The Famous Marilyn Monroe Scene That Ended Her Marriage

Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress scene from The Seven Year Itch became one of the most recognizable images in Hollywood history. However, behind Marilyn’s smile was a troubled marriage, an angry Joe DiMaggio, and a publicity event that ended with footage the filmmakers could not even use. The scene was filmed during the early morning of September 15, 1954, outside the Trans-Lux Theatre on Lexington Avenue in New York City. Director Billy Wilder turned the filming into a major public event, attracting photographers and hundreds of spectators. As air from a subway grate lifted Marilyn Monroe’s white dress, men in the crowd repeatedly shouted for it to go higher. Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn’s husband at the time, watched from nearby. Witnesses remembered him appearing furious, and the incident reportedly led to arguments between the couple later that night. Marilyn Monroe filed for divorce less than one month later. The white dress scene did not create all of their marital problems, but Marilyn later described it as the final straw in their short and increasingly difficult marriage. The original New York footage was never used in the finished version of The Seven Year Itch. The crowd created too much noise, forcing the production team to film the scene again on a controlled Hollywood soundstage. Although the footage was discarded, photographs taken that night transformed Marilyn’s subway-grate pose into one of the defining images of the 1950s. This video also explores the larger struggle happening in Marilyn Monroe’s life. While 20th Century Fox profited from her fame, the studio continued offering her similar “blonde bombshell” roles and paid her far less than her value as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. At the end of 1954, Marilyn left Hollywood for New York, studied acting at the Actors Studio and formed Marilyn Monroe Productions with photographer Milton Greene. After refusing to return under her old contract, she eventually secured better pay, greater creative control and approval over important production decisions. The white dress scene represents more than a famous movie moment. It connects Marilyn Monroe’s marriage to Joe DiMaggio, the making of The Seven Year Itch, her conflict with 20th Century Fox and her fight to gain control over her own career. Topics covered in this video: Marilyn Monroe’s white dress scene Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s marriage Why Marilyn Monroe divorced Joe DiMaggio The Seven Year Itch filming in New York Why the original subway-grate footage was discarded Billy Wilder and the Trans-Lux Theatre filming Marilyn Monroe’s conflict with 20th Century Fox The creation of Marilyn Monroe Productions Marilyn Monroe’s fight for creative control The real story behind Marilyn Monroe’s most famous photograph #MarilynMonroe #JoeDiMaggio #OldHollywood 0:00 The Marilyn Monroe Scene Everyone Knows 0:47 Marilyn and Joe DiMaggio’s Troubled Marriage 1:21 The Moment Joe’s Jealousy Became Clear 1:52 Marilyn Begins The Seven Year Itch 2:24 The Night of the Famous White Dress Scene 3:04 Joe DiMaggio’s Furious Reaction 3:47 Why the Famous Footage Was Never Used 4:16 Marilyn’s Growing Battle With Fox 5:01 Marilyn Leaves Hollywood and Takes Control 5:52 The Contract That Changed Her Career