It always seems a good idea to include on the Blog as much as I can about this screen actress – and what a screen actress she was and for that matter still is.

 Marilyn seems to have appealed to the man getting on the train – well she would wouldn’t she !

Above: Boarding a train at New York Central Station in 1955

She visited London and stayed for quite a few months during 1956 for the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl with Sir Laurence Olivier

During that period in England  she seemed to socialise quite a lot  – mainly in London of course although she and her husband Arthur Miller rented a house in the country at Wick Lane, Englefield Green a beautiful location close to the edge of Windser Great Park – and not too far from Pinewood Film Studios.

It was the summer of 1956, when the world’s press turned their attention to the tiny village, which had become home to one of most famous faces in the world.

Marilyn Monroe and her new husband, playwright Arthur Miller had moved from Hollywood, to a large house in Englefield Green.

Parkside House was hidden away in Wick Lane, a small country road which leads into Windsor Great Park.

The film star was in the country to film The Prince and the Showgirl, with Sir Laurence Olivier.

 Above: Arthur Miller with Marilyn at their home in England with Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh who each look totally overawed by being in Marilyn’s presence. Sir Laurence looks totally besotted. 

Some of the people who were around at that time shared their memories :-

Marilyn’s chauffeur’s widow, now in her 80s, told us that she has letters and photographs from Mr and Mrs Miller, thanking him for his services throughout their stay, including driving them back to the house, through thick fog.

But her husband was never mentioned in either of

Having spent time at the house and after hearing from her husband about his daily experiences as Marilyn’s driver, she has many clear memories of events during that period.

Some  local people do still have very personal memories of Marilyn and Arthur Miller in Englefield Green, which have never been shared publicly before.

Nigel Hammett’s Aunt Florrie lived in a small flat in Parkside House at the time, when she worked in the market garden.

As a 15 year old schoolboy, he recalls being very embarrassed and completely bowled over by Marilyn when introduced to her by his aunt. He says she was “stunningly beautiful.”

Patrick O’Shea, now living in Australia, remembers the day when Marilyn went shopping for shoes!

He told us his stepfather Frank Parker and mother Dorothy, ran a shoe shop at 42 High St, Egham called Woodmans.

One day a chauffeur-driven car pulled up outside and the driver came in, advising Patrick’s parents that Miss Monroe required a pair of tennis shoes.

Having been handed a piece of paper noting her size, his stepfather duly boxed up the shoes, before the uniformed driver paid for them.

As he was leaving the shop, Frank asked would it be possible to have some sort of memento of the star’s purchase from him.

Apparently, a few days later, her chauffeur returned with an envelope containing a signed photograph, which he gave to the couple, on the strict understanding it was not to be used for any advertising.

It was of Marilyn and her husband cycling in Windsor Great Park, and showed her wearing the tennis shoes.

Patrick, then aged 16, added:  “What a buzz that night , when I told my friends!”

“I will say this – they look very happy in the photo and they were not too important to ignore the request from a very small local shopkeeper and give great pleasure to my parents. I am now probably the only one left to recall this very small event but big in my memory of course..”

“I now have the photo and smile with fond memories at the mention of Marilyn Monroe.”

It is possible this was the same bicycle given to the star on her arrival in the UK, by national newspaper the Daily Sketch, in the hope of getting lots of shots of her riding it.

It was later reported that the paper’s editor was somewhat disappointed that the only people ever captured on film using it, were members of Marilyn’s staff!

Marilyn With Terence Rattigan – he, of course was the writer of The Prince and the Showgirl – he also wrote the Screenplay for the film.

On 27 July 1956, Marilyn attended an evening house party at “Little Court” in Windlesham, on the invitation of the owner, writer Terence Rattigan.

PC 607 Jack Packham from Bagshot police station was on duty at the gates to keep out uninvited guests.

He had already waved through a string of famous faces such as Sir Lawrence Oliver with his wife Vivien Leigh, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Audrey Hepburn and John Mills.

A large black limousine pulled up and a body guard clambered out, waving a glass of champagne. He told PC Packham to let them through as it was Marilyn Monroe’s car.

The constable was reported to have said “I’m sorry sir, I don’t know the lady.”

He did eventually concede and allow the car to continue to the house!

And according to retired policeman and local historian Ken Clarke, whose boss happened to be PC 607 in later years, Jack Packham was teased mercilessly by his colleagues at the time, for not recognising Marilyn.

Marilyn with Sir Laurence Olivier at  the Press Conference soon after her arrival to film The Prince and the Showgirl.

Again in this picture he looks like ‘the cat who had got the cream’

Above: A very disinterested Jeremy Spenser sitting next to Marilyn on the film set

THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL 1956

Sir Laurence Olivier and  Marilyn Monroe – you would at first think were an unlikely combination and  yet Olivier’s blustering pomposity and Monroe’s giddy naivete create a surprising chemistry between them. It is reported that they did not get on too well during the filming – she was often late and sometimes did not know her lines it is said. However as Dame Sybil said in a later film ‘ We have to give her some space – after all she is the only one of us who knows how to act on screen’    I don’t know how true that was but it might well be.

Above: With Jack Cardiff Cinematographer on the film

Marilyn Monroe is absolutely superb –her performance is well thought out and very strong, using every ounce of her famed comedic skill . Plus she is beautiful as always.

In support there are wonderful are the outstanding performances by Richard Wattis  and Sybil Thorndike 

It is very well filmed .

Not only was Marilyn in England in person in 1956, but she was also starring at this London West End Cinema in The Seven Year Itch