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"No one can handle her. No one can give her advice. She has always decided everything for herself. We're getting 200 letters a day demanding we get rid of her, but we have $2,000,000 tied up in this picture, and we're trying to protect that."

Statement by 20^th Century-Fox following Monroe’s defection from the studio to form Marilyn Monroe Productions.

Since becoming a major star in the early 1950s, Marilyn Monroe had quickly earned a reputation as a sex siren of the screen in a number of roles that emphasised her physical attributes while portraying her as a stereotypical dumb blonde.   The image was one that troubled Monroe to such a degree that in the mid-fifties she took steps to take control of her career.

 In 1954, Monroe met photographer Milt Greene on the Fox lot in Hollywood where Greene had traveled from New York to photograph her for a spread in Look magazine.   They met again at a party a few days after the shoot and, as they got on so well, talk eventually turned to the possibility of entering into some kind of business partnership.   While nothing came of that initial discussion, Greene kept in touch with Monroe throughout 1954 and, while she was shooting The Seven Year Itch, negotiations were completed to form a joint production company with Monroe starring in its films and Greene managing the business affairs.

 The new company was called Marilyn Monroe Productions Inc., and was established with 101 shares – 51 belonging to Monroe (giving her a controlling interest) and 50 to Greene.  In New York, where Monroe stayed with Greene and his wife, Amy, the actress announced that she would not be renewing her contract with Fox.   She also refused to appear in How to Be Very, Very Popular, a minor musical fox had lined up to be the final film under her existing contract.   The studio tried to get her to change her mind by threatening to cast Sheree North, an up-and-coming rival, in the role originally earmarked for Monroe, but to no avail.

 Fox went ahead with production of the film with North, and Betty Grable, whose last picture it would be.   Charles Coburn and Tommy Noonan, two of Monroe’s co-stars from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes were cast, and Milton Krasner, her favourite cinematographer, was hired to shoot it as the studio attempted to recapture the Monroe magic without actually using the actress.   Inevitably, their gambit failed, and Monroe’s judgment was proved to be correct as How to be Very Very Popular received mixed reviews at best.

 Monroe declined other projects proposed by the studio, including the lead in The Girl with the Red Velvet Swing which eventually went to a young Joan Collins.   In what was possibly a calculated attempt to discourage other studios from hiring her, Fox issued a statement: "No one can handle her. No one can give her advice. She has always decided everything for herself. We're getting 200 letters a day demanding we get rid of her, but we have $2,000,000 tied up in this picture [The Seven Year Itch], and we're trying to protect that."

 The Hollywood machine raged full tilt at the actress, its bile lubricated by the input of Hollywood columnists such as Hedda Hopper who regurgitated statements issued by the Fox publicity department.   ‘It’s disgusting,’ Hopper quoted an anonymous Fox stockholder, ‘She’s had four or five years training – enough to produce ten competent actresses – and she still can’t act.’

 In late January 1955, Monroe held a press conference in New York to formally announce the formation of Marilyn Monroe Productions.   When she mentioned that she wished to assume roles more challenging than the dumb blonde parts provided for her by Fox that gathered media asked her to expand on her comment.   What kind of film would she like to play in, they asked?  The Brothers Karamazov, she replied.   The press scoffed at such lofty ambitions.

Marilyn Monroe Productions released only two movies: the critically praised Bus Stop and The Prince and the Showgirl.

Monroe discusses Marilyn Monroe Productions with the media.

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