Marilyn Monroe's 1961 'The Misfits' Endures as Final Film 100 Years After Her Birth
Updated
Updated · The A.V. Club · Jun 1
Marilyn Monroe's 1961 'The Misfits' Endures as Final Film 100 Years After Her Birth
10 articles · Updated · The A.V. Club · Jun 1
A century after Marilyn Monroe’s birth, “The Misfits” is being revisited as the star’s final completed film—an unintended farewell rather than the comeback vehicle it was meant to be.
John Huston directed the 1961 drama from a script by Monroe’s then-husband Arthur Miller, who conceived it as a reintroduction after her time away from Hollywood focused on marriage and hoped-for motherhood.
The film instead became a tragic capstone: Monroe’s marriage was unraveling during production, and co-star Clark Gable died 12 days after filming ended, making it his unintended swan song as well.
Critically, the piece argues “The Misfits” is uneven rather than great, with repeated rewrites leaving it tonally split between character drama and romantic Western.
Even so, Monroe’s performance as Roslyn Taber still captures the tension that defines her legacy—movie-star allure paired with a bid to be recognized as a serious actress.
How did the cast's real-life turmoil transform 'The Misfits' from a film into a haunting historical document?
Did 'The Misfits' truly challenge Monroe's persona or just trap her in a more prestigious version of it?
Marilyn Monroe’s Centenary (2026): The Misfits 4K Restoration and a New Look at Her Enduring Legacy
Overview
June 1, 2026, marks the centenary of Marilyn Monroe's birth, sparking a global wave of celebrations and retrospectives that run into early 2027. These events aim to re-evaluate Monroe's enduring legacy, challenge old stereotypes, and highlight her as a pioneering creative force. A central focus is the return of her final completed film, The Misfits (1961), to cinemas and retrospectives. This renewed attention not only honors Monroe's impact on film and culture but also encourages a deeper appreciation of her artistry and the complexity she brought to her roles.