What do you think?
Rate this book
Marilyn Monroe
Por encargo de la revista Vogue , el prestigioso fotógrafo Bert Stern tomó una serire de fotografías de Marilyn, en las que la actriz aparece sensual y casi desnuda.
Estas nunca fueron publicadas por considerarse demasiado espontáneas, por lo que Stern realizó una segunda sesión con la actriz completamente vestida y maquillada. La muerte de Marilyn tuvo lugar el mismo día que salía la revista que incluía sus fotografías, en 1962. Este libro recoge las mejores 59 fotografías de ambas sesiones y nos muestra una Marilyn más cercana y accesible, alejada de la leyenda en que se ha convertido para generaciones.
English Description
Bert Stern's Favorite Photos of an American Icon
Bert Stern, the famous commercial and fashion photographer of the
60s, was the last to be granted a sitting by Marilyn Monroe six weeks before her tragic death. The three-day session yielded amazing pictures—fashion, portrait, and nude studies—of indescribable sensual and human vibrancy, of which Mr. Stern's favorites are published in this book.
The monumental body of work by the master photographer and the
Hollywood actress marks a climax in the history of star photography. It is a unique affirmation of the erotic dimension of photography and the eroticism of taking photos, and it is the world's finest tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
In 1954 Bert Stern opened his first studio in New York. Besides
working for IBM, Vogue, Glamour, Life, Revlon, and Smirnoff, he is famous for his portraits of celebrities such as Anna Nicole Smith, Elizabeth Taylor, Gary Cooper, Louis Armstrong, Catherine Deneuve, as well as Marilyn Monroe.
Accompanying the incredible photos are Marilyn's conversations with the
"I'm not going to take off my pants," she declared.
"Just roll them down, then."
She rolled them way down low on her hips so I could see the label, which read JAX.
I saw the scar now. It was on the right side of her stomach. A blemish, an imperfection that only made her seem more vulnerable and accentuated the incredible smoothness of her skin.
She was the color of champagne, the color of alabaster.
We were ready to begin.
Estas nunca fueron publicadas por considerarse demasiado espontáneas, por lo que Stern realizó una segunda sesión con la actriz completamente vestida y maquillada. La muerte de Marilyn tuvo lugar el mismo día que salía la revista que incluía sus fotografías, en 1962. Este libro recoge las mejores 59 fotografías de ambas sesiones y nos muestra una Marilyn más cercana y accesible, alejada de la leyenda en que se ha convertido para generaciones.
English Description
Bert Stern's Favorite Photos of an American Icon
Bert Stern, the famous commercial and fashion photographer of the
60s, was the last to be granted a sitting by Marilyn Monroe six weeks before her tragic death. The three-day session yielded amazing pictures—fashion, portrait, and nude studies—of indescribable sensual and human vibrancy, of which Mr. Stern's favorites are published in this book.
The monumental body of work by the master photographer and the
Hollywood actress marks a climax in the history of star photography. It is a unique affirmation of the erotic dimension of photography and the eroticism of taking photos, and it is the world's finest tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
In 1954 Bert Stern opened his first studio in New York. Besides
working for IBM, Vogue, Glamour, Life, Revlon, and Smirnoff, he is famous for his portraits of celebrities such as Anna Nicole Smith, Elizabeth Taylor, Gary Cooper, Louis Armstrong, Catherine Deneuve, as well as Marilyn Monroe.
Accompanying the incredible photos are Marilyn's conversations with the
"I'm not going to take off my pants," she declared.
"Just roll them down, then."
She rolled them way down low on her hips so I could see the label, which read JAX.
I saw the scar now. It was on the right side of her stomach. A blemish, an imperfection that only made her seem more vulnerable and accentuated the incredible smoothness of her skin.
She was the color of champagne, the color of alabaster.
We were ready to begin.
338 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 12, 2016
I don't understand why some people are so enamored with this book. The fact that Bert Stern got Marilyn drunk and that she looks buzzed in a lot of these pictures, really takes away from what this could have been. All I see is exploitation being glorified. I also have lots of contempt for Stern for having published the photographs that Marilyn didn't approve of and had marked up. I think that is pretty low too. When it comes to MM, I prefer the work of George Barris, Sam Shaw and Ed Feingersh. This is not a book I would recommend.
November 25, 2010
This book is a joy to own! The photos are so beautiful and amazing! I don't usually re-read many books. But, I never tire of reading it! There is not not much text (less than 30 pages). Over 2,500 photos is the biggest photo collection of Marilyn I have ever seen! I love this book and I highly recommend it to all Marilyn fans!
July 25, 2012
My husband bought me this book as a present for our anniversary as I am a huge Marilyn fan. I love this book and I keep going back and looking through it every so often. Marilyn looks absolutely beautiful in all of these photos. This book is a must have for any Marilyn fan as the collection of photos are stunning! Of all the Marilyn books I have, this by far is my favorite of them all!
October 12, 2007
This is an odd book because Bert Stern comes off as an "I coulda fucked her, but I didn't" sort of guy. But if you take the commentary with a grain of salt, it's a fascinating and oddly heartbreaking series of photos.
August 14, 2008
A new, more mature Marilyn had emerged and with a halo of light around her each photograph explores the moods and intimacy of a woman loved by the world still unforgettable nearly 50 years later. An extraordinary look at Marilyn in the final days of her life. A treasure!
November 8, 2022
Some of the photos truly are beautiful, but it's absolutely impossible to enjoy this book for all of Bert Stern's disgusting descriptions of what's gone on during the shoot. She is visibly checked out in a lot of them, which just makes it impossible to ignore what was going on.
Do you want to read a book by a man who:
- cannot stop talking about how much he wants to get her naked and alone in a room
- is aware of the fact that she had her drink spiked with 100% vodka, yet supplies more and more alcohol during the shoot
- takes pride in only kissing Marilyn after she just about managed to say "no" before she passed out on the bed after a grueling day of shooting
- repeatedly gets off on describing her as "childlike" and "vulnerable", so far as comparing it to spying on his 12 year old girl next door as a teenager
- coherses her into taking all of her clothes off, then taking photos for his "private collection" when she accidentally drops one of the items covering her bottom half
- stands over her as it makes him feel powerful while she's reluctant and distant, then shouts at the crew for someone to "turn her on"
- is at the time of his writing aware that for all intents and purposes, Marilyn committed suicide shortly after seeing the finished photos, of which she brutually vetoed more than half, and yet feels zero shame over the fact that even then he goes on to publish those photos (destructions marks and all)
It's disgusting explotation to the max. The fact this was later released again as "The Complete Last Sitting", presumably with even more photos she didn't wan the world to see... I can't. Disgusting through and through.
Do you want to read a book by a man who:
- cannot stop talking about how much he wants to get her naked and alone in a room
- is aware of the fact that she had her drink spiked with 100% vodka, yet supplies more and more alcohol during the shoot
- takes pride in only kissing Marilyn after she just about managed to say "no" before she passed out on the bed after a grueling day of shooting
- repeatedly gets off on describing her as "childlike" and "vulnerable", so far as comparing it to spying on his 12 year old girl next door as a teenager
- coherses her into taking all of her clothes off, then taking photos for his "private collection" when she accidentally drops one of the items covering her bottom half
- stands over her as it makes him feel powerful while she's reluctant and distant, then shouts at the crew for someone to "turn her on"
- is at the time of his writing aware that for all intents and purposes, Marilyn committed suicide shortly after seeing the finished photos, of which she brutually vetoed more than half, and yet feels zero shame over the fact that even then he goes on to publish those photos (destructions marks and all)
It's disgusting explotation to the max. The fact this was later released again as "The Complete Last Sitting", presumably with even more photos she didn't wan the world to see... I can't. Disgusting through and through.
September 16, 2007
"read" this again in 05, it's just an essay with a jillion fabulous pictures of Norma Jean. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2011
I have to say that all the pictures are perfect, but descriptions that Stern gave somehow disappointed me. Still worth seeing!
March 30, 2013
<3 Beautiful photos and beautifully written. Revealing, Expressive and sensitive.
December 26, 2018
5++ stars for the photos, 1 for the introduction by Bert Stern who comes off self-serving, smarmy, and vaguely repulsive.
December 17, 2022
A real "hommage" to Marilyn! The best pictures of M!!
June 22, 2023
Text for this edition is in German, but I borrowed it for the photos so didn't read it. Beautiful photos of Monroe.
December 6, 2022
Amazing photos of an artist on the verge of a break through who unfortunately did not get the chance to level-up even further. Marilyn Monroe played masterfully when dealt shi!tty hands, but the game ended abruptly. There is a full range of emotions in this shoot.
March 19, 2008
Beautiful!
September 23, 2013
Visually breath taking!! Truly a coffee table book for all, hard to believe Marilyn wasn't considered photogenic by the major studios at first!
September 13, 2013
nicely collaborated..photographs are fascinating but yet something seems to be missing..maybe thats marilyn itself
November 10, 2013
Bought it right when it came out. Great photos.
January 18, 2015
Despite some slightly creepy passages from the photographer, this book is extraordinary. The photos are magical.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews