We all have in mind the image of the pin-up, sultry blonde with vermilion lips, and her white dress billowing above a subway grate on the streets of New York. However, Marilyn's complex personality and talent are far from being summed up by this sexualized figure. Through archives, videos, photos, clothing, and accessories, the Cinémathèque invites us to dive into the history of this actress with a massive impact and a tragic destiny.
A global phenomenon
This year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth. It's a great chance to reflect on the short but intense life of this icon, who sparked movements consent in the first issue of Playboy, alothat her career is just taking off), which highlights all the complexity of this woman often summarized by her looks and her ultra-femininity.
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Deconstructing the Legend
But what’s really being showcased here is a different version of Marilyn Monroe. An image that’s closer to her reality, going beyond the roles she was often confined to, and beyond the labels that were often stuck to her. From her earliest successes, she...The Hollywood star will stop at nothing to break free from this position of a ditzy blonde. She will fight for her rights, won't hesitate to pose alongside Ella Fitzgerald, she, the embodiment of white superiority, at a time when segregation is still wreaking havoc in the United States, to denounce the predators of Hollywood in an article, or even to refuse silly bimbo roles, so she can shine with deeper and more complex characters. In short, while the exhibition spends very (too) little time on her private life, it highlights the full extent of this woman who, more than 60 years after her passing, continues to fascinate and inspire the greatest.
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Marilyn Monroe
The French Cinémathèque
51, rue de Bercy – 12th
From April 8 to July 26, 2026
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