The Sex Symbol (TV 1974)

A thinly disguised version of the life of Marilyn Monroe, detailing her ups and downs in life and how her erratic behavior contributes to her deteriorating career.

Director:

David Lowell Rich

Writer:

Alvah Bessie (novel)

Stars:

Connie Stevens, Shelley Winters, Jack Carter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Connie Stevens	...	Kelly Williams / Emmaline Kelly
Shelley Winters	...	Agatha Murphy
Jack Carter	...	Manny Fox
William Castle	...	Jack P. Harper
Don Murray	...	Senator Grant O'Neal
James Olson	...	Calvin Bernard
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Nick Fortis
Madlyn Rhue	...	Joy Hudson
Milton Selzer	...	Phil Bamberger
Tony Young	...	Rick Roman
William Smith	...	Butch Wischnewski
Rand Brooks	...	Edward Kelly
Malachi Throne	...	Otto Litsky (American television version) (voice)
Frank Loverde	...	Investigator
Bing Russell	...	Public Relations Man

Storyline

A thinly disguised version of the life of Marilyn Monroe, detailing her ups and downs in life and how her erratic behavior contributes to her deteriorating career.

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood | abc movie of the week | female nudity | actress | film making | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Il simbolo del sesso

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Pictures Television, Douglas S. Cramer Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min 107 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shelley Winters, who appears in this thinly veiled biography of Marilyn Monroe's life, in fact lived, and was very good friends with Monroe for a time when the pair were budding young actresses.

User Reviews

Connie Stevens as Marilyn Monroe

Cute and promiscuous "Kelly Williams" (Connie Stevens as Marilyn Monroe) sleeps her way to stardom. Along the way, she is hounded by bitchy press (Shelley Winters as "Agatha Murphy"). Not satisfied with her status as "The Sex Symbol", Ms. Stevens wants to be an Actress. Stevens has unhappy love affairs and marriages with "Grant O'Neal" (Don Murray as John F. Kennedy), "Calvin Bernard" (James Olson as Arthur Miller), "Buck Wischnewski" (William Smith as Joe DiMaggio), and others. She feeds her pain with barbiturates and alcohol. You know the rest.

This movie begins with an outrageous lie: "The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character, or history of any person is entirely coincidental and unintentional." Stevens is a beautiful woman, but quite unlike Monroe. An explicit nude scene occurs near the end - Stevens spills a drink, and removes her slip; it could not have been shown on US television in 1974. Whatever its intentions, "The Sex Symbol" is insulting and unflattering. And, some of those involved knew, and worked with, Monroe.

*** The Sex Symbol (9/17/74) David Lowell Rich ~ Connie Stevens, Shelley Winters, Don Murray