Something's Got to Give (1962)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

People are voting emotionally.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

"Something's Got To Give" was your typical 20th Century Fox designed Marilyn Monroe vehicle. Woman lost at sea, Husband and her Children move on with lives, Woman returns home after several years - can things ever be the same? So a very simple plot, which was in fact already done years before in a movie on which this was based. On paper, certainly not a very exciting picture - nothing original and nothing ground breaking. But as it turned out, "Something's Got To Give" became one of the most fascinating movie projects of the early 1960's and indeed the Hollywood Studio System. This was due, in part, to it's leading lady - Monroe - and the circumstances surrounding the picture. By the time of the movie, Marilyn's difficult behaviour had become somewhat legendary and she had been blamed for costly delays on nearly all of her pictures - unable or unwilling to 'get herself together' to go in front of the cameras, she was often late on set, distracted and a seeming nightmare to work around. Yet, her incredible charisma and unique connection with the camera would always prevail and the efforts it took to get the best from her were always, without question, worth it 100%. Billy Wilder once said of her - "Better Marilyn late, than all the others on time".During the time of this production, Monroe's personal life was in total chaos as it so often was in her life. Secretive Affairs with the Kennedy's were perhaps the most important developments of her life at the time, but other aspects like her continued manic depressive personality, dependency on sleeping pills and alcohol continued to play a major part in her apparent downfall and they ravaged the girl. The extent to which her personal life was seemingly destroying her is evident for all to see in the restored footage from the movie. Although, superficially she looks far better here than she had previously in both "The Misfits" and "Some Like It Hot". Monroe seemed to have regained some of that magical glow that appeared to have been lost in her previous few films - Wardrobe Screen Tests prove that. Looking vitalised and healthy, those close to the film would be forgiven in thinking that things may have started to change and perhaps, after all, Marilyn Monroe was back on form. But they were wrong.In several restored scenes, Marilyn looks confused and almost "doped up". She struggles with lines and at one point appears to almost break down into tears whilst trying to perform a scene in which she must silently emote. "I Can't....." she says before appearing to break down. In other scenes, she struggles with relatively simple lines over and over. It truly is a heartbreaking sight. A once masterful comedienne and fine dramatic actress, to see Monroe struggle so much - and appear to frustrated by it, is truly a sad sight to see. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, in many other scenes she is excellent! One particular example is a scene in which she is trying to convince her ex-Husband that a total stranger she has just met is the main with whom she spent her time on the Island - to put her ex-Husband's fears at rest about her fidelity. Monroe is masterful, she goes through the entire scene without error and her timing is beautiful - it's a truly outstanding scene. There are other similar moments in which Marilyn is on form, but it would appear moments of excellence and despair came in even quantities in this picture.The one-off look it gives us at Marilyn Monroe in her final days is what makes "Something's Got To Give" so fascinating. For fans of the blonde bombshell, it's also a heartbreaking piece because it shows how truly ravaged and destroyed the beautiful Marilyn became. But yet, in even measure, it shows how despite everything that was happening in her personal life Monroe was still able to perform wonderfully in several scenes. Dean Martin is also to be applauded - his sheer kindness towards Marilyn when she got it wrong is heart warming. Attempting to encourage her - "That was good though, wasn't it George (Kukor)" - he says at one point and he means it. A genuine soul who wanted to help Marilyn out when she was so clearly in need of assistance, Dean Martin is to be thanked and applauded. "Something's Got To Give" is a fascinating unfinished movie that can also be very moving and even heartbreaking. Marilyn Monroe fans should do everything they can to try and catch a glimpse of it, at least, because what it shows of this Iconic actresses, who died before her time, is truly compelling.

I gotta say, i was terribly gloomy while watching the footage of what could've been a very interesting work in Marilyn Monroe's résumé.I haven't watched the original movie in which Something's Gotta Give was based, so i really can't say it would've lived up to the original.The one thing i can say though is that i've never seen Monroe looking so stunning on screen. She was 36 and more beautiful than ever! She had lost that dizzy kinda dumb blonde look she had in the 50's, even the famous breathy affectation in her voice was gone. No gimmicks this time. She was determined to prove that she was indeed an actress and apparently those years she spent in the Actor's Studio improving her acting really paid off. The footages leave us only wondering how delightful it would have been to watch this new, much more mature and sophisticated woman she was evolving into. Her acting was quite sharp and despite of her constant mental confusion she still turned out refreshingly sexy and funny on the screen. Watch as her astonishingly slim figure gracefully strolls across the set in this flowery summer dress. She was cheery and smiling here.Her character was a young wife and mom and ,as absurd as it may sounds, she seemed to have nailed it. As a mom, she was caring and loving (watch her effusively playing with the kids) and as a young wife she was just absolutely charming. The film even includes some scenes in which she splashes around the poll naked. And believe me there's nothing tasteless here, in fact she was just being a plain goof ball. It's very funny to watch 'cause you can totally tell she was having the best time while shooting it.I was completely charmed by Dean Martin's character and Cyd Charisse was just being her regular elegant self. They truly assembled a terrific cast for this!The documentary that comes before the 37 minute film is somewhat biased but effective either way.Seeing this only puzzles me more and more regarding Monroe's tragic demise. Clearly she was not the most stable person, but with the new contract she got with Fox, all these new perspectives springing up and all, nothing hinted she was on the verge of something like that. That's why i think the suicide assumption becomes less and less believable.Anyway, hands down, Monroe's still absolute.

I think we're all very fortunate to have had even a glimpse of the most famous movie never made. My biggest hope with the ever expanding use of computer graphics, at some point in time, this movie could be "completed." Maybe a little over budget, and released 42 years later, but released nonetheless! Wouldn't it be wild to be able to create new movies using all of the old great stars? I agree with other reviewers that Marilyn looks wonderful as always and slimmed down from her previous movie. Of course one can't rate her performance using clips and snippets of remaining footage. But there should be much more in the can with the remainder of the cast. I often heard their scenes were shot, and then re-shot when Marilyn would not show up for days on end. Whatever the case might be, we're fortunate to have seen her final efforts on film.

I think its sad thinking about the fact that this film was never made through. Marilyn Monroe's life has always fascinated me. She could have had a good movie on her hands if she had just hung in there. I've seen the footage of the movie that was filmed and Marilyn was good. The few scenes showed some great moments and they could have been built on for a great success. Too bad they just couldn't get it together.