Marilyn Monroe photographs revealed for first time: ‘Very younger, candy and way more harmless’

Six a long time after her tragically early demise, Marilyn Monroe stays America’s undefeated bombshell — and one in every of our most enduring enigmas.

Was the celebrated starlet fragile and love-starved — or robust and confident? In love with love — or blissful together with her many lovers?

Now, a brand new e book stuffed with never-before-seen photographs and letters seeks to reply among the many unanswered questions on her life.

“Dear Marilyn: The Unseen Letters and Photographs” was compiled from the archive of photographer Sam Shaw, who befriended her within the early Fifties, simply as her star was rising — the 2 shared a uncommon closeness that allowed him near-unfettered entry to her famed life.

Through Monroe’s ups and downs, their friendship endured, and the shutterbug turned her shut confidant.

Thanks to his granddaughter, Melissa Shaw, the world lastly has an opportunity to take a extra intimate take a look at the way in which her grandfather noticed Marilyn, via his eyes and lens.

Monroe had many sides — and Sam lets us see all of them.

Goofball Marilyn

Here’s one other probability to see what Melissa Shaw known as “the joy of Marilyn” — captured on the Monroe-Miller house in Connecticut’s Litchfield County.

Monroe goofed round with the photographer all day within the yard, and the collection of photos from that shoot showcases the completely different points of her character, from contemplative to intercourse kitten, in a easy blue gown, shot in shade or B&W; Arthur Miller even makes a cameo or two.

So a lot is made, mentioned Melissa, of her “search for herself, but there was also that natural, innate, born-with-it joy and interest in life.”

Iconic Marilyn

The thought of taking pictures Marilyn within the near-wardrobe malfunction made well-known in “The Seven Year Itch” was Sam’s, Melissa informed The Post.

Sam had been employed by the producer to shoot what was often known as key photos — stills and snapshots that might be used to hype the movie. Earlier, Sam had captured an identical picture at Coney Island, which had change into a sellout cowl on Friday journal.

He advised staging this scene the identical means after studying a line within the movie script — “Do you feel the breeze from the subway? Isn’t it delicious?”

This picture is of the unique, New York shoot, however the crowd right here prompted an excessive amount of hubbub to make use of that footage within the last film, so the acquainted scene’s really a reshoot on a closed soundstage in LA.

Queen-of-the-world Marilyn

Riding excessive on her “Seven Year Itch” success, Monroe tore up her twentieth Century Fox contract, turned her again on Hollywood for New York and began her personal manufacturing firm.

“At the height of her superstardom, she wanted more artistic control over the roles she was playing,” mentioned Melissa.

“People holding power at this time were quite universally men, and Sam describes her so many times as a tough street fighter with a will of iron.”

Nothing sums up Marilyn’s swagger higher than this snap, taken on the house she was sharing together with her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, in Roxbury, Connecticut — stunning, however unbowed.

Method Marilyn

Marilyn was a way appearing devotee, and needed to shoot this bathtub scene from “The Seven Year Itch” that means: stark bare.

“It’s what she called ‘actors’ truth,’ playing the scene as authentically as possible regardless of what the script said,” Melissa defined.

The e book’s photographs present that she conceded to prudish norms, sporting nude panties and a high. Marilyn spent loads of downtime within the bathtub, too, she added, a pioneering fan of the present celeb fad for chilly plunges.

“She took baths filled with ice cubes because she thought it kept her body firm,” she mentioned.

Candid Marilyn

Never seen earlier than, this was shot on NYC’s streets through the shoot for “The Seven Year Itch.” Melissa factors out the distinction in Monroe’s smile right here.

“Not the big, wide, open-mouthed smile she perfected for the paparazzi,” she mentioned, “It’s more intimate, kind and sweet. We love this photo.”

The blurred background makes it appear much more advert hoc, extra like an out-take second the place the actress might be herself — earlier than slipping again into bombshell character on set.

BFF Marilyn

This candid shot of Melissa’s grandfather in a loving clinch with Monroe epitomizes their bond.

“You can see the affection and intimacy here — he was a mentor-like figure to her,” mentioned Melissa. “It’s the best representation of their relationship.”

It was taken on the “Seven Year Itch” set, she believes, as a result of Sam needed to impress his youngsters. It’s additionally one which Melissa cherishes for the sunniness that oozes from Monroe within the picture.

“Instead of her being a victim, it highlights her joy,” she mentioned.

Smartypants Marilyn

“She makes him look good, doesn’t she?” Melissa laughed at this indelible picture, which turns Arthur Miller right into a gruff intercourse image in his personal proper. 

Sam spent a day prowling the streets of New York with the famed couple as a part of the promo for “The Prince and the Showgirl,” the primary movie from Marilyn’s new manufacturing shingle, to look in Life journal.

“Sam’s point of view repositions Marilyn to be her equal,“ Melissa said. “Maybe she wasn’t an intellectual in the way he was, but I don’t know if she was trying to be. She was very well read.”

Later that very same day, because the rain closed in whereas the couple walked throughout the Brooklyn Bridge, Miller referred to as his buddy, author Norman Rosten, to present them shelter close by — creating a permanent friendship between Rosten and Monroe that lasted till her demise.

Behind-the-scenes Marilyn

This candid silhouette shot snaps Marilyn at a significant second — working with Richard Avedon, style’s primo photographer. Sam was a fan of his former NYC highschool classmate, calling him “the greatest,” mentioned Melissa.

This picture comes from a session simply someday earlier than her iconic subway grate shoot occurred.

“She’s doing the open-mouthed Marilyn look there, but she looks very young, sweet and much more innocent here,” Melissa mentioned.

For Marilyn, the group up with Avedon would repay tenfold — he’d assist her land her dream gig, the quilt of Harper’s Bazaar, barely a 12 months later.

Marilyn’s man

Sam Shaw hardly ever stepped in entrance of the digicam to pose, so this can be a uncommon picture.

“It’s exactly what Sam looked like when he met Marilyn, with his old film camera and some kind of ID hanging off his trench coat,” Melissa mentioned.

“He was one of those people who became an artist because there was no other choice. Some people do, and Marilyn fit that as well, so when they found each other, they connected on that level.”

“Dear Marilyn: The Unseen Letters and Photographs” (ACC Art Books, $65) is out now.