Almanac: Marilyn Monroe's billowing dress

Almanac: Marilyn Monroe's dress

September 15, 1954, saw a very celebrated – albeit very calculated – wardrobe malfunction, for that was the day Marilyn Monroe posed over a New York City subway grate for a memorable scene in the movie "The Seven Year Itch."

With fans looking on, gusts of made-for-the-movies "wind" from the trains below repeatedly blew Marilyn's white dress up to un-ladylike heights.

On September 15, 1954, the actress' wardrobe malfunction over a New York City subway grate was filmed for a celebrated scene in "The Seven Year Itch" - footage that would be deemed unusable.  Matty Zimmerman/AP

Publicity photos from that pre-dawn shoot are famous worldwide, but crowd noise forced the scene with Tom Ewell to be re-shot weeks later on a Hollywood soundstage:

Marilyn: "Feel the breeze from the subway! Isn't it delicious?"
Tom: "Sort of cools the ankles, doesn't it?"

The Seven Year Itch (4/5) Movie CLIP - A Delicious Breeze (1955) HD by Movieclips on YouTube

Although the scene was intended as a visual gag, Monroe's husband at the time, the pin-striped and straight-laced Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio, failed to see the humor, and the scene reputedly played a role in their divorce.

Still, that Marilyn Monroe moment lives on to this day, both in the photographs and in the form of a 26-foot-tall traveling statue titled "Forever Marilyn."

Artist Seward Johnson's statue, "Forever Marilyn." CBS News

     
For more info:

     
See also:

     
Story produced by Charis Satchell. 

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.