Marilyn Monroe and Joan Crawford argued in the press on a provocative dress

The older actor accused the promising star of "displaying" his sexuality.


Marilyn Monroe wore a number of emblematic dresses during his lifetime, including the white Licou dress of The itching of seven years And the bright pink dress of Gentlemen prefer blondes . She even wore a dress that launched a public quarrel with another star. In 1953, Monroe ended with Joan Crawford After wearing a provocative gold dress at a prize ceremony. Crawford criticized the Some love it hot Star and his outfit in the press, which, according to Monroe, surprised him. Read the rest to know why Crawford found the dress so offensive and what else happened between the two old Hollywood legends.

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In the early 1950s, Crawford was created and Monroe was promising.

Joan Crawford circa 1935
Archive Photos / Getty Images

The quarrel of Monroe and Crawford started when Monroe wore a gold dress in the Game Awards magazine in 1953. At the time, she was about 27 years old and she won Fasting Rising Star Award that evening. The young actor had been in several films, including All about Eve And The asphalt jungle , but had not yet appeared in his biggest star roles. Gentlemen prefer blondes was released later the same year.

As for Crawford, she had already had great success as an actor and went through the ups and downs of her career. She had been in many films, including Possesses ,, The women , And Mildred Pierce , for which she won an Oscar for the best actress in 1946.

Monroe chose a scandalous look for the show.

Marilyn Monroe in the gold gown circa 1953
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

To recover its Rising Star price from Game ,, Monroe wore a dress was made for Gentleman prefers blondes by costume tree William Travilla . (He found himself in the film only briefly.) As indicated by Vanity , the dress was so tight that Monroe was to be sewn there. It was made of laminated fabric in pleated gold, had a plunging neckline and was tight around the hips and the back. Vanity According to Travilla, according to Travilla, "the nature of the material would make it appear naked, its body covered with paint".

The dress drew everyone's attention. As indicated by the hair pin, gossip columnist Sheila Graham wrote that Monroe "Fighting, wearing the tightest dresses in tight gold. As everyone was looking at, the blonde was swaying in the long room of her place on the platform. She had stopped the cold show." AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

The dress was also written by another gossip columnist, Florabel Muir , who opposed Monroe to Crawford. "With a little torsion of her behind, Marilyn Monroe stole the show," wrote Muir. "The assembled guests burst into wild applause, [while] two other stars on the screen, Joan Crawford and Lana Turner , received only relaxed attention. After Marilyn, all the other girls seemed dull, however. ""

Crawford criticized Monroe to "display" his sexuality.

Joan Crawford at the Joan Crawford Fashion Show in 1954
Earl Leaf / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

After being dissected in the press, Crawford made Monroe's dress known to Monroe's dress. She said to the gossip columnist, Bob Thomas , of the appearance of the younger actor, "it was like a burlesque show. The public shouted and shouted, and Jerry Lewis I got up on the table and whistled. But those of us in the industry shivered. ""

THE What happened to Bébé Jane? Star continued: "Sex plays an extremely important role in the life of each person. People are interested, intrigued there. But they don't like to see it displayed on their faces." She added that "Monroe advertising went too far" and suggested that she needed help to appear as a good lady.

"She makes the mistake of believing her advertising," Crawford told Thomas. "Someone should show him the light. We should tell him that the public likes provocative female personalities; but she also likes to know that under all of this, actresses are ladies."

Monroe responded generously.

Marilyn Monroe at the premiere of
Earl Leaf / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Monroe heard what Crawford had to say and answered the public. She pointed out that she was increasingly coming while Crawford was already famous and said that she was surprised that the actor had criticized her.

"Although I don't know Miss Crawford very well, she was a symbol of the kindness and understanding of those who need help," Monroe told another gossip columnist, Louella Parsons (via Vanity ). "At the beginning, everything I could think of, that's why she had to select me to detonate? He is a big star. I'm just starting. And then, when the first injury started to go out , I told myself that she had to speak to Mr. Thomas impulsively, without thinking. "

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Monroe talked about her relationship with Crawford in her book.

In 1974, Ben Hecht published My story , which is considered an autobiography written by Hecht and Monroe, because it consists of interviews with Monroe which have been published together. In the book, Monroe remembers meeting crawford At the beginning of his career. She said the older actor had offered to help him with her wardrobe. "It is so easy not to look vulgar," Monroe told Crawford.

"She was an impressive woman. I admired her during dinner," said Monroe about their first meeting. "I hoped that when I was his age, I would keep my appearance as well as her."

They stayed in touch for a while but separated, and Monroe said that the next time she had heard of Crawford, it was in the newspapers a year later. At this point, she told a story about Present at the 1951 Oscars which is apparently mixed with the Game Reward. (Oscars, Monroe was not wearing a provocative dress, but rather a black Bal dress.)

"I did not save the press clippings, but I have somehow remembered what she said," said Monroe in the book. "She said that the vulgar performance of Marilyn Monroe in the Academy affair was a shame for all Hollywood. Vulgarity, she said, consisted of me wearing a dress too tight for me and To twist the back when I went up holding one of the saint oscars in my hand. I was so surprised that I could barely believe what I was reading. "


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