Inside Marilyn Monroe

by John Gilmore

Inside Marilyn Monroe is an intense, personal memoir spanning more than a decade (1952-1962) by the then-actor John Gilmore, detailing his acquaintanceship with the most important movie star in the world, Marilyn Monroe. From Hollywood to New York, from New York back to Hollywood, the casual hello-goodbye friendship building to a point where Monroe and Gilmore were about to make a picture together but tragedy struck in Marilyn's life. Gilmore turned from acting to devote himself to writing and his memoir gathers Marilyn's personal life through many associates and stars known to Marilyn and Gilmore. Revealed is a treasure-trove of facets of Marilyn's life previously unknown. Gilmore's memoir shuns the conspiracy theories as he instead focuses on Marilyn as she really was, not as the media-created, cardboard sexpot, but the living and breathing "wonder" that she was. This haunting, highly personal memoir contains many photographs never before published and are made public for the first time.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 24, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

John Gilmore was born in the Charity Ward of the Los Angeles County General Hospital and was raised in Hollywood. His mother had been a studio contract-player for MGM while his step-grandfather worked as head carpenter for RKO Pictures. Gilmore's parents separated when he was six months old and he was subsequently raised by his grandmother. Gilmore's father became a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer, and also wrote and acted on radio shows, a police public service (the shows featured promising movie starlets as well as established performers like Bonita Granville, Ann Rutherford, the "jungle girl" Aquanetta, Joan Davis, Hillary Brooke, Ann Jeffreys, Brenda Marshall and other players young John Gilmore became acquainted with. As a child actor, he appeared in a Gene Autry movie and bit parts at Republic Studios. He worked in LAPD safety films and did stints on radio. Eventually he appeared in commercial films. Actors Ida Lupino and John Hodiak were mentors to Gilmore, who worked in numerous television shows and feature films at Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Universal International studios. During the 1950s, through John Hodiak, Gilmore sustained an acquaintanceship with Marilyn Monroe in Hollywood, then in New York, where Gilmore was involved with the Actors Studio, transcribing the lectures of Lee Strasberg into book form. Gilmore performed on stage and in live TV, wrote poetry and screenplays, directed two experimental plays, one by Jean Genet. He wrote and directed a low-budget film entitled "Expressions", later changed to "Blues for Benny." The film did not get general release but was shown independently. Gilmore eventually settled into a writing career; journalist, true crime writer and novelist. He served as head of the writing program at Antioch University and has taught and lectured at length.

Reviews

[Deshane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The surrounding rabbit-hole that is "Marilyn Monroe" still has me in it's clutches. 😩

I don't have a lot of experience reading memoirs, so I can only say I found this written decently enough. I got the impression John Gilmore was trying to leave Marilyn with as much dignity reporting on her life and death as possible for someone in the throws of stardom. He focused heavily, and at times redundantly, on her personality and quirks.

I did find it ironic he spoke multiple times, of people falsifying claims and forging affairs, complicating Marilyn's life even more with opinions and assumptions... While it seems the author ran in the same circles as Marilyn, and knew of her closely- I found he too was guilty of speaking for Marilyn when there was no room to accurately do so.

The few things I can say with utmost certainty on this journey of discovering Marilyn Monroe is: She was an American Beauty beyond compare. Her presence on-screen and off captivated men and women alike. Marilyn was a victim; of her family's genetics, her childhood, her beauty, and ultimately a victim of addiction and Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe was far from the dumb-blonde she was type-cast as in movies; She was well-read, intelligent, artistic and a free-thinker.

Hollywood executives and their weasels left Marilyn with no voice and they caged and controlled her until her free-thinking spirit became sick and broken... A genuine tragedy. 💔

[Chrissy Maroon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about John Gilmore. He wrote the story of Marilyn somewhat from his perspective. I applaud the amount of research and personal interviews he collected.

I didn't know anything about Marilyn before reading this. Just some of the basics and have seen a few of her films. Wow, what a world she came from. I would recommend reading if you don't know much about her. It was a quick read. A lot of opinions from a lot of people in Hollywood. I feel bad for her & wish more positive things were said about her in the book.

I'm definitely going to watch more of her films & want to read more about her roles & their effects on culture/film.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed getting more insights into Marilyn's intense but short life. From childhood and early days up to how the model got into movies and her end. Many fascinating photos I never saw elsewhere before. If you want to form an opinion on a woman that was much more than a sex bomb you should have a look into that book. This one is connecting the dots. Highly recommended.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting take on one of my favorite movie stars!!! The writing is very good, too.