Review of Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection

Introduction

In her short life, Marilyn Monroe was many things: ingénue, muse, presidential plaything, 20th century icon … However, she was never a great actress; possibly not even a good one. She had a phenomenal presence and when matched with a script and cast of the calibre of "Some Like It Hot" could shine brightly. Unfortunately, her presence alone wasn`t enough to redeem weak vehicles like "Don`t Bother to Knock".

"Bus Stop" sits somewhere in the middle of the Monroe oeuvre, being neither brilliant nor risible. Don Murray is an innocent cowboy who (with no experience of love or the opposite sex) decides that Marilyn is "his angel" and that he is going to marry her. The fact that he hasn`t actually asked her if this would be desirable doesn`t trouble him in the least.

Set largely around the bus stop of the title, this is a character driven romantic comedy with some quirks and Marilyn singing "That Old Back Magic".

Video

In common with the other discs in the set, "Bus Stop" has undergone heavy restoration and looks as good as you could expect. The Anamorphic transfer has a rich and vibrant Technicolor glow and, while some dirt and grain is visible, is generally fine.

Audio

The soundtrack is presented in a DD 3.1 mix (with no rear effects). There is some attempt at widening the sound stage, especially on the Marilyn musical numbers, but generally the sound has a thickened mono feel to it - no real depth just more sound.

Features

The extras on this disc are fairly thin - theatrical trailer, a lobby stills gallery, and a restoration comparison. The restoration comparison is worth watching to show how much effort must have gone into tidying up the print. Everything else is disposable.

Conclusion

"Bus Stop" isn`t one of Marilyn`s best films although she does her best. She displays a world weary vulnerability and throws in a superb rendition of "The Old Back Magic".

The plot is adequate, as are the other performances. However, note that the performances may be a little stagy for modern tastes. Don Murray comes off as especially stilted and histrionic in the role of the naïve and spoiled cowboy.

OK, but nothing more.