Let's Make Love [DVD]

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director: George Cukor; screenwriters: Norman Krasna/Hal Kanter/Arthur Miller (uncredited); cinematographer: Daniel L. Fapp; editor: David Bretherton; music: Sammy Cahn/Cole Porter/James Van Heusen; cast: Yves Montand (Jean-Marc Clement), Marilyn Monroe (Amanda Dell), Tony Randall (Howard Coffman), Wilfred Hyde-White (John Wales), Frankie Vaughn (Tony Danton), David Burns (Oliver Burton), Mara Lynn (Lily Nyles), Milton Berle (Himself), Bing Crosby (Himself), Gene Kelly (Himself), Michael David (Dave Kerry), Dennis King Jr. (Abe Miller), Joe Besser (Lamont, Joke Writer); Runtime: 119; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Jerry Wald; 20th Century Fox; 1960) The drama that took place away from the set of Let's Make Love -- Marilyn's affair with Montand -- was infinitely more interesting than the film itself. The outline of the plot was formed by rewriting the roles of the characters of the plot of the 1937 American musical film On the Avenue. The writing of the premise was also influenced by the 1959 film Pillow Talk. [4] Soon after shooting of Let's Make Love got underway, both Miller and Signoret were called away from Los Angeles, leaving Marilyn and Montand alone. Aside from that highlight, only Milton Berle's routine with Montand, in which the veteran comic tries to teach the Frenchman about American comedy, stands out.

The problems with the film are abundant even though I still think it earns a 7. That's because the plot is so very likable you can ignore the ridiculousness of the plot (it really is tough to believe) as well as that many of the song and dance numbers don't seem all that great. While Miss Monroe has a HUGE cult-like following, I don't think her singing and dancing were all that great--but she was nice to look at and did a better job at acting. Overall, it's a nice little romance and worth a look. Fox was pressuring her to do a film for the studio before embarking on another independent feature. Marilyn finally agreed to star in a frothy musical comedy entitled Let's Make Love, which apparently was the least objectionable of the scripts Fox had to offer.

Side guide

Marilyn's psychiatric care was part of Hollywood gossip at the time, so those columnists who were generally friendly with Marilyn took Montand to task for taking advantage of her.

Wealthy Jean-Marc Clement (Yves Montand) discovers that he is going to be satirized in a play so he pays a visit to rehearsals. However, he is mistaken for an actor and asked to join the troupe. He does so under the alias of Alexander Dumas so that he can get close to the leading lady, Amanda (Marilyn Monroe). But she already has a boyfriend in the leading man, Tony Danton (Frankie Vaughan). Can Jean-Marc get his girl....? NOTES: Lionel Newman and Earle H. Hagen were nominated for a prestigious Hollywood award for Scoring of a Musical Picture, losing to "Song Without End". Let's Make Love, the next to last film of Marilyn Monroe is a harmless piece of fluff, rather lazily directed by George Cukor. Marilyn was her usual temperamental self during the filming and I think Cukor decided to just let it slide. Monroe sat with co-star Montand as he enjoyed a smoke. Only a sliver of Dallinger's output — he shot more than 58,000 photos during a career that lasted until the early 1970s — made it to print, and a vast majority never has been seen.Despite the real-life sparks generated by the Monroe-Montand liaison, Let's Make Love is a distinctly unengaging musical comedy and remains Marilyn's weakest starring vehicle. Clement uses the opportunity to court Amanda, who continually expresses her distaste for irresponsible, playboy-type billionaires. Predictably, Amanda falls in love with Clement, whom she believes to be merely a starving actor. Marilyn had seen Montand in his one-man show on Broadway and was taken by his Gallic charm. The Millers were eager to befriend the Montands, and the four were often seen together when Let's Make Love first went into production in mid-February of 1960. There're so many things wrong with this film. Drab costumes, uninspired numbers, miscued performances, wandering story and just overall poor direction that it's a wonder it was ever released at all. Though I suppose the studio had to recoup its losses somehow.

Still, according to some accounts, she was taking more drugs than her new California psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, thought safe. She also began to alienate herself from many of her New York friends and acquaintances. On a more positive note, her drug intake decreased as she stopped sedating herself during the day -- at least on some days. Miss Monroe's coach on this one was Paula Strasberg, her make-up man, Whitey Snider. Her then husband, Arthur Miller, was present for much of the shooting and is reported to have written additional dialogue for Marilyn. Monroe and Montand shared a few words. Dallinger's close relationships with Hollywood's elite gave him unprecedented access to moments like this. French billionaire playboy Yves Montand (as Jean-Marc Clement) sees voluptuous blonde Marilyn Monroe (as Amanda Dell) rehearsing a "Let's Make Love" song off-Broadway and wants to offer a very affirmative response. Mistaken for an actor, Mr. Montand decides to go along with the ruse and try out for the play. He wants to get close to Ms. Monroe, who isn't impressed with money and correctly realizes "Alexander Dumas" is a noted author. Monroe's co-star and lover Frankie Vaughn (as Tony Danton) falls off the wagon with worry. Public relations man Tony Randall (as Coffman) plays his usual supporting role...

See also

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