Marilyn Monroe's final completed film, The Misfits (1961), directed by John Huston and written by her then-husband Arthur Miller, reveals a depth of dramatic talent that her earlier comedic roles only hinted at. The film, set in the Nevada desert, follows Monroe's character Roslyn Taber, a recently divorced woman who falls in with a group of aging misfits, including cowboy Gay Langland (Clark Gable) and rodeo rider Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift).
A Star's Mortality
Monroe, who died in 1962 at age 36, never aged on screen, but The Misfits shows her as a mortal, complex human. The film's melancholic tone is heightened by the real-life struggles of its stars: Gable died of a heart attack days after filming, while Clift and Monroe battled substance abuse. Their performances are raw and vulnerable, with Gable conveying profound pain and Clift showcasing fragility in a memorable phone booth scene.
Monroe's Complex Role
Miller wrote the role of Roslyn as a gift for Monroe, a character full of contradictions—impulsive yet timid, innocent yet world-weary. Monroe, a method actress, delves deep into the role, her eyes and energy suggesting a constant interrogation of each scene. She was never more alive on screen, capturing the tragic beauty of a woman out of step with the world.
The Misfits was not intended to be Monroe's last film; she was working on Something's Got to Give when she died. The film serves as a poignant reminder of what could have been, a transitional work that should have marked a new phase in her career. Instead, it stands as a testament to her ability to portray painfully human characters, beneath the iconic star image.
Available for rent or purchase on Apple TV in Australia, the UK, and the US, and streaming on Prime Video in the US, The Misfits remains a powerful final statement from a legendary star.
