Marilyn Monroe’s last completed movie was “The Misfits,” which was released in 1961. The film, directed by John Huston, starred Monroe alongside Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift. Despite its impressive cast and crew, the film was not a commercial success upon its release, and it would also be the final completed film for both Gable and Monroe.
“The Misfits” tells the story of a recently divorced woman named Roslyn Tabor, played by Monroe, who travels to Reno, Nevada to get a quickie divorce. While there, she meets aging cowboy Gay Langland (Gable) and his friends Guido (Eli Wallach) and Perce (Clift). Gay is immediately drawn to Roslyn, and the two begin a tumultuous relationship.
The film was a departure for Monroe, who had previously been known for playing glamorous, comedic roles. In “The Misfits,” she played a more serious, dramatic character, and the film dealt with darker themes such as loneliness, mortality, and the disillusionment of the American Dream.
However, the production of “The Misfits” was troubled from the start. Monroe was struggling with personal issues, including her divorce from playwright Arthur Miller, whom she had married in 1956. She was also battling addiction to prescription drugs, which affected her ability to remember lines and stay focused on set. Gable was also struggling with health issues, and he reportedly had difficulty keeping up with the physically demanding scenes in the film.
Despite the difficulties on set, the film was completed, and it was released to mixed reviews. Some critics praised the performances of the cast, particularly Monroe’s, while others criticized the slow pacing of the film and its heavy-handed themes.
Tragically, “The Misfits” would also be Monroe’s final completed film. Less than a year after its release, Monroe died of a drug overdose at the age of 36. The circumstances surrounding her death have been the subject of much speculation and conspiracy theories over the years, but the official cause of death was ruled as “acute barbiturate poisoning.”
In the years since Monroe’s death, “The Misfits” has gained a reputation as a cult classic, with many critics and film scholars re-evaluating the film’s themes and performances. The film has also been analyzed in the context of Monroe’s life and career, with some seeing it as a reflection of her own struggles with fame, addiction, and disillusionment.
In conclusion, Marilyn Monroe’s last completed film was “The Misfits,” a dramatic tale of loneliness and disillusionment in the American West. Despite its troubled production and mixed reviews upon its release, the film has since gained a cult following and has been analyzed as a reflection of Monroe’s own struggles with addiction and fame. Monroe’s tragic death less than a year after the film’s release has only added to its mystique and importance in the history of cinema.