Something's Got to Give (1962)

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Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Bella Spewack (screenplay)") &
Sam Spewack (screenplay)") ...

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Unfinished remake of "My Favorite Wife," due to the firing of Marilyn Monroe from the film. She was eventually re-hired, but died in August, 1962. Film was never completed. |

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Marilyn Monroe | Unfinished Film | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Marilyn Monroe	...	Ellen Wagstaff Arden
Dean Martin	...	Nicholas 'Nick' Arden
Cyd Charisse	...	Bianca Russell Arden
Tom Tryon	...	Steven Burkett / Adam
Alexandra Heilweil	...	Lita Arden
Robert Christopher Morley	...	Timmy Arden
Wally Cox	...	Shoe Salesman
Phil Silvers	...	Johnson
John McGiver	...	The Judge
Grady Sutton	...	The Judge's Clerk
Eloise Hardt	...	Miss Worth

Runtime:

37 min (2001 version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Lee Remick was hired to replace Monroe after she was fired.

Quotes:

Ellen Wagstaff Arden: Come on, the water's so refreshing! You know, after you finish doing, uh... you know.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend (1987)

Soundtrack:

Something's Gotta Give

Oh, For What Might Have Been, Maybe

This could have been one quite-good movie. AMC assembled the footage that was shot prior to MM's death-- but if you're reading this, chances are you know this-- and from every indication, it could have turned out to be an enjoyable sex farce, perhaps a groundbreaking one, as it pushed the envelope just a little further.

First, Monroe looked great in the tests as well as in the completed footage. She could get her act together if handled right. Second, and this fact cannot be overlooked, she was playing a MOTHER-- of children-- for the first time. And a sexy, mid-30s mother at that! Way back in 1962, 40-odd years before "Desperate Housewives," sexy moms were unheard of. Nobody considered that a woman was still a woman, even after having a kid or two.

Second, "Something's Got To Give" had a great cast. Both Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse were perfect as the other two angles in this screwball triangle, Martin quite convincing as a comic suburban dad and Charisse exemplary as Monroe's sexual foil. And the cameos from comedians ranging from Wally Cox to Steve Allen only added to the parfait.

But above and beyond Monroe and the casting, "SGTG" had George Cukor at the helm. Cukor knew a few things about comedy and could bring a presence to any film bearing his directorial touch. He knew what makes things funny. Think the Tracy-Hepburn classics. Think "The Women." Think "What Price Hollywood." No, DON'T think "My Fair Lady" nor "A Star Is Born."

There's talk about finishing this film digitally. Just one question: why? Unless someone can digitally resurrect George Cukor from the grave, there'd be no point.

Something's got to give? Something DID give, damn it. Marilyn Monroe gave into her demons, and what might have been a new start for Monroe's career as we witnessed maturing sexuality never got a chance.