Marilyn Monroe "Seven Year Itch" Premiere

Marilyn Monroe starred in "The Seven Year Itch", which premiered June 3, 1955. It is an American romantic comedy film based on a 1952 three-act play with the same name by George Axelrod. The film was co-written and directed by Billy Wilder, and stars Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, reprising his Broadway role from the play. It contains one of the most notable images of the 20th century – Monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress is blown upwards by a passing train. The titular phrase, which refers to declining interest in a monogamous relationship after seven years of marriage, has been used by psychologists.

The Seven Year Itch was filmed between September and November 1954, and was the only Billy Wilder film released by 20th Century-Fox. The film earned $6 million in rentals at the North American box office. Here is the famous Marilyn Monroe dress scene:

The footage of Monroe's dress billowing over a subway grate was shot twice: the first take was shot on location outside the Trans-Lux 52nd Street Theater, then located at 586 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, while the second take was on a sound stage. Both eventually made their way into the finished film, despite the often-held belief that the original on-location footage's sound had been rendered useless by the overexcited crowd present during filming in New York. The exterior shooting location of Richard's apartment was 164 East 61st Street in Manhattan. Here is some never before seen footage of Marilyn Monroe during filming:

Apparently, Marilyn Monroe's then husband, Yankee baseball legend, Joe Dimaggio was so angry about the shoot, he stormed off the set and they filed for divorce shortly after. Here is news footage of them attending a sneak preview of "The Seven Year Itch" in New York on her 29th Birthday:

The original 1955 review by Variety was largely positive. In the 1970s Wilder called the movie "a nothing picture because the picture should be done today without censorship. But you couldn't do that in those days, so I was just straitjacketed. It just didn't come off one bit, and there's nothing I can say about it except I wish I hadn't made it."

Press the Cool Button to be notified when new Blog of Fame posts are published.