Authors: J. Randy Taraborrelli
ISBN-13: 9780446580823, ISBN-10: 0446580821
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date Published: August 2009
Edition: (Non-applicable)
J. Randy Taraborrelli is a respected journalist, a recognizable entertainment personality, and in-demand guest on many television programs. He is the bestselling author of eight books. Taraborrelli is a reporter for the Times (London), Paris Match, and The Daily Mail (UK) and a contributor to Redbook,McCall's, and Good Housekeeping.
When Norma Jeane Baker became famous as Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, she said her mother, Gladys Baker, was either dead or not a part of her life, depending on the publicity campaign of the moment. However, neither was true. Marilyn's mentally ill mother was very much present in her world, and the complex family drama that unfolded behind the scenes is a story that has never before been told ... until now.
Here J. Randy Taraborrelli draws detailed portraits of the people so influential in Marilyn's life. He tells the heartbreaking story of a world-famous daughter dealing secretly with a parent's severe paranoid schizophrenia-and exposes the shocking scope of Marilyn's own mental deterioration. Taraborrelli also uncovers the identity of Marilyn's real father and the half-brother she never knew, as well as the truth about her relationship with the Kennedys-Jack, Bobby, and Pat Kennedy Lawford. Based on decades of new research and including the most complete filmography ever compiled, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe is the final word on one of the most fascinating and elusive legends of the twentieth century.
Robert Petkoff's diligence as a narrator matches Taraborrelli's accomplishments in generating a fresh analysis of the iconic Marilyn Monroe. With Petkoff's Midas touch, the cast of characters comes to life with crisp clarity and attention to nuance. While there are too many good vocal characterizations to allow for a complete listing, some of the standouts include the mercurial husbands Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio as well as such Rat Pack figures as Peter Lawford and Frank Sinatra. Petkoff's delivery of DiMaggio and Sinatra's ill-fated attempt to spy on Monroe and her romantic companions creates palpable dramatic tension. And as Monroe herself, Petkoff creates a sublime breathy persona that shifts effectively from the girl-next-door Norma Jean to the glamorous Marilyn. Bonus features include a downloadable photo slide show. A Grand Central hardcover. (Aug.)
Preface xiii
Prologue 1
Part 1 The Beginning 7
Norma Jeane's Foster Mother, Ida 9
Norma Jeane's Grandmother, Della 12
Marilyn's Mother, Gladys 17
Norma Jeane Is Born 22
Della's Terrible Fate 25
Living with the Bolenders 28
A Frightening Encounter with Gladys 33
Ida Wants to Adopt Norma Jeane 37
"Now It's Time to Know Your Mother" 39
A New-and Temporary-Life 44
The Voices Return 50
Grace Is Norma Jeane's Legal Guardian 55
Norma Jeane's Troubling Visit with Gladys 58
Norma Jeane in an Orphanage 60
Grace v. Ida 66
Norma Jeane Learns She Has a Half Sister 70
Norma Jeane Marries 72
Part 2 Transitioning 79
Crazy? 81
Gladys's Clever Plan 84
Trouble in Paradise 87
Overnight Success 91
Gladys Is Released 94
Gladys's Plea to Norma Jeane 96
Jim Gets a Surprise: Gladys 99
How Gladys Lost Her Children 101
The First Norma Jeane 106
Jim's Ultimatum 108
Final Cofrontation
Norma Jeane Signs with 20th Century-Fox 112
Part 3 Marilyn 117
Marilyn Trying to Understand Gladys 119
Getting Through to Gladys? 124
Wayne Bolender's Fatherly Advice 128
Giving Up Her Soul 130
Natasha 135
Disappointment 138
Johnny Hyde 140
Gladys Marries 145
Fifty Bucks for Nudity? 147
Part 4 Stardom 151
Unwelcome Visitors 153
The Asphalt Jungle 156
All About Eve 158
Dumb as a Blonde Fox 161
Suicide over Johnny? 165
Marilyn Tries to Meet Her "Father" 168
Early Films 172
Jasper Dies 174
Don't Bother to Knock 177
Joe DiMaggio 180
The Nude Calendar Scandal 186
Gladys: "I'd Like to Have My Child's Love" 189
Marilyn and Joe: Tumultuous Already? 194
Gladys's Surprise Visit 196
Niagara 200
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 202
Gladys Threatens Grace 205
Gladys's New Home 209
How to Marry a Millionaire 212
River of No Return 215
Part 5 Difficult Times 217
Grace's Upsetting Secret 219
Grace Learns About Marilyn's Troubles 221
A Graceful Exit 225
A Shocking Discovery About Grace 226
Marilyn's Rebellion 229
Natasha Continues Her Dual Purpose 232
Mrs. DiMaggio 234
There's No Business Like Show Business 239
The Seven Year Itch 242
Marilyn Divorces Joe 246
Sinatra 249
The Wrong Door Raid 253
Marilyn in New York 259
Arthur Miller 268
Why Marilyn Was Investigated by the FBI 272
Bus Stop 274
Natasha Non Grata 276
Part 6 Vioces 281
The Misery of Arthur Miller 283
Marilyn and Arthur Marry 285
The Prince and the Showgirl 287
Arthur Miller's Damning Journal 293
Quiet Before the Storm 296
Marilyn's Depression 301
Some Like It Hot 306
A Sign from God? 312
Part 7 Slow Death 315
Giving Voice to the Voices 317
Marilyn and Pat 323
The Misfits 331
No Relief 338
Marilyn Is Committed 344
"You Are a Very, Very Sick Girl" 347
"I'm Locked Up with These Poor Nutty People" 350
"How Dare You Betray Me!" 353
Gladys's Sheets, Soaked with Blood 355
Returning to the Safety of Sinatra 358
A Reunion with Berniece 365
Greenson's Diagnosis 370
A Second Opinion 374
Marilyn's Drugs of Choice 376
Dr. Greenson in Control 383
Eunice Murray 387
Part 8 The Kennedys 391
Kennedy Style 393
Marilyn and Bobby 398
JFK: "Finally! You're Here!" 403
Notorious Players 406
Marilyn's Weekend with the President 409
Something's Got to Give 412
Marilyn's Fascination with the President 415
Marilyn's Surprise Visit to Pat 419
An Overdose Because of JFK? 421
Were Marilyn and Bobby "The New Item"? 422
Bobby: "The President Wants It and I Want It" 428
"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" 433
Part 9 Sad Endings 441
Marilyn Fired 443
Gladys: "I Don't Say Goodbye" 449
Pat: "My Friend Is Dying" 457
The Lost Weekend 461
"Maybe" 467
Final Curtain 470
Appendices 477
After Marilyn 479
After Marilyn's Death 479
Glady's Life After Marilyn 482
Perspective: Marilyn and the Kennedys 485
The FBI's Files on Marilyn 489
The John Miner Transcripts 492
Acknowledgments 495
Sources and Other Notes 503
Marilyn Monroe Filmography 527
Index 542