Spankable Saturday--The Birth Of A Legend

June 1, 1926.  It's the birthday of an icon, a model, a singer, an actress.  Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, later changed to Norma Jeane Baker, she eventually took on the screen name we all know her by--Marilyn Monroe.  She would have turned 88 tomorrow.

There have been plenty of biographies written about her life.  I'm not going to try and write another one here.  There have been plenty of books and articles filled with conjecture about her death.  I'm not going to address that here, either.  Suffice it to say that while she was viewed mainly as a sex symbol, she was also a lovely, talented and intelligent woman who wound up leaving us far too soon.

And yes, I said, "Intelligent".  She may have perfected the persona of the "dumb blonde" for the movies, but that was a role she played.  It's called "acting".  The real Marilyn was smart, wanting to learn.  She was smart enough to know what she didn't know and wanted to do something about that.  You can certainly question some of the choices she made in her life, but heck, we've all made bad choices at one time or another.  Don't use that as an excuse to sell her short.

Anyway, since this is "Spankable Saturday", I'm going to do what I normally do--post some pictures of the Birthday Girl.  And naturally, the focus is going to be on her fabulous derriere.  And why not?  Heaven knows photographers and the movies paid attention to that particular asset, along with the platinum blond hair, the sultry voice, and her bustline.

In one of her early films, she had a very short scene with Groucho Marx in a film called Love Happy.  Groucho played a private detective, and Marilyn walks into his office and says she wants to hire him.  When he asks why, she walks away from Groucho and toward the camera, looking over her shoulder and saying, "Some men are following me."  Groucho watches her walk away--and it's pretty obvious where he's looking--and quips, "I can't imagine why."

In the film, Niagra, there is a scene showing Marilyn, shot from behind, making a long walk to Niagra Falls.
After seeing the film, actress Constance Bennett is reported to have said, "There's a broad with her future behind her."

And, of course, in the movie Some Like It Hot, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis watch her walking away from them on a train platform, the camera focused on the Monroe behind, Jack Lemmon comments, "It's like jello on springs!"

Happy birthday, Norma Jeane.  Here's part one of the photographic tribute, ending with that Playboy centerfold..  Part two will be put up tomorrow on "Silent Sunday".