YEAR:  1952

STUDIO:  20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME:  97 minutes

MARILYN MINUTES: 11 min 27 sec

Available on DVD


    Marilyn Monroe, Carey Grant and Ginger Rogers star in this classic comedy about a chemist who discovers the secret of eternal youth.  For years, Dr. Barnaby Fulton (Grant) has been working on a youth-restoring serum with little success - until a chimpanzee gets loose in the lab and accidentally concocts the exact formula Fulton has been searching for.  The hilarity begins when, unbeknownst to anyone, the chimpanzee pours it into the office water cooler. For with each successive drink, everyone gets younger and younger. When Fulton's stunning secretary (Monroe) and lovely wife (Rogers) get a taste of the potion, the chemical reaction is explosive and hilarious fun!

My opinion: Actually this movie is cute! And Marilyn does get quite a bit of screen time (although the dress they put her in is UGLY). What is really interesting to notice is that the director, Howard Hawks, also directed "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". You will notice that Marilyn's elderly boss (Charles Coburn) also plays "Piggy" in GPB. Keep an eye out for the little boy in the cowboys and Indians scene, you'll recognize him from GPB too!!!  All in all this would be a good choice to add to your MM collection.  I would recommend this as a must have for early Marilyn roles.

Reviews: New York Herald Tribune
"Not having seen Miss Monroe before, I know now what that's all about, and I've no dissenting opinions to offer. She disproves more than adequately the efficacy of the old stage rule about not turning one's back to the audience."

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"Marilyn Monroe garners laughs and whistles, bouncing in and out as a secretary who can't type. Typing skills, however, is the only attribute which the lady appears to be lacking in."