MY WEEK WITH MARILYN directed by Simon Curtis (UK, 2011)
This movie is based on Colin Clark’s memoir ‘The Prince, The Showgirl And Me’ and tells the story of what happens when an Eton educated 23 year old toff seeks gainful employment in the glamorous world of movies.
Clark (played by Eddie Redmayne) is so hooked on all things cinematic that he is prepared to do the most menial tasks to get a foot in the door of the industry. He rises from tea boy and gofer to a role as the third assistant to the director on the 1957 film ‘The Prince And The Showgirl’ . This may not seem the most inspiring of jobs but since it involves working at close quarters with Sir Lawrence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe he’s not complaining.
Olivier is the archetype luvvie and is played to perfection by Kenneth Branagh – it takes one to know one. ‘Larry’ is eager to prove that he can translate his theatrical achievements to the big screen.
Marilyn is not a great actress but as one her American team points out “with tits like that you make allowances”. Olivier is frequently exasperated with her unreliability and ineptitude (“it’s like teaching Urdu to a badger”) but is forced to concede that despite her lack of training or craft, she shines in front of the camera in a way he can only dream of.
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