Unseen Marilyn Monroe photos and films take center stage in LA's new exhibition
A new Marilyn Monroe exhibition opens this Sunday at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Titled Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, it will showcase personal items, famous costumes, and rare photographs. Among them are early images taken by Bruno Bernard, who captured her before she became a global star. The exhibition arrives alongside the release of The Marilyn Monroe Century, a new book by Mark A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller. It features never-before-seen negatives from Bernard’s sessions, including shots taken before Monroe adopted her stage name. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Boyle Heights on August 1, 1926, she later became one of Hollywood’s most enduring figures.
The museum will also host a 17-film retrospective of Monroe’s career. Classics like *Niagara*, *All About Eve*, *The Seven Year Itch*, *Some Like It Hot*, and *The Misfits* will screen for audiences. Meanwhile, Los Angeles film events are drawing crowds with bold programming. The UCLA Festival of Preservation kicks off with a restored version of Ossie Davis’s 1972 film *Black Girl*. Over at the American Cinematheque, *Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair* presents a lineup of dark films, with directors and actors appearing in person. Horror fans are turning out in force for two new films. *Obsession* played to a sold-out holiday matinee, while *Backrooms* is heading for a massive opening weekend. Both were directed by filmmakers in their 20s who started on YouTube. Audiences seem eager to embrace fresh voices in cinema.
The Monroe exhibition runs from Sunday, offering a deep dive into her life and work. The accompanying film series will let visitors see her most celebrated performances on the big screen. With strong interest in both classic and new films, Los Angeles continues to prove itself as a hub for diverse cinema.
