Inside the Unfinished Film That Marked Marilyn Monroe’s Last Days

Marilyn Monroe remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, celebrated for her radiant screen presence and tragic life story. Among her many films, one project stands apart—not for its success, but for its struggles and the heavy toll it took on Monroe herself. Something’s Got to Give (1962), left unfinished at the time of her untimely death, stands as the most challenging and heartbreaking chapter of her career.

Marilyn’s Own Reflections on the Struggle

In an August 1962 interview with Life magazine, Monroe spoke candidly about the pressures of fame and the personal challenges she faced. While she didn’t explicitly single out Something’s Got to Give as her toughest film, the context surrounding its production—fraught with health issues and emotional strain—makes it clear this was a pivotal, difficult moment in her life.

Despite her struggles, Monroe showed a fierce commitment to the film. The interview revealed the heavy emotional and physical burden she carried, underscoring just how taxing the project became.

Production Troubles: Health and Personal Turmoil

Something’s Got to Give, directed by George Cukor and meant as a remake of the 1940 classic My Favorite Wife, was beset with setbacks from the start. Monroe’s health was fragile following gallbladder surgery, and she was significantly underweight, further delaying production. Frequent absences—due to illness and emotional distress, exacerbated by her turbulent marriage to playwright Arthur Miller—slowed filming to a crawl.

The tensions culminated in Monroe’s firing from the project in June 1962, mere months before her death. Attempts were reportedly underway to bring her back, but the film remained incomplete. This halted project came to symbolize both her personal decline and professional frustrations.

The Legacy of an Unfinished Story

Much of the footage shot for Something’s Got to Give remained unseen for decades, but documentaries such as Marilyn: Something’s Got to Give (1990) have since chronicled the difficult final chapter of Monroe’s life and career. The production woes mirrored the emotional and psychological battles she was fighting behind the scenes, deepening the tragedy of a star whose brilliance was dimming.

In Comparison: The Misfits and Some Like It Hot

While The Misfits (1961) also challenged Monroe emotionally—due in part to her faltering marriage—the unfinished nature of Something’s Got to Give gives it a unique poignancy. The public scrutiny and production delays turned the film into a symbol of Monroe’s struggles, unlike Some Like It Hot (1959), which remains a beloved, trouble-free classic showcasing her comedic talents.

Conclusion: Marilyn’s Toughest Role

Something’s Got to Give stands as the most difficult film Marilyn Monroe ever faced. Its incomplete status and the personal hardships surrounding its production reflect a star wrestling with immense pressures. Though the film never reached audiences, it remains a haunting testament to Monroe’s enduring vulnerability and strength, forever marking the final chapter of her storied career.