What do you think?
Rate this book
My Week with Marilyn
Theatrical - includes The Prince, The Showgirl and Me
In 1956, twenty-three-year-old Colin Clark began work as a lowly assistant on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl, the film that united Sir Laurence Olivier with Marilyn Monroe. The blonde bombshell and the legendary actor were ill suited from the start. Monroe, on honeymoon with her new husband, the celebrated playwright Arthur Miller, was insecure, often late, and heavily medicated on pills. Olivier, obsessively punctual, had no patience for Monroe and the production became chaotic. Clark was perceptive in his assessment of what seemed to be going wrong in Monroe's life: too many hangers-on, intense insecurity, and too many pills. Before long, Monroe and Clark spent an innocent week together in the English countryside and Clark became her confidant and ally. This special theatrical edition also includes The Prince, The Showgirl and Me, Colin Clark’s diary during the film’s production.
In 1956, twenty-three-year-old Colin Clark began work as a lowly assistant on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl, the film that united Sir Laurence Olivier with Marilyn Monroe. The blonde bombshell and the legendary actor were ill suited from the start. Monroe, on honeymoon with her new husband, the celebrated playwright Arthur Miller, was insecure, often late, and heavily medicated on pills. Olivier, obsessively punctual, had no patience for Monroe and the production became chaotic. Clark was perceptive in his assessment of what seemed to be going wrong in Monroe's life: too many hangers-on, intense insecurity, and too many pills. Before long, Monroe and Clark spent an innocent week together in the English countryside and Clark became her confidant and ally. This special theatrical edition also includes The Prince, The Showgirl and Me, Colin Clark’s diary during the film’s production.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Colin Clark
110 books22 followersThis is the default profile. More than one author with this name has books listed here.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 324 reviews
August 5, 2022
Colin, Alan Clark's brother, tells the truly amazingly detailed story (since, made into a movie) of a week he spent involved with Marilyn Monroe, whilst being third associate director ('gofer') for the filming of 'The Prince & The Showgirl'; hired as a family friend of Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh. The book is even that more amazing as the details and even existence of the 'missing week' were left out of Clark's original critically acclaimed book on the filming. Ne'er has a book captured the essences of Monroe, and indeed Arthur Miller, Laurence Olivier et al. Great book, great writer, great read. Recommended. 8 out of 12
2013 read
2013 read
May 6, 2015
This is a book by the third production assistant on the Prince and the Pauper film that Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier starred in. He became her confidant and correctly identified that the cause of most of her angst were the sycophants, her low self-esteem and the drugs she took in order to numb herself from this, and those who exploited her fame and beauty for their own ends. He had a nine-day affair with her and later, much later, joined the rank of exploiters and published this book.
Years ago, I was in a nightclub in London sitting at the next table to Bianca Jagger, Mick's ex-wife. She had a lot of people with her and she was quite obviously the centre of attention and just as obviously the host, the one who was paying. I went to the lavatory and was doing the usual girl thing of putting on lipstick, brushing hair and checking everyone else out. A couple of Bianca's 'friends' were there. They were horrible about her, saying how old she looked and showing off her tits (she had a very low cut dress on) at her age and whether or not they could get her to take them to the Groucho club the next night.
You wonder why they fall for it? Are these celebrities so desperate to look like they are popular or what? As the cash flows in does the sense flow out?
The book was a very enjoyable read without doubt. A lovely, tender fairy tale of the Princess and the pauper who was her gilded Prince for a short while. But ultimately the money became more important than any beautiful memories he might have kept close in his heart and he betrayed her, he wrote this tell-all book. So a 4-star book loses a star because I have no respect for Colin Clark at all.
Years ago, I was in a nightclub in London sitting at the next table to Bianca Jagger, Mick's ex-wife. She had a lot of people with her and she was quite obviously the centre of attention and just as obviously the host, the one who was paying. I went to the lavatory and was doing the usual girl thing of putting on lipstick, brushing hair and checking everyone else out. A couple of Bianca's 'friends' were there. They were horrible about her, saying how old she looked and showing off her tits (she had a very low cut dress on) at her age and whether or not they could get her to take them to the Groucho club the next night.
You wonder why they fall for it? Are these celebrities so desperate to look like they are popular or what? As the cash flows in does the sense flow out?
The book was a very enjoyable read without doubt. A lovely, tender fairy tale of the Princess and the pauper who was her gilded Prince for a short while. But ultimately the money became more important than any beautiful memories he might have kept close in his heart and he betrayed her, he wrote this tell-all book. So a 4-star book loses a star because I have no respect for Colin Clark at all.
October 10, 2011
This guy did not spend a week with Marilyn Monroe. One evening she had him over for some chicken salad and then they spent a Saturday together. Supposedly she had him over to her house when she suffered a miscarriage. He basically worked on "The Prince and the Showgirl" with her and then spent a few hours of additional time at her house and in her company, not a week. I don't put a lot of faith into his retelling of events. Yes, I am certain she was lonely while filming "The Prince and the Showgirl" in England and especially after Arthur Miller left to attend to some business. Was she hitting on the third assistant director? I think he gives himself more importance in her life than is true. She was used and abused by lots of people and probably was sad and lonely at times, we all are. But I don't think she was as naive and stupid and dumb as this guy writes. And it appears to me this guy is just another who, in the end, used her for his own gain, too.
March 22, 2013
I watched the movie and read the book in the same week. Marilyn Monroe is a fascinating person and I enjoyed this glimpse into her career.
March 28, 2020
Dedicato a una stella.
Che l'abbia letto nel mese di agosto è solo una coincidenza.
O forse no.
Perché era la fine dell'estate del 1956 quando l'allora giovanissimo Colin Clark venne assunto sul set del film «Il principe e la ballerina» con Laurence Olivier e Marilyn Monroe, come terzo assistente alla regia ossia, per dirlo con parole sue, «l'ultima ruota del carro», e solo grazie all'amicizia che legava la sua famiglia a Laurence Olivier e alla moglie Vivien Leigh.
È il racconto di quelle settimane, e in particolare di quei nove giorni, del tutto imprevisti, in cui il giovane Colin rimase abbagliato dallo splendore di quella che sembrava essere una stella cometa fissa nel cielo di Hollywood e di tutto il mondo, ma che più che mai rivelava tutta la sua insicurezza e la sua fragilità emotiva.
Era sempre estate, il 5 Agosto del 1962, la notte che Marilyn Monroe morì, e in estate, la notte di San Lorenzo, si alza lo sguardo e si guardano le stelle, ma per vederle cadere.
Di alcune, delle più luminose, sembra ancora di vederne la scia.
Altre, invece, restano in cielo per sempre, e continuano a brillare.
Non ha nessun valore letterario, questo breve racconto autobiografico, ma per chi ama Marilyn Monroe è un altro tassello che si aggiunge alla storia della vita della diva più raccontata di tutti i tempi.
Ed io, che non amo le dive, come molti, continuo a subire il fascino di Marilyn, l'unica stella che continua a brillare in cielo anche dopo essere caduta.
«E tu chi sei?» mi sfidò un uomo mentre cercavo di infilarmi nel sedile posteriore dell'auto.
«Oh, io non sono nessuno” risposi. «Lavoro al film con la signorina Monroe.»
«Non devi mai dire che non sei nessuno» disse Marilyn molto seriamente, quando riuscimmo a chiudere la portiera. «Tu sei 'tu'.»
(In questa foto Marilyn Monroe è ritratta da Jack Cardiff)
«Jack Cardiff, il direttore della fotografia del Principe e la ballerina, era molto amato da Marilyn. Seppe riconoscere il lato tragico dell'attrice e la ritrasse come una ragazza di Renoir piuttosto che come un sex symbol.»
Io amo Pierre Auguste Renoir, è in assoluto il pittore che amo di più, sopra ogni altro.
Sarà per questo che ho sempre amato tanto anche Marilyn Monroe, così distante, per molti versi, da tutto quello che amo?
E non è forse vero quello che Cardiff pensava?
Qui sotto altre bellissime foto di Cardiff in cui la bellezza i Marilyn è messa a confronto con le donne di Renoir.
(In queste foto Marilyn Monroe è ritratta da Jack Cardiff)
Che l'abbia letto nel mese di agosto è solo una coincidenza.
O forse no.
Perché era la fine dell'estate del 1956 quando l'allora giovanissimo Colin Clark venne assunto sul set del film «Il principe e la ballerina» con Laurence Olivier e Marilyn Monroe, come terzo assistente alla regia ossia, per dirlo con parole sue, «l'ultima ruota del carro», e solo grazie all'amicizia che legava la sua famiglia a Laurence Olivier e alla moglie Vivien Leigh.
È il racconto di quelle settimane, e in particolare di quei nove giorni, del tutto imprevisti, in cui il giovane Colin rimase abbagliato dallo splendore di quella che sembrava essere una stella cometa fissa nel cielo di Hollywood e di tutto il mondo, ma che più che mai rivelava tutta la sua insicurezza e la sua fragilità emotiva.
Era sempre estate, il 5 Agosto del 1962, la notte che Marilyn Monroe morì, e in estate, la notte di San Lorenzo, si alza lo sguardo e si guardano le stelle, ma per vederle cadere.
Di alcune, delle più luminose, sembra ancora di vederne la scia.
Altre, invece, restano in cielo per sempre, e continuano a brillare.
Non ha nessun valore letterario, questo breve racconto autobiografico, ma per chi ama Marilyn Monroe è un altro tassello che si aggiunge alla storia della vita della diva più raccontata di tutti i tempi.
Ed io, che non amo le dive, come molti, continuo a subire il fascino di Marilyn, l'unica stella che continua a brillare in cielo anche dopo essere caduta.
«E tu chi sei?» mi sfidò un uomo mentre cercavo di infilarmi nel sedile posteriore dell'auto.
«Oh, io non sono nessuno” risposi. «Lavoro al film con la signorina Monroe.»
«Non devi mai dire che non sei nessuno» disse Marilyn molto seriamente, quando riuscimmo a chiudere la portiera. «Tu sei 'tu'.»
(In questa foto Marilyn Monroe è ritratta da Jack Cardiff)
«Jack Cardiff, il direttore della fotografia del Principe e la ballerina, era molto amato da Marilyn. Seppe riconoscere il lato tragico dell'attrice e la ritrasse come una ragazza di Renoir piuttosto che come un sex symbol.»
Io amo Pierre Auguste Renoir, è in assoluto il pittore che amo di più, sopra ogni altro.
Sarà per questo che ho sempre amato tanto anche Marilyn Monroe, così distante, per molti versi, da tutto quello che amo?
E non è forse vero quello che Cardiff pensava?
Qui sotto altre bellissime foto di Cardiff in cui la bellezza i Marilyn è messa a confronto con le donne di Renoir.
(In queste foto Marilyn Monroe è ritratta da Jack Cardiff)
November 26, 2012
Wow, this book was painful to get through. The first part of the book (My Week with Marilyn) was ok, even though Colin Clark came across as a bit condescending. If you've seen the movie, you know everything that happened. Typically a book will reveal a little more than movies are able to, but this book did not.
The second half of the book (The Prince, the Showgirl and Me), which is a transcribed version of Colin Clark's diary during filming, was incredibly boring and the constant comments about how incredibly skilled the author was as a Third Assistant Director seemed to stoke his ego even further.
I noticed a few discrepancies in Clark's diary that made me question the course of events in the first part of the book. The dates of Marilyn's miscarriage changed from September 18th, with Colin present, in the first half of the book to a security officer "hinting" to Colin on September 8th that it had already happened in the second half of the book.
Also, the discovery of Arthur Miller's journal entry in which he says he's "disappointed" in Marilyn is either told to Clark directly by Marilyn during their week together in September or it was told to him by Jack Cardiff during a visit to the Clark family estate in October -- which Colin seemed surprised to hear at the time ("No wonder she took pills and came on set as Ophelia instead of Elsie Marina.").
Since the second half of the book was written daily as Colin Clark's diary during filming and the first half was written 40 years later and is based purely on his recollections, I'm more inclined to believe that the first half was embellished with the writer's fantasies.
The second half of the book (The Prince, the Showgirl and Me), which is a transcribed version of Colin Clark's diary during filming, was incredibly boring and the constant comments about how incredibly skilled the author was as a Third Assistant Director seemed to stoke his ego even further.
I noticed a few discrepancies in Clark's diary that made me question the course of events in the first part of the book. The dates of Marilyn's miscarriage changed from September 18th, with Colin present, in the first half of the book to a security officer "hinting" to Colin on September 8th that it had already happened in the second half of the book.
Also, the discovery of Arthur Miller's journal entry in which he says he's "disappointed" in Marilyn is either told to Clark directly by Marilyn during their week together in September or it was told to him by Jack Cardiff during a visit to the Clark family estate in October -- which Colin seemed surprised to hear at the time ("No wonder she took pills and came on set as Ophelia instead of Elsie Marina.").
Since the second half of the book was written daily as Colin Clark's diary during filming and the first half was written 40 years later and is based purely on his recollections, I'm more inclined to believe that the first half was embellished with the writer's fantasies.
September 6, 2020
WARM, FUNNY & INFORMATIVE
If you are looking for a biography of Marilyn Monroe this is not it.
The first section consists of journal entries by Colin Clark. It reads as a very warm & funny account of his first time working on a movie set which just happened to be ‘The Price and the Showgirl’ (1956-7) with Marilyn Monroe & Sir Laurence Olivier.
Marilyn Monroe & Sir Laurence Olivier! A more unlikely match-up in Hollywood history I can’t imagine, but it came about because each of them had the idea that it would be good for their career: Marilyn to show her as a serious actress & Sir Laurence to show him as a ’film star’.
As 3rd Asst. Director (the lowest of the low on the movie –making totem pole) Mr. Clark recounts with interesting details the mechanics of the making of a movie, although I’m sure much has changed since that time, I found it fascinating. (Mr. Clark is very much named in the full cast & crew list of this movie as a ‘production assistant’ so there can be no doubt that he was present.)
The second section deals with a couple of ‘missing’ days from the first section which involves his intimate association with Ms. Monroe during the making of the film. It is heartbreaking; heartfelt; profound & entirely sympathetic.
Colin Clark shares with us an intimate look at the ‘real’ Marilyn, a rare observation, but since he was in the right place at the right time I have no cause to doubt that what he has to say is absolutely true. From all I have read previously about Ms. Monroe it does not waver from other accounts about her fragile state of mind & complex personality. It reads as a touching story about a star-struck young man coming to the aid of a confused & often sad leading lady whose fame seems to have got the better of her.
While everyone else around her seemingly had some ulterior motive why would it be so hard to believe that she would turn to a young man showing her a little compassion? There is no dirt to be dished here. It is indeed to his credit that he did not take advantage of the situation & I wholeheartedly believe this is the truth. Who would deny sleeping with Marilyn Monroe if they actually did??
Having read the book I am now much more excited to see (again) “The Prince and the Showgirl” rather than the movie made from this book. It will be a treat to watch it with Mr. Clark’s voice in my ear telling about every frame of film.
If you are looking for a biography of Marilyn Monroe this is not it.
The first section consists of journal entries by Colin Clark. It reads as a very warm & funny account of his first time working on a movie set which just happened to be ‘The Price and the Showgirl’ (1956-7) with Marilyn Monroe & Sir Laurence Olivier.
Marilyn Monroe & Sir Laurence Olivier! A more unlikely match-up in Hollywood history I can’t imagine, but it came about because each of them had the idea that it would be good for their career: Marilyn to show her as a serious actress & Sir Laurence to show him as a ’film star’.
As 3rd Asst. Director (the lowest of the low on the movie –making totem pole) Mr. Clark recounts with interesting details the mechanics of the making of a movie, although I’m sure much has changed since that time, I found it fascinating. (Mr. Clark is very much named in the full cast & crew list of this movie as a ‘production assistant’ so there can be no doubt that he was present.)
The second section deals with a couple of ‘missing’ days from the first section which involves his intimate association with Ms. Monroe during the making of the film. It is heartbreaking; heartfelt; profound & entirely sympathetic.
Colin Clark shares with us an intimate look at the ‘real’ Marilyn, a rare observation, but since he was in the right place at the right time I have no cause to doubt that what he has to say is absolutely true. From all I have read previously about Ms. Monroe it does not waver from other accounts about her fragile state of mind & complex personality. It reads as a touching story about a star-struck young man coming to the aid of a confused & often sad leading lady whose fame seems to have got the better of her.
While everyone else around her seemingly had some ulterior motive why would it be so hard to believe that she would turn to a young man showing her a little compassion? There is no dirt to be dished here. It is indeed to his credit that he did not take advantage of the situation & I wholeheartedly believe this is the truth. Who would deny sleeping with Marilyn Monroe if they actually did??
Having read the book I am now much more excited to see (again) “The Prince and the Showgirl” rather than the movie made from this book. It will be a treat to watch it with Mr. Clark’s voice in my ear telling about every frame of film.
October 17, 2021
This is an unusual book in that it combines two books into one, successfully it should be said. They are both Colin Clark's works, 'The Prince the Showgirl and Me' from 1995 and 'My Week with Marilyn' from 2005. It also includes an introduction from Simon Curtis, the director of the film ‘My Week with Marilyn’ and includes an exclusive interview from Louise Tucker with Adrian Hodges, screenplay writer of the resultant film.
Colin Clark was a young, 24-year-old, third assistant-director on the film 'The Prince and the Showgirl' that was meant to give Sir Laurence Olivier, recognised as SLO throughout the book, and Marilyn Monroe the opportunity to show why he was the leading British actor of the day and she was the screen's leading, and most in demand, actress. But it failed miserably as Clark got the job because he was a friend of SLO and his wife Vivien Leigh, VL in the book; it was very much a case of who you knew because Clark had absolutely no experience in film at all. In fairness, he was keen and determined to do a good job so he very quickly learnt what was needed and went on to further success in film-making.
What he didn't realise was the difficulties that would arise with SLO not taking to MM (who he originally thought he would be able to have an affair with), who was constantly late and when she did arrive, was not as professional as SLO wished in offering up her lines and often went into a tantrum over various issues. Fortunately Clark decided to write a diary of everything that went on and it proves to be a most fascinating, and very readable, account of how the film progressed, or on occasions, didn't progress.
It all takes place between 3 June 1956 and 19 November of the same year and packed into those four and a half months there is so much drama that the book is difficult to put down; it was often disappointing to have to turn off the light at night there was so much tension on and off the set. The off the set action revolved around MM living in a country house away from Pinewood Studios with her drama coach's wife Paula Strasburg, who caused so much trouble that SLO lost his temper with her on more than one occasion.
There are actually two books in one in this version; the first records the events that happened around the film while the second, which is the 'My Week with Marilyn' offering, has been extracted from the main body because Clark felt it was too personal to be included there. Indeed, he wrote the entries around the dates that had been extracted in a way to disguise what else was going on behind the scenes as it were. But he later decided that his week with Marilyn was worthy of recording.
Clark captures all the asides, innuendoes and carping comments made by all the participants with the only one who seemed not to join in being the elder states-lady Dame Sybli Thorndike, who he adored and who gave him a scarf to keep warm when he arrived early morning at the set to start the long wait for the leading lady. As for MM, it was not difficult to see how the tension developed, I imagine one had to treat her quite delicately but it would seem that if that was done, she would have been more reasonable. SLO was so demanding that she just couldn't take it.
His week has a more tender approach in that he befriended Marilyn and even shared her bed, without, so he says, anything untoward happening, for she was allegedly on her honeymoon with Arthur Miller, AM, who Clark and most of the others on the set strongly disliked for the way he treated MM. He even left her, went to Paris and then on to New York while she was working and that is when Clark became a closer friend than he previously had been.
There are so many anecdotes worth relating but just a couple that amused me are his comment on the screenwriter of the original play, Terrence Rattigan, of whom he writes, 'Rattigan couldn't write the menu on a fish and chip shop blackboard', perhaps a little harsh but he made his point, and then, towards the end of the filming, he records, 'All that we can hope now is that we've produced a good film. At the moment it is impossible to tell.'
Editing can, of course, make a vat difference, but even so this film was not very well received, unlike this book of which the Daily Telegraph critic commented, 'There are many books on film-making more weighty than this, but few as entertaining.' On that note, who wants weight? And I entirely agree with his comment.
Colin Clark was a young, 24-year-old, third assistant-director on the film 'The Prince and the Showgirl' that was meant to give Sir Laurence Olivier, recognised as SLO throughout the book, and Marilyn Monroe the opportunity to show why he was the leading British actor of the day and she was the screen's leading, and most in demand, actress. But it failed miserably as Clark got the job because he was a friend of SLO and his wife Vivien Leigh, VL in the book; it was very much a case of who you knew because Clark had absolutely no experience in film at all. In fairness, he was keen and determined to do a good job so he very quickly learnt what was needed and went on to further success in film-making.
What he didn't realise was the difficulties that would arise with SLO not taking to MM (who he originally thought he would be able to have an affair with), who was constantly late and when she did arrive, was not as professional as SLO wished in offering up her lines and often went into a tantrum over various issues. Fortunately Clark decided to write a diary of everything that went on and it proves to be a most fascinating, and very readable, account of how the film progressed, or on occasions, didn't progress.
It all takes place between 3 June 1956 and 19 November of the same year and packed into those four and a half months there is so much drama that the book is difficult to put down; it was often disappointing to have to turn off the light at night there was so much tension on and off the set. The off the set action revolved around MM living in a country house away from Pinewood Studios with her drama coach's wife Paula Strasburg, who caused so much trouble that SLO lost his temper with her on more than one occasion.
There are actually two books in one in this version; the first records the events that happened around the film while the second, which is the 'My Week with Marilyn' offering, has been extracted from the main body because Clark felt it was too personal to be included there. Indeed, he wrote the entries around the dates that had been extracted in a way to disguise what else was going on behind the scenes as it were. But he later decided that his week with Marilyn was worthy of recording.
Clark captures all the asides, innuendoes and carping comments made by all the participants with the only one who seemed not to join in being the elder states-lady Dame Sybli Thorndike, who he adored and who gave him a scarf to keep warm when he arrived early morning at the set to start the long wait for the leading lady. As for MM, it was not difficult to see how the tension developed, I imagine one had to treat her quite delicately but it would seem that if that was done, she would have been more reasonable. SLO was so demanding that she just couldn't take it.
His week has a more tender approach in that he befriended Marilyn and even shared her bed, without, so he says, anything untoward happening, for she was allegedly on her honeymoon with Arthur Miller, AM, who Clark and most of the others on the set strongly disliked for the way he treated MM. He even left her, went to Paris and then on to New York while she was working and that is when Clark became a closer friend than he previously had been.
There are so many anecdotes worth relating but just a couple that amused me are his comment on the screenwriter of the original play, Terrence Rattigan, of whom he writes, 'Rattigan couldn't write the menu on a fish and chip shop blackboard', perhaps a little harsh but he made his point, and then, towards the end of the filming, he records, 'All that we can hope now is that we've produced a good film. At the moment it is impossible to tell.'
Editing can, of course, make a vat difference, but even so this film was not very well received, unlike this book of which the Daily Telegraph critic commented, 'There are many books on film-making more weighty than this, but few as entertaining.' On that note, who wants weight? And I entirely agree with his comment.
January 15, 2013
I like a lightweight audio book when I'm walking, and I admit this fit the bill: no great lessons or revelations, just a self-aggrandizing story released 50 years after the events apparently took place, long after anyone else is still alive to dispute the facts.
So apparently, a 23 year old nobody, acting as the Third Assistant Director (a self-described gopher) on The Prince and the Showgirl, is the only one who can talk Marilyn Monroe into finally believing in herself. Not only that, but Colin Clark gets Marilyn to stop taking pills, to stop listening to the questionable advice of her hangers-on, to stand up to Laurence Olivier, to come to a deeper understanding of her husband (Arthur Miller at the time), and to show up on set on time and ready to work. And not only that, but Clark holds her hand through a miscarriage and refuses all sexual advances from "the most famous movie star in the world".
If one can believe every word Colin Clark says, it's even sadder to hear in the appendix that near the end of her life, Marilyn tried to get in touch with him one last time. After struggling with himself, should he call her back? Shouldn't he? (Why wouldn't he??), he was relieved when no one answered the phone.
He ends with:
“It wasn't that I'd abandoned her, certainly not in my heart. It's just that there was no one left to save her.
Poor Marilyn. Time had run out.”
Like I said, I like a lightweight audio book when I'm walking, but this one was a bit of a strain on the rolling eyeballs, most especially when the baritone British narrator put on his breathy Marilyn voice. There they go again, straining and rolling…
So apparently, a 23 year old nobody, acting as the Third Assistant Director (a self-described gopher) on The Prince and the Showgirl, is the only one who can talk Marilyn Monroe into finally believing in herself. Not only that, but Colin Clark gets Marilyn to stop taking pills, to stop listening to the questionable advice of her hangers-on, to stand up to Laurence Olivier, to come to a deeper understanding of her husband (Arthur Miller at the time), and to show up on set on time and ready to work. And not only that, but Clark holds her hand through a miscarriage and refuses all sexual advances from "the most famous movie star in the world".
If one can believe every word Colin Clark says, it's even sadder to hear in the appendix that near the end of her life, Marilyn tried to get in touch with him one last time. After struggling with himself, should he call her back? Shouldn't he? (Why wouldn't he??), he was relieved when no one answered the phone.
He ends with:
“It wasn't that I'd abandoned her, certainly not in my heart. It's just that there was no one left to save her.
Poor Marilyn. Time had run out.”
Like I said, I like a lightweight audio book when I'm walking, but this one was a bit of a strain on the rolling eyeballs, most especially when the baritone British narrator put on his breathy Marilyn voice. There they go again, straining and rolling…
November 15, 2011
Interesting and good read about a special time in the author's life. It paints Marilyn Monroe in a very honest way and we are privy to a glimpse of her life via his intriguing connection to her for one week during the filming of The Prince and The Showgirl She had created a persona that she turned on and off, and the author,(a truly insightful man even at the tender age of 23 at the time)managed to share details that put us right into his diaries and private journals. For me, the added bonus to this book was the inclusion of "The Prince, The Showgirl and Me, which incorporates those diaries in story fashion.
I had the good fortune to attend the after-party in New York recently for the movie version of My Week With Marilyn, and am happy to see that the movie stuck closely to the book.
I had the good fortune to attend the after-party in New York recently for the movie version of My Week With Marilyn, and am happy to see that the movie stuck closely to the book.
January 17, 2012
I loved reading this book and read it quite quickly. It's an honest portrayal of Marilyn Monroe. After reading quite a few books about her it was nice to read Clark's dairies which portray her as neither perfect goddess nor wholly troubled, but honestly shown as her true self, lovely and troubled.
This book provides a candid look into the golden age of cinema and some of its most famous icons. Clark's diaries were so easy to read and it felt as if I got to know him personally.
This book provides a candid look into the golden age of cinema and some of its most famous icons. Clark's diaries were so easy to read and it felt as if I got to know him personally.
May 3, 2020
4 stars only because I loved Eddie Redmayne's narration of the audio book. I guess he can read anything to me and I'll love it
February 29, 2012
My Week with Marilyn
Colin Clark
Weinstein Books
De Capo Press
978-1-60286-149-7
When I first seen the preview for this movie, I was immediately hooked. Being that I am a huge Marilyn Monroe fan I knew that I just had to see it. However when I found out that it was taken from a book, as most amazing movies are. At least in my opinion they are. I then knew I had to read the book and the book became much more important to me than the movie did and to this day I am writing this having just finished the book and still have not seen the movie. I do have the movie sitting on my dresser right next to me but I am the kind of woman that believes the books are so much better and I must read them before even beginning to watch the movie.
Now with that being said, ‘My Week with Marilyn’ is a book showcasing Colin Clark’s story of his week with Marilyn which he titled, “My Week with Marilyn” in its other releases as well as his own personal diary entries which were titled, “The Prince and the Showgirl”, those were written while he worked as a 3rd Assistant Director on the film, starring Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Oliver. This was the first time both forms had been put together as a book; they had both previously been released separately.
I was very excited to start this book; I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would hold in it, I mean imagine actually getting to spend a week with Marilyn Monroe! This book had to be good! The first part of the book, which is ‘My Week with Marilyn’, is extremely intriguing. You get to see everyone who was a part of that movie and what their role is. You see from Colin’s point of view what his take is on everyone including everyone in Marilyn’s party, which includes herself. At this point in time she was married to playwright Arthur Miller. This book did not portray Arthur as a very kind fellow, more of an egotistical self-centered jerk. Colin felt sorry for Marilyn in most of the book; he stated numerous times that the people surrounding her were so terrible for her and this I completely agree with and I believe they were a great contribute to her demise.
The Strasbergs, Milton Greene, and Hedda were the people that were her team. Lee and Paula Strasberg were her acting coaches on this film although Paula was the only one present; Lee was always contacted by phone when big problems arose. Milton Greene was her partner in Marilyn Monroe Productions and the man who got her out of her wretched contract with 20th Century Fox; he was in charge of getting her to the studio each day, which proved to be a great burden considering she was always late. Hedda was a secretary and really no help at all considering she was drunk most of the time.
Colin worked for Sir Laurence Oliver but somehow got twisted up into Marilyn’s life. He said she was just so hypnotizing no one could stay away from her. He feared for her well-being during the filming, because Milton’s way of helping her cope was to continuously feed her pills she did not need. In the end the film turned out to be torture for everyone.
I really enjoyed reading the first half of this book, the way he told his story of his week with her was wonderful, even though I do believe it was only a few days that they interacted and not a full week. However once I got halfway through the diary entries I lost a lot of interest, it seemed he was writing the same thing over and over again. Marilyn was late and seemed confused, Sir Laurence Oliver was getting more and more upset and didn’t know what to do about it. That was the general idea of every diary entry. Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy a lot of the diary entries but it was hard to read through all of them, with the same repetition it had.
It also doesn’t tell you much about Marilyn that you probably don’t already know, so if you are looking for a story of her life this isn’t it, this is a story of the filming of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’.
Overall it was a wonderful book and a wonderful insight into the filming of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ which was intriguing. It is a nice piece to read and have if you are a Marilyn fan, I must say.
I give it four stars.
Colin Clark
Weinstein Books
De Capo Press
978-1-60286-149-7
When I first seen the preview for this movie, I was immediately hooked. Being that I am a huge Marilyn Monroe fan I knew that I just had to see it. However when I found out that it was taken from a book, as most amazing movies are. At least in my opinion they are. I then knew I had to read the book and the book became much more important to me than the movie did and to this day I am writing this having just finished the book and still have not seen the movie. I do have the movie sitting on my dresser right next to me but I am the kind of woman that believes the books are so much better and I must read them before even beginning to watch the movie.
Now with that being said, ‘My Week with Marilyn’ is a book showcasing Colin Clark’s story of his week with Marilyn which he titled, “My Week with Marilyn” in its other releases as well as his own personal diary entries which were titled, “The Prince and the Showgirl”, those were written while he worked as a 3rd Assistant Director on the film, starring Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Oliver. This was the first time both forms had been put together as a book; they had both previously been released separately.
I was very excited to start this book; I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would hold in it, I mean imagine actually getting to spend a week with Marilyn Monroe! This book had to be good! The first part of the book, which is ‘My Week with Marilyn’, is extremely intriguing. You get to see everyone who was a part of that movie and what their role is. You see from Colin’s point of view what his take is on everyone including everyone in Marilyn’s party, which includes herself. At this point in time she was married to playwright Arthur Miller. This book did not portray Arthur as a very kind fellow, more of an egotistical self-centered jerk. Colin felt sorry for Marilyn in most of the book; he stated numerous times that the people surrounding her were so terrible for her and this I completely agree with and I believe they were a great contribute to her demise.
The Strasbergs, Milton Greene, and Hedda were the people that were her team. Lee and Paula Strasberg were her acting coaches on this film although Paula was the only one present; Lee was always contacted by phone when big problems arose. Milton Greene was her partner in Marilyn Monroe Productions and the man who got her out of her wretched contract with 20th Century Fox; he was in charge of getting her to the studio each day, which proved to be a great burden considering she was always late. Hedda was a secretary and really no help at all considering she was drunk most of the time.
Colin worked for Sir Laurence Oliver but somehow got twisted up into Marilyn’s life. He said she was just so hypnotizing no one could stay away from her. He feared for her well-being during the filming, because Milton’s way of helping her cope was to continuously feed her pills she did not need. In the end the film turned out to be torture for everyone.
I really enjoyed reading the first half of this book, the way he told his story of his week with her was wonderful, even though I do believe it was only a few days that they interacted and not a full week. However once I got halfway through the diary entries I lost a lot of interest, it seemed he was writing the same thing over and over again. Marilyn was late and seemed confused, Sir Laurence Oliver was getting more and more upset and didn’t know what to do about it. That was the general idea of every diary entry. Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy a lot of the diary entries but it was hard to read through all of them, with the same repetition it had.
It also doesn’t tell you much about Marilyn that you probably don’t already know, so if you are looking for a story of her life this isn’t it, this is a story of the filming of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’.
Overall it was a wonderful book and a wonderful insight into the filming of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ which was intriguing. It is a nice piece to read and have if you are a Marilyn fan, I must say.
I give it four stars.
January 7, 2013
Much of the debate about Colin Clark's follow-up to his published diary, "The Prince, The Showgirl and Me" revolves around the nature of its timing. Clark turned out this memoir only a few years before his death after leaving this allegedly remarkable chunk - several days where he got up close and personal with Marilyn Monroe - out of the original work. Let's assume for a moment that his recollections are solid and factual and that he isn't clearly trying to whore out Monroe's legacy for his own personal gain, putting aside the debate on both of those issues.
Instead, let's just talk about the work itself, which proves Clark not so much a bad writer but not much of one at all. What little charm the story has coasts on the allure of Monroe herself, which still isn't enough to overcome prose that lurches from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, page to page like a rectangular tire. That unoriginal simile, by the way, is part and parcel with plenty of Clark's own, which create deeply evocative sentences such as: "I felt like a fish in a bowl."
Clark's biggest problem, beyond his inability to write particularly well, is a dogged insistence upon not only sketching a portrait of Monroe during a few days of her life but relentlessly analyzing everything about her as if to prove he has some sort of inside track (actually, that's exactly what he's trying to prove). Nothing he says goes beyond the broad strokes painted about the legend since her sad death, and it reads nothing short of tacky.
Instead, let's just talk about the work itself, which proves Clark not so much a bad writer but not much of one at all. What little charm the story has coasts on the allure of Monroe herself, which still isn't enough to overcome prose that lurches from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, page to page like a rectangular tire. That unoriginal simile, by the way, is part and parcel with plenty of Clark's own, which create deeply evocative sentences such as: "I felt like a fish in a bowl."
Clark's biggest problem, beyond his inability to write particularly well, is a dogged insistence upon not only sketching a portrait of Monroe during a few days of her life but relentlessly analyzing everything about her as if to prove he has some sort of inside track (actually, that's exactly what he's trying to prove). Nothing he says goes beyond the broad strokes painted about the legend since her sad death, and it reads nothing short of tacky.
November 27, 2023
I have notice this book has mixed reviews. I did enjoy the movie but read the book first and therefore, like the book more. I think Clark was rather honest as an author since this book was based on his personal diary. Colin describes his personal experience working on the film the Prince and the Showgirl with Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier. Some people thought this book portrayed Marilyn in a poor light, however, I think Colin exposes the conflict Marilyn faced as the most famous woman in the world. After reading this book, one can only feel despair and sympathy towards Marilyn. She was being pulled in many directions and those who were closest to her calmed her by giving her pills. Before reading Clark's diary, I already loved Marilyn but now I understand her. All she really need was a friend.
November 17, 2017
I enjoyed the behind the scene look that Mr. Clark allowed us. There has been much debate about the validity of Mr. Clark's time with Ms. Monroe, but I choose to believe that a good portion is true and some may be stretched to fit the memory that Mr. Clark has. These memories are from a time long ago so some things may not be accurate but I don't see why someone would lie about Ms. Monroe or her life that painted her in so accurate a light that has been revealed. The story was gripping but I feel the writing could have been better.
March 6, 2014
Book of the Week. Abridged by Robin Brooks.
Read by Samuel Barnett. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron.
blurb - In 1956, 23-year-old Colin Clark (younger brother of Tory MP Alan and son of Kenneth 'Lord Clark of Civilisation') worked as a 'gofer' on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl. In this memoir, Clark recalls how, during filming, he became Monroe's confidante and helped her to escape from the pressures of stardom.
Thanks to Naomi B, I now know there is a film due out this winter , which looks far more fun to encounter than this book because of the casting. Colin Clark, you are a shameless name-dropper and treasure-hunter - blergh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2016
Just another guy using her fame for his own good.. such a shame.
September 17, 2019
Suggest you just read the first entries highlighting the author's "Week with Marilyn" and assoc postscript and skip the complete diary that follows. Subsequent diary entries are just daily observations from filming and do little to substantiate the tale told in the first part, which becomes suspect and leaves reader to doubt whether the events even occurred based on the context. Even if his time with Marilyn was just a fantasy it is an interesting story nonetheless and worth the read.
June 24, 2024
Men...
May 7, 2019
I listened to the audiobook version of “My Week with Marilyn”, and was surprised to find there was a second book included with the first. That second book, “The Prince, the Showgirl, and Me” was the original diary of Colin Clark covering his six months working on the Marilyn Monroe movie with Sir Lawrence Olivier as a third assistant director. This second book was about twice as long as the first, which was Clark’s story about working with Monroe written decades after the fact. Listeners and readers will notice that the stories aren’t the same. According to the recent Clark book, he had quite an intimate week with Marilyn. But according to his diaries of the time, there’s no detail remotely similar to the newer story. In fact, events seem to be mixed up in time between the two accounts. The author includes a forward to the diary saying that in his earlier diary he was protecting Monroe, but strangely he includes some details in that earlier diary that you wouldn’t think he would have recorded if protecting Monroe’s integrity and privacy was important, involving nudity and medical conditions, including reporting a miscarriage. The newer book seems to me more a “dream sequence” of Clark’s. If you take him at his word, that he believes both accounts are accurate, then this is a good illustration of the impact of time on memory. Time and celebrity. I found the books interesting in that Clark is an upper class young man in a gopher job, and he shows how he took advantage of his upbringing and especially his connections. Yes, anyone can succeed in the movie world of London, but it helps to have family working for the royals and friends who are knighted actors.
May 9, 2020
Is marilyn really that hot? yes
August 1, 2012
Oxford Student Colin Clark stumbles into the job of a lifetime, as an assistant to Miss Marilyn Monroe, while she is filming "The Prince and The Showgirl".it becomes a dream job, a sweet,innocent, and unforgettable week that Colin becomes her confidant, and co-conspirator, in her escapades. He is dazzled by both her beauty and her innocence.
He is also appalled at the control that people have over her through intimidation and prescriptions that are mind altering and dangerous.
He does his best to shelter her from situations that he thinks she can't handle, and being the good young man that he is he trys to save her, but in the end, Marilyn makes her own decisions and finishes the film, walking out of his life forever. The dream is over.
He is also appalled at the control that people have over her through intimidation and prescriptions that are mind altering and dangerous.
He does his best to shelter her from situations that he thinks she can't handle, and being the good young man that he is he trys to save her, but in the end, Marilyn makes her own decisions and finishes the film, walking out of his life forever. The dream is over.
April 23, 2012
The author shows good insight into personalities, hence and those around him. I do wonder if the fact that this was not included in his contemporary journal has to cause one to question its veracity. Marilyn, of course, comes across as an extremely compelling character.
January 27, 2012
It all started with an assignment. Earlier this month I'd had to review a book for the magazine I'm working for and seeing as there was a strong buzz for Michelle Williams in the movie My Week With Marilyn, I picked this book - a 2-in-1 re-release of Colin Clark's memoirs of his experiences working on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl - for that purpose. I started reading with complete detachment and disinterest for the 'stars' of the book. Marilyn Monroe, though a legendary movie icon, and her films have never entered my film education for some reason so I started reading purely for the job and didn't expect to find anything interesting about it.
Also, I'm not a big fan of memoirs. My problem with them (or any biographical or autobiographical works) is that very often I go thinking, "Is this real?" Memoirs and biographies are supposed to be non-fiction but I think that most things published in the genre is very subjective. Some of them can be very entertaining but most, I just find annoying. The good ones are usually the ones that are doused in humor and written by authors who don't mind looking more or less like a human being. I can count on one hand which of these authors that I like. One finger, actually. And I've only read one book from him so far. (His name, in case you want to know, is David Sedaris.)
But of course a job is a job (and this means money and livelihood) so I steeled myself and started reading. The book is basically made up of Colin Clark's diary entries that detail his life, his background, and the beginning of his involvement with the production of the movie, The Prince and the Showgirl. They were thoughts, opinions and - occasionally - explanations on the What's What and Who's Who in the film industry of that era. He wrote down his impressions on people - friends, colleagues, rivals, idols, lovers (including a male one at some point, although he was ultimately a ladies man) - and, surprise, surprise! They actually sounded rather funny.
Before I knew it, I was laughing, sighing, growling and giggling uncontrollably in inappropriate places and at inappropriate times*. It took me two weeks to get through that first half of the book (the first memoir, The Prince, The Showgirl And Me) due to time constraints and other things**, but I ended up falling in love with Clark and the people in his life. The book had quietly snuck up on me and taken me over, making me obsess about it and recommend it to people. (One of the reactions my friend had to my recommendation was, "You? Recommending a memoir? Who are you and what have you done with my friend?")
I followed up right away with My Week With Marilyn, the second memoir inside this book that detailed Clark's love affair with Marilyn Monroe from 11 to 18 September 1956 (coincidentally, the last date of the entry is also my birthday 26 years later). The second one had a more fantastical feel to it (as I understand it, it was written many years after it ended) and therefore felt more like a work of fiction instead of non-fiction. Of course this is not to say that Clark made it all up; I'm merely saying that there's a distinct change of style in Clark's writing. Whether it's because he'd grown older and more mature by the time he wrote it or simply because he wanted to enhance the drama, the change is not unwelcome. In fact, it's very entertaining to see this affair written in a more fairy tale-esque way instead of pure journal entries. In any case, I was left in stitches in most places (yet another round of inappropriate reactions in inappropriate places***) and kept me in suspense and then put me through a minor heartbreak throughout, knowing that this guy didn't get The Girl.
This being a memoir, of course I still have suspicions that Clark exaggerated the events for dramatic purposes. At some points, I also thought he had a very high opinion of himself (particularly in the earlier entries; probably because of his young man's ego) and that had me gnashing my teeth in annoyance. But gradually as the stories of the film's filming and the antics of the actors and crew members became more and more engaging, my annoyance turned into amusement and eventually extreme fondness. Besides, I think I would've been a lot more displeased if Clark were to present himself as a humble chap with nothing going on for him. At least, he never pitied himself and his voice was consistently funny, if not terribly charming.
Whatever the truth was in the end, I got over my own prejudice over memoirs. In the case of this book, story and writing style triumph over so-called 'truth'. It didn't make me a fan of Marilyn Monroe, but I learned so much more about this legendary movie star. And while the events in the memoirs took place 50 years ago, I learned a bit about the 'politics' of the British film industry and its 'relationship' with their American cousins. These aspects are hardly scandalous but still quite informative. At the very least, they confirm what I'd already guessed about that particular world.
In more ways than one, this book has become very precious to me. So precious in fact that I ended up buying it for myself. I have a feeling that this is a book I will be rereading many times in the future. And considering that I've been a memoir-skeptic before I started this reading, that is really saying something. Big deal? Oh yes it is.
Footnotes
* I started reading this book at the proper bookstore where I work. I was standing/leaning on the Customer Service counter and there were staffs (my colleagues) and customers nearby. I laughed and snorted many times and drew their attention. I repeated the same thing the next day because I didn't immediately buy the book, seeing no necessity for it, as at that point I'd still treated the book as being a part of my assignment and not read it for my own enjoyment.
** Seeing as I had a deadline, I borrowed the book from the bookstore (using my press card; the absolute wonders of having dual jobs) so I could continue reading the book at home. The maximum number of days for book borrowing from the bookstore is 3 working days. I returned the book on the 4th day and continued reading it in the store, where I kept it on reservation for several more days. I would've been able to finish reading it within the week, but unfortunately I was busied by magazine deadlines and incoming shipments of new books. So I had to postpone reading for a few more days.
*** At this point, I'd bought the book already because I couldn't stand having to read it in small installments at the store. My review of the book had been postponed for the next issue, which meant I no longer had a deadline for it (and this didn't upset me because by the time my editor told me to change my book review, I'd already been reading it for my own enjoyment), but I still wanted to have it. But that didn't change the fact that, when I read it in public places like the coffee shop or my office area that have a lot of people in it, I still made the most embarrassing reactions for the whole world to see.
Also, I'm not a big fan of memoirs. My problem with them (or any biographical or autobiographical works) is that very often I go thinking, "Is this real?" Memoirs and biographies are supposed to be non-fiction but I think that most things published in the genre is very subjective. Some of them can be very entertaining but most, I just find annoying. The good ones are usually the ones that are doused in humor and written by authors who don't mind looking more or less like a human being. I can count on one hand which of these authors that I like. One finger, actually. And I've only read one book from him so far. (His name, in case you want to know, is David Sedaris.)
But of course a job is a job (and this means money and livelihood) so I steeled myself and started reading. The book is basically made up of Colin Clark's diary entries that detail his life, his background, and the beginning of his involvement with the production of the movie, The Prince and the Showgirl. They were thoughts, opinions and - occasionally - explanations on the What's What and Who's Who in the film industry of that era. He wrote down his impressions on people - friends, colleagues, rivals, idols, lovers (including a male one at some point, although he was ultimately a ladies man) - and, surprise, surprise! They actually sounded rather funny.
Before I knew it, I was laughing, sighing, growling and giggling uncontrollably in inappropriate places and at inappropriate times*. It took me two weeks to get through that first half of the book (the first memoir, The Prince, The Showgirl And Me) due to time constraints and other things**, but I ended up falling in love with Clark and the people in his life. The book had quietly snuck up on me and taken me over, making me obsess about it and recommend it to people. (One of the reactions my friend had to my recommendation was, "You? Recommending a memoir? Who are you and what have you done with my friend?")
I followed up right away with My Week With Marilyn, the second memoir inside this book that detailed Clark's love affair with Marilyn Monroe from 11 to 18 September 1956 (coincidentally, the last date of the entry is also my birthday 26 years later). The second one had a more fantastical feel to it (as I understand it, it was written many years after it ended) and therefore felt more like a work of fiction instead of non-fiction. Of course this is not to say that Clark made it all up; I'm merely saying that there's a distinct change of style in Clark's writing. Whether it's because he'd grown older and more mature by the time he wrote it or simply because he wanted to enhance the drama, the change is not unwelcome. In fact, it's very entertaining to see this affair written in a more fairy tale-esque way instead of pure journal entries. In any case, I was left in stitches in most places (yet another round of inappropriate reactions in inappropriate places***) and kept me in suspense and then put me through a minor heartbreak throughout, knowing that this guy didn't get The Girl.
This being a memoir, of course I still have suspicions that Clark exaggerated the events for dramatic purposes. At some points, I also thought he had a very high opinion of himself (particularly in the earlier entries; probably because of his young man's ego) and that had me gnashing my teeth in annoyance. But gradually as the stories of the film's filming and the antics of the actors and crew members became more and more engaging, my annoyance turned into amusement and eventually extreme fondness. Besides, I think I would've been a lot more displeased if Clark were to present himself as a humble chap with nothing going on for him. At least, he never pitied himself and his voice was consistently funny, if not terribly charming.
Whatever the truth was in the end, I got over my own prejudice over memoirs. In the case of this book, story and writing style triumph over so-called 'truth'. It didn't make me a fan of Marilyn Monroe, but I learned so much more about this legendary movie star. And while the events in the memoirs took place 50 years ago, I learned a bit about the 'politics' of the British film industry and its 'relationship' with their American cousins. These aspects are hardly scandalous but still quite informative. At the very least, they confirm what I'd already guessed about that particular world.
In more ways than one, this book has become very precious to me. So precious in fact that I ended up buying it for myself. I have a feeling that this is a book I will be rereading many times in the future. And considering that I've been a memoir-skeptic before I started this reading, that is really saying something. Big deal? Oh yes it is.
Footnotes
* I started reading this book at the proper bookstore where I work. I was standing/leaning on the Customer Service counter and there were staffs (my colleagues) and customers nearby. I laughed and snorted many times and drew their attention. I repeated the same thing the next day because I didn't immediately buy the book, seeing no necessity for it, as at that point I'd still treated the book as being a part of my assignment and not read it for my own enjoyment.
** Seeing as I had a deadline, I borrowed the book from the bookstore (using my press card; the absolute wonders of having dual jobs) so I could continue reading the book at home. The maximum number of days for book borrowing from the bookstore is 3 working days. I returned the book on the 4th day and continued reading it in the store, where I kept it on reservation for several more days. I would've been able to finish reading it within the week, but unfortunately I was busied by magazine deadlines and incoming shipments of new books. So I had to postpone reading for a few more days.
*** At this point, I'd bought the book already because I couldn't stand having to read it in small installments at the store. My review of the book had been postponed for the next issue, which meant I no longer had a deadline for it (and this didn't upset me because by the time my editor told me to change my book review, I'd already been reading it for my own enjoyment), but I still wanted to have it. But that didn't change the fact that, when I read it in public places like the coffee shop or my office area that have a lot of people in it, I still made the most embarrassing reactions for the whole world to see.
March 5, 2021
Listened to this solely because I am following Simon Prebble around.
I'm not interested in Marilyn Monroe but this story did sound worthwhile. Nope. It's full of a man, propping himself up with false humility and telling about his 5 or 6 interactions with Marilyn. From the book description it sounded like they spent a week together on vacation or something, but really he just went to her house a couple times and went for a road trip with her and the chauffeur.
I don't doubt that she was very troubled and lonely and needed a friend, but he really shows himself as her saviour and the only one who "didn't want anything from her".... But I expect he got a lot from her, after all. He just waited until she died to betray her and make money off of her. Hypocrite.
I'm not interested in Marilyn Monroe but this story did sound worthwhile. Nope. It's full of a man, propping himself up with false humility and telling about his 5 or 6 interactions with Marilyn. From the book description it sounded like they spent a week together on vacation or something, but really he just went to her house a couple times and went for a road trip with her and the chauffeur.
I don't doubt that she was very troubled and lonely and needed a friend, but he really shows himself as her saviour and the only one who "didn't want anything from her".... But I expect he got a lot from her, after all. He just waited until she died to betray her and make money off of her. Hypocrite.
June 22, 2024
This read like a fanfic. This book is the epitome of 'trust me bro'.
June 23, 2024
Don’t know if I believe everything
May 29, 2012
I have been looking forward to reading this book for some time, but until the film became a reality, it was rather hard to find. After the film, it was also hard to find, though for a different reason. I finally nailed a copy at the library. This edition contains both the original book, The Prince, The Showgirl and Me and Colin Clark's private entries, later released as My Week with Marilyn. I of course saw the film, being a Marilyn fanatic and it's my favorite film about MM ever. Michelle Williams managed to catch MM's charm and adorable qualities as well as her haunted side. The book does an even better job. Best of all, it's written from the perspective of a family friend of Sir Laurence Olivier, so he starts out quite firmly in SLO's (Olivier's nickname in print) corner.
I have, as MM's biggest fan of course read of the troubles that went down on the set of this film. Olivier and Marilyn were obviously oil and water--he was condescending and threatened by a new generation of actors and she was out of her depth in a new country with a new husband and so many personal problems. It did not help that no one explained anything to her. It's very interesting to see an outsiders view of the vampirism that went on around Marilyn at all times. This particular instance is especially heartbreaking as she had so much hope before this trip and film and the entire experience dashed it.
Interestingly though most of the people around Marilyn have an agenda and are sucking off of her, the person who comes off worst is Arthur Miller. I have never been a fan of his--vain, uptight and cold--he used Marilyn mercilessly and then left her. He wrote a cruel play that was obviously based on his marriage to her and was pushing it like crazy around the time of her death. He comes off as even worse in this book--impatient, demanding, sucking off Marilyn's money, abandoning her to a miscarriage and the questionable kindness of strangers. There are even several sections where the author mentions Miller's pride in his "trophy" as he struts around making leering comments (as if the world does not know Marilyn is his wife, therefore is very likely to be sharing his bed). It definitely confirmed my view of him as a terrible and selfish man and yet another leech trying to sun himself in the light of Marilyn's radiance. I think it's interesting that even now, while his plays are revered, he is not generally revered as a person. He was nearly drummed out of the theater, when his disgusting Marilyn based play came out--and you know if people think you are gross and grasping in showbiz, you really have to be gross and grasping.
Thank goodness for Colin Clark's lovely and clearly "learned" view of Marilyn. He started out rather disdainful of her and ended up falling in love as most anyone did who got to see glimpses of the real girl underneath the legend. He highlights her charm, her fragility, her beauty and also her pain. He describes beautifully what she was up against in this picture and how little anyone besides Dame Sybil Thorndyke and himself attempted to understand her. He has a charming and light touch even within his own journals that is so easily read and enjoyed that if he had not chosen a life as a director, he would have made a fine writer. Highly recommend.
I have, as MM's biggest fan of course read of the troubles that went down on the set of this film. Olivier and Marilyn were obviously oil and water--he was condescending and threatened by a new generation of actors and she was out of her depth in a new country with a new husband and so many personal problems. It did not help that no one explained anything to her. It's very interesting to see an outsiders view of the vampirism that went on around Marilyn at all times. This particular instance is especially heartbreaking as she had so much hope before this trip and film and the entire experience dashed it.
Interestingly though most of the people around Marilyn have an agenda and are sucking off of her, the person who comes off worst is Arthur Miller. I have never been a fan of his--vain, uptight and cold--he used Marilyn mercilessly and then left her. He wrote a cruel play that was obviously based on his marriage to her and was pushing it like crazy around the time of her death. He comes off as even worse in this book--impatient, demanding, sucking off Marilyn's money, abandoning her to a miscarriage and the questionable kindness of strangers. There are even several sections where the author mentions Miller's pride in his "trophy" as he struts around making leering comments (as if the world does not know Marilyn is his wife, therefore is very likely to be sharing his bed). It definitely confirmed my view of him as a terrible and selfish man and yet another leech trying to sun himself in the light of Marilyn's radiance. I think it's interesting that even now, while his plays are revered, he is not generally revered as a person. He was nearly drummed out of the theater, when his disgusting Marilyn based play came out--and you know if people think you are gross and grasping in showbiz, you really have to be gross and grasping.
Thank goodness for Colin Clark's lovely and clearly "learned" view of Marilyn. He started out rather disdainful of her and ended up falling in love as most anyone did who got to see glimpses of the real girl underneath the legend. He highlights her charm, her fragility, her beauty and also her pain. He describes beautifully what she was up against in this picture and how little anyone besides Dame Sybil Thorndyke and himself attempted to understand her. He has a charming and light touch even within his own journals that is so easily read and enjoyed that if he had not chosen a life as a director, he would have made a fine writer. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 324 reviews