Something's Got to Give (1962)

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.

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Bella Spewack (screenplay "My Favorite Wife"), Sam Spewack (screenplay "My Favorite Wife")

Stars:

Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse

Cast

Cast overview:
Marilyn Monroe	...	Ellen Arden
Dean Martin	...	Nick Arden
Cyd Charisse	...	Bianca Arden
Tom Tryon	...	Stephen Burkett
Alexandra Heilweil	...	Lita
Robert Christopher Morley	...	Timmy
Wally Cox	...	Shoe Salesman
Phil Silvers	...	Insurance Salesman
John McGiver	...	The Judge
Grady Sutton	...	Bailiff
Eloise Hardt	...	Secretary

Storyline

Years after his wife, Ellen, was lost at sea, Nick has her declared legally dead and remarries. That same day, Ellen is rescued from a desert island and returns home. This unfinished remake of "My Favorite Wife" was the last film Marilyn Monroe worked on before her death in 1962. Most of the footage was unseen, until it was restored into a 37-minute short which aired on television on June 1, 2001.

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Plot Keywords:

lead actor's last film | unfinished film | screwball comedy | united airlines | color remake of black and white film | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Did You Know?

Trivia

For one sequence in this film, Marilyn Monroe was to wear a flesh-colored bathing suit and appear to be swimming in the nude. When the scene was being filmed, Marilyn doffed the costume and wore only a flesh-colored bikini bottom. During a still photo session after filming the scene, she removed even that. The resulting publicity photos, many with Marilyn's obviously naked back to camera, garnered the film worldwide media coverage.

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Quotes

Ellen Wagstaff Arden: Would you have lunch with me?
Shoe Salesman: [Flustered] I bring my lunch to the store.
Ellen Wagstaff Arden: [Leaning forward, putting her chin in her hand] I'd be so grateful if you'd take it out.

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Alternate Versions

Existing footage in the vaults of Twentieth Century Fox Film studios was edited by Tori Rodman into a 37-minute film and shown in its entirety in Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (2001) (TV).

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Connections

Referenced in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe: Part 2 (2015)

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Soundtracks

Something's Gotta Give
Written by Johnny Mercer
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Music Corporation
Vocal version performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of The Frank Sinatra Estate

User Reviews

What might have been.

Recently on AMC a restored (as best as possible with the few completed filmed scenes) version of this never completed film was shown during a special about the late Marilyn Monroe. Complete with 20th Century Fox's logo/fanfare music and the films opening credits and music the story is presented albeit with so many plot holes it's virtually impossible to follow anything. The entire showing runs about thirty eight minutes and has an odd surreal feeling about it especially after watching the special about Marilyn Monroes final days and the making or at least attempted making of Something's Got To Give. Most of the cast members are now dead which additionally gave it a quasi-haunted feeling. It's hard to say how the picture had it been completed done at the box office or how it would be viewed today. It was eventually remade as `Move Over Darling' with James Garner, Doris Day and Polly Bergen and that film was nothing overly spectacular. To sum it up it's one of those `What might have been' instances.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Marilyn - Ihr letzter Film

Filming Locations:

Stage 14, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

37 min (2001)

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1