'08
In 1959 a young US Naval officer was a guest on the set of the Marilyn Monroe/Jack Lemmon/Tony Curtis movie Some Like It Hot after a visit from Monroe to his San Diego Naval base. While on the set he took a short amount of 8mm film footage of the sex symbol, that also included a little bit of Curtis and director Billy Wilder. Forty-nine years later, the lucky military man had passed away, leaving that 2.5 minutes of film, in its original Kodak box, to his daughter, now living in Australia. She decided to sell.
The rare, 2.5-minute-long footage, which shows Monroe and co-star Tony Curtis on the set, was purchased by an anonymous Australian buyer during the Melbourne sale, auctioneer Charles Leski told Reuters.
“We’re surprised there weren’t more bidders, but we are happy that it sold,” Leski, managing director of Leski Auctions, said. “It was a stab in the dark what price the footage would go for.”
The footage was discovered in Australia last month and Leski had set a pre-sale estimate of 20,000 to 30,000 Australian dollars ($17,000-$25,500).
The anonymous purchaser also acquires full commercial rights. Let’s hope we don’t see this in a commercial for a soft drink or Florida travel agency. That would certainly be giving Sugar Kane the fuzzy end of the lollipop, again.
An amateur film lasting 47-minute long, taken on the set of the Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable movie The Misfits, sold at auction for $60,000 earlier this year. That footage was shot by a cast member with a small part in the dramatic western.
“Considering what Misfits reached in the U.S., we are happy, as this means we got A$7,000 per minute,” Leski said.
The lot included a CD copy and DVD copy as well.
Leski had expected the footage, which unlike the film is in color, to generate a lot of interest, as “Some Like It Hot” is listed by the American Film Institute as the greatest American comedy film of all time.
Some Like It Hot is also listed as the greatest American comedy film of all time in Ceilidh’s extensive DVD collection. Maybe not as prestigious as the American Film Insitute, but very important in my household!
In related news, a New York City photographer, Bert Stern, is suing over a series of “unique and irreplaceable images” of Monroe that he loaned to Eros Magazine, which is now out of business, and were never returned.
He says the photos are now held by Michael Weiss and Donald Penny.
Stern is seeking the photos, or at least $700,000 in repayment, plus $1 million in punitive damages and legal fees.
Messages left at Weiss’ photography studio and at Penny’s home were not immediately returned.
Written by Ceilidh
Posted in Marilyn Monroe
12 Responses to “Newly discovered Marilyn Monroe amateur footage auctioned in Australia”
-
She just glows.
-
Some Like it Hot is my favorite MM film of all time, it’s in my DVD collection also. Pretty racy for it’s time. Sugar’s stage wardrobe was gorgeous. Jack Lemmon was hysterical as a cross dressing band member.
You right Syko, she just glows……. -
Daisy, I completely agree with you. I love Some Like it Hot, so glad my parents made me and my sister appreciate b&w films.
LOVE Jack Lemmon “Hi Girls! I’m Daphne!” -
You know, I hate to say it but I see a lot of Britney Spears in the top photo of Marilyn. Maybe it’s the wide-set droopy eyes and goofy look on her face…
-
I’ve always had a soft spot for her..Her vulnerability and sexiness together just move me
I’d like to have seen her in today’s times, though I’m afraid she would have turned out more like Elizabeth Taylor type than Sofia Loren 
-
Marilyn is so much more beautiful when she isn’t posing… but still, amazing.
-
Kittykate, LMAO, you’re right!
How about when he is laying on the bed shaking the maracas and tells Tony Curtis that he is engaged??
Got to watch that again this weekend…… -
Shoulda: I respectfully disagree. Britney, in my opinion, is just another cutesy blond. Whereas Marilyn’s beauty is extraordinary and timeless. She’ll never go out of style
-
Daisy - “Who’s the lucky girl?”
“ME!” *shakes maracas* -
LMAO Kittykate
Daphne; *Taking off his wig*”Osgood, I’m a man”
Osgood: “Well, nobody’s perfect!” -
Now there’s a real sex symbol.
Leave a Reply
Celebitchy aims to be a friendly, welcoming site where people can discuss entertainment stories and current events in a lighthearted, safe environment without fear of harassment, excessive negativity, or bullying. Different opinions, backgrounds, ages, and nationalities are welcome here - hatred and bigotry are not.By commenting you agree to our comment policy
Use the "Report this comment as spam or abuse" link to ask the moderators to delete a comment if it's offensive. If your comment disappears, it has been eaten by the spam filter. Please e-mail cbcomments at gmail.com to get it retrieved.
Get an icon next to your name by signing up for a free Gravatar -->
The Misfits was a brilliant movie.
She really was ‘like a candle in the wind.’
Report this comment as spam or abuse