Narrated by Peter Graves with all the usual TV-biography clichés ("Hollywood, California: the dream factory of the world..."), this generic movie-clip-dominated 1995 special from Fox and A&E covers no new territory in its rehashing of the blonde bombshell's life, loves, and low self-esteem. But it does offer up a few new interviews with Gloria Steinem, James Dougherty (the teenage Norma Jean's first husband), and friend Susan Strasberg, whose acting coach parents helped the star develop real chops just as she was slipping into a haze of pills and emotional instability. While it pays lip service to darker parts of Monroe's life, this over-praising fluff piece offers less insight into her character than pointless tidbits such as the fact that in Niagara, the actress had "the longest onscreen walk in cinema history." Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess treats Monroe's later unprofessionalism (frequently not knowing her lines, or not showing up to work) as a blameless series of unfortunate events, and barely makes mention of her previous overdoses when calling her death "an accidental suicide" (which, in another laughable narrative flub, is said to have made "national headlines around the world"---uh, that would be "international"). Even so, this is still a passable primer for fans not already familiar with every intimate detail concerning the most famous screen siren of all time. DVD extras include theatrical trailers from Monroe's films. Optional. Aud: P. (R. Blackwelder)
Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess
<span class=GramE>(1995) 91 min. DVD.</span> <span class=GramE>$19.99.</span> <span class=GramE>Image Entertainment (avail. from distributors).</span> <span class=GramE>Color cover.</span> October 4, 2004
Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess
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