Marilyn Monroe In Memoriam - Gene Anthony Archive 1962 (Part 1) 03:28

Dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Monroe 1926 - 1962
My greatest appreciation to Moby, one of my all time favorite artists, for letting me use his wonderful song: "When it's cold I'd like to die." Thank you from the bottom of my heart and you are a musical genius!
Moby's & Lisa Gerrard's music, (which accompanies part 3 of this video trilogy), is like keys to my soul.
Mark Bellinghaus

Marilyn Monroe -- In Memoriam
2007-08-05 20:26:46
By Mark Bellinghaus, Ernest W. Cunningham and Jennifer J. Dickinson

Marilyn Monroe left our world forty-five years ago today. Her untimely death on August 5, 1962 was a sad day in American History. The world was not prepared for the shocking news that the barely thirty-six year old woman who had just received her Golden Globe that year as World Film Favorite: Female, was now gone.

Haunting images that day were captured by a few photographers who were allowed to photograph the home of Marilyn Monroe and the surrounding grounds. Leigh Weiner and Lawrence Schiller were there and were joined by fellow photographer, Gene Anthony, whose rights and negatives of his perspective of the events of those few days are now part of The Mark Bellinghaus Marilyn Monroe Collection. Through the lens of Gene Anthony, one is reminded of the immense loss that accompanied the passing of Marilyn Monroe.

One sees the now lonely swimming pool, waiting for the mistress of the house to sit beside it on the nearby chaise lounge and envelop herself in the accompanying towel. Another disheartening reminder of Marilyn Monroe's absence was the sight of un-planted trees, ready and waiting to be placed into the ground. Interior shots were also taken through the windows, since police had sealed entries to the home. Photos from the interior give a glimpse of the personal tastes of Marilyn Monroe, including her simple yet exquisite furniture, which many pieces are now preserved within The Mark Bellinghaus Marilyn Monroe Collection.

Eunice Murray, the housekeeper, guided family members, the photographers and funeral home employees around the property. The only known color image of the retrieval of the late star's green Emilio Pucci Dress is captured. This was the item that she was outfitted in for her final rest.

At the final farewell at Westwood Memorial Park, Gene Anthony documented the hearse and funeral procession of solemn mourners on the way to Ms. Monroe's crypt, including a grief-stricken Joe DiMaggio and Joe DiMaggio Jr. Also captured were the spectators held back by barricades, some that he described dressed as if they were looking to be discovered by talent scouts.

These journalistic yet artistic images, which are also shown by clicking part three of the video embedded below, truly transports the viewer back to the grief experienced on August 5, 1962 and the solemn days that followed.

The documentary of the Gene Anthony Photo Archive and the Leigh Weiner book are both evidence of the sense of grief that the world still feels for this beautiful and tragic star, who shone brightly on this earth for the brief time that she was here, and we still can't let her go.

In a telegram to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kennedy less than two months before her death, Marilyn Monroe declined an invitation to an event that they were hosting, in lieu of a freedom ride. She remarked: "I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle."

Through our investigation we have come to the conclusion that Marilyn Monroe took her life -- that it became too overwhelming for her. We hope that wherever Marilyn Monroe is now that she has found peace and we are assured that she will always be remembered as a beautiful twinkling star.