This was the film that proved Marilyn Monroe was a considerable screen actress, and capable of much, much more than her sexpot image indicated.
Whether Monroe’s performance is a result of director Joshua Logan’s patience or Lee and Paula Strasberg’s legendary coaching is irrelevant – she is simply superb as Cherie, the untalented but sexy singer at the sleazy Blue Dragon cafe whom naive young Montana cowboy Don Murray (impressive in his film debut) decides to marry.
Especially memorable is Monroe’s delivery of an off-kilter That Old Black Magic in an outfit that leaves little to the imagination.
Cherie
Marilyn Monroe
Bo
Don Murray
Virgil
Arthur O’Connell
Grace
Betty Field
Vera
Eileen Heckart
Carl
Robert Bray
Elma
Hope Lange
Director
Joshua Logan