard-hitting look at Monroe's struggle with drug- and alcohol-dependency. ~ Rovi

Cast

John Apicella - Milton Krasner; Robert Alan Beuth - Commissary Photographer; Frank Birney - Preacher; Earl Boen - Studio Physician; Kevin Bourland - David March; Josh Charles - Eddie Jordan; Jeffrey Combs - Montgomery Clift; Lindsay Crouse - Natasha Lytess; Steven Culp - John F. Kennedy; Peter Dobson - Joe DiMaggio; David Dukes - Arthur Miller; Ashley Judd - Norma Jean Baker; Micole Mercurio - Mozelle Hyde; Taylor Nichols - Fred Marger; Ron Rifkin - Johnny Hyde; John Rubinstein - Darryl Zanuck; Mira Sorvino - Marilyn Monroe; Kelsey Mulrooney - Child Norma Jean

Credit

Sidney James - Musical Direction/Supervision

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