After seeing a screening of My Week With Marilyn (which officially opened on Thanksgiving Day), I was elated! Having been a Marilyn Monroe fan and admirer for several years, I have watched many disappointing "bio-pics" about this most famous actress that portray her as a victim leading a sad life which only ends expectedly in tragedy. None of the previous films seem to have captured the real woman, who was much smarter than she let on, and much more likable off-camera.
But in My Week With Marilyn, I believe that this is a movie that gives Marilyn the respect she deserves showing her complexity as a human being, not just some tragic one-dimensional sexpot. Based on Colin Clark's memoir, My Week With Marilyn reveals not only Monroe's flaws, but her irresistible charm on and offscreen that has appealed to both men and women during her career and throughout the 50 years since her tragic death.
As I exclaimed what a great film this was and how believable Michelle Williams is playing Monroe, another Marilyn fan at the screening burst my bubble telling me that the story wasn't true. In response to my desire to then read the book, this fan also urged me to make sure I read Colin Clark's original book and not My Week With Marilyn.
I was so shocked! For one thing, the film begins with a statement that this is a "true story." How could the author have fooled everyone?
It turns out that Colin Clark originally wrote a book published in 1995 called The Prince, The Showgirl and Me which was the personal diary he kept on set. As the third assistant director on the film, Clark offers only indirect observations of Marilyn throughout the shooting, pointing out many negative aspects about her. Never once does he say that he developed any sort of one-on-one relationship with her.
Yet, surprisingly, five years later in 2000, Clark publishes another book called My Week with Marilyn. In the introduction, Clark explains that his first book left out those infamous nine days when he shared an intimate relationship/friendship with Marilyn. The dates missing from Clark's diary were September 9, 1956 through September 16, 1956, while My Week with Marilyn takes place from September 11 to September 19, 1956.
In the book's introduction, he even describes My Week With Marilyn as "a fairy story." That wouldn't be hard to believe, in my opinion. Why would any author leave out the most interesting part of his interaction with Marilyn Monroe for a second book? Wouldn't it make more sense for his direct relationship with Monroe to be mentioned the first time around?
Many die-hard Marilyn fans do not believe My Week With Marilyn is a true story. Not only is the publishing situation suspect, but many facts in Clark's story are inaccurate according to critiques of the book on websites like Amazon.com.
When the book, My Week With Marilyn, originally came out in 2000, many of the reviewers expressed suspicions of its authenticity as well. A reviewer from The Daily Telegraph called Clark "a complete fantasist" while The Observer's reviewer wrote: "The longer monologues, offered as verbatim, certainly read as if they're written more from fancy than fact. It's enough to say that it's an absurd tale told absurdly, a schoolboyish crush reheated as a memoir."
Unfortunately, Colin Clark died in 2002, so he is not here to defend himself. So, we may never know the truth. One Monroe fan sums it up best in his blog: "I find it utterly upsetting that the story is being touted as true to life, when there is no one around who can vouch for its accuracy."
Yes, My Week With Marilyn is a wonderful film which celebrates the charisma and sensuality exuded by Marilyn Monroe. The performance by Michelle Williams is Oscar-worthy. And while I would not like the film any less if it was shown to be a fairy tale, I would like to know the truth as would all Marilyn fans.
Note: You can draw your own conclusions by reading the 2011 edition of My Week With Marilyn (Weinstein Books) which also includes Clark's diaries (The Prince, The Showgirl and Me) in the second half of the book.
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