LET’S MAKE LOVE [1960 / 2021] [Dual Format] [Blu-ray + DVD] [UK Release] It’s All about What You Can’t Get Enough Of . . . Fun! Joy! Laughter! And Love! Love! Love!
Multi-millionaire Jean-Marc Clement [Yves Montand] is rich in money but lacking in love. While Jean-Marc Clement seeks someone who adores him for his personality as opposed to his fortune, Jean-Marc Clement discovers that he is going to be the subject of a satirical theatrical production. Jean-Marc Clement, unrecognised as he visits the play's set, Jean-Marc Clement is offered the role as himself by the show's unwitting producers, and Jean-Marc Clement accepts the role in order to be close to the gorgeous and yet down-to-earth actress Amanda Dell [Marilyn Monroe].
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1961 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture for Earle Hagen and Lionel Newman. 1961 BAFTA Awards: Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Film from any Source for George Cukor [USA]. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Actor for Yves Montand [USA]. 1961 Golden Globes: Nominated: Best Motion Picture Musical. 1961 Laurel Awards: Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Top Musical. 1961 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Written American Musical for Hal Kanter and Norman Krasna.
FILM FACT No.2: From the beginning issues arose with the film. Marilyn Monroe, although enthusiastic about Yves Montand, did not want to make the film and the original screenwriter had reservations about the cast. Despite being offered the role and having found success with his one-man show, Yves Montand did not speak English. This led to enormous stress as he worked to understand the lines he was speaking through translation. Marilyn Monroe, at this point in her career, had developed a reputation beyond Hollywood for oftentimes being late to set, forgetting her lines, and deferring to her coach over the director. However, some reports state that this was not true during the filming of ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE,’ although Marilyn Monroe and George Cukor did not have the best relationship. Neither star was satisfied with the script and production was shut down for over a month by two Hollywood strikes: first by the Screen Actors Guild and then the Screen Writers Guild. Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand were said to have bonded over the difficulties each was experiencing with the film, and when both Arthur Miller and Simone Signoret departed during production for other commitments rumours about an affair between the two were rampant. Gossip columns at the time made note of frequent sightings of the two together alone. This led to greater publicity for the film, with 20th Century Fox manipulating the affair to its advantage. In August 1960, shortly before the release of the film, Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand were featured on the cover of LIFE magazine in a sensual pose taken from the film. Their affair ended when filming ended, with Yves Montand returning to France.
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Yves Montand, Tony Randall, Frankie Vaughan, Wilfrid Hyde-White, David Burns, Michael David, Mara Lynn, Dennis King Jr., Joe Besser (uncredited), Joan Banks (uncredited), Oscar Beregi Jr. (uncredited), Milton Berle (uncredited), Eumenio Blanco (uncredited), Herman Boden (uncredited), Chet Brandenburg (uncredited), Leonard Bremen (uncredited), Harry Cheshire (uncredited), George Chester (uncredited), Richard Collier (uncredited), Samuel Colt (uncredited), John Craven (uncredited), Bing Crosby (uncredited), Dick Dale (uncredited), Ray Foster (uncredited), Richard Fowler (uncredited), Michael Fox (uncredited), Tom Greenway (uncredited), Jerry Hausner (uncredited), Richard Haydn (uncredited), Gene Kelly (uncredited), Madge Kennedy (uncredited), Florence MacMichael (uncredited), Marian Manners (uncredited), Mike Mason (uncredited), Byron Morrow (uncredited), Nick Navarro (uncredited), Daniel Nunez (uncredited), Alex Plasschaert (uncredited), Frank Radcliffe (uncredited), Stephen Soldi (uncredited), Larry Thor (uncredited), H.T. Tsiang (uncredited), Roxanne Tunis (uncredited) and Geraldine Wall (uncredited)
Director: George Cukor
Producer: Jerry Wald
Screenplay: Arthur Miller (uncredited), Hal Kanter (additional material) and Norman Krasna (written for the screen)
Composers: Cyril J. Mockridge (uncredited), Cyril J. Mockridge (uncredited) and Lionel Newman
Costumes: Dorothy Jeakins (Costume Desgin)
Cinematography: Daniel L. Fapp, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Color by DeLuxe)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (CinemaScope)
Audio: English: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 118 minutes / 113 minutes
Region: Blu-ray Region B/2 + DVD PAL
Number of discs: 2
Studio: 20th Century Fox / Signal One Entertainment
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ [1960] is directed by the superlative George Cukor directs a pair of genuine stars, Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand appear in this whimsical musical comedy. Marilyn Monroe plays Amanda Dell as an aspiring actress/intellectual who runs into trouble when her off-Broadway gets a stuffy revue by the French billionaire Jean-Marc Clement [Yves Montand]; who touchily plans to shut down the show – until, that is, he meets Amanda Dell.
‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ has a lot going for it. The promise of a musical comedy starring Marilyn Monroe and directed by the great George Cukor is impossible to pass up. Throw in the French star Yves Montand as the male lead, a supporting appearance by Tony Randall, and cameos from Milton Berle, Bing Crosby and Gene Kelly, and it should be smooth sailing. But the film lurches along in fits and starts, placing too much emphasis on bland musical numbers featuring Frankie Vaughan, while not paying enough attention to Marilyn Monroe.
The film opens with an amusing but far too long prologue of historical stills set to narration which explains that Jean-Marc Clement who is a billionaire who has inherited his wealth as the latest in a long line of obscenely wealthy descendants. When his staff including Alexander Kaufman [Tony Randall] and George Welch [Wilfrid Hyde-White] discover that Jean-Marc Clement is to be satirized in an off-Broadway show as a stuffy, unfeeling and out-of-touch jerk, they bring the news to Jean-Marc Clement’s attention, preparing to use his wealth and connections to shut the show down. But to his staff’s dismay, and for his own amusement, Jean-Marc Clement is curious to see the in-progress show for himself. Jean-Marc Clement visits the theatre, where he spots a gorgeous lead actress, Amanda Dell performing. As he waits around the theatre hoping to meet her, he is instead mistaken for an actor auditioning to play the part of Clement in the show. Unable to persuade the production that he’s the real Jean-Marc Clement, he finds himself cast in the show, and decides to go along with it. Though Amanda Dell is supposed to be involved with the show’s lead Tony Danton [Frankie Vaughn], and Amanda Dell finds herself liking Jean-Marc Clement without having any idea of who he really is.
The story is tried and true, and the simple setup isn’t heavily elaborated upon, leaving a classic premise rather thin in this telling. The film has its share of flaws, but they all come back to a script which doesn’t properly utilize the talent on-hand. Yves Montand is actually quite amusing in his role, and is given more to work with than everyone else. But as a result, the balance is off. Marilyn Monroe gets top billing but is stuck in what amounts to an underwritten supporting role. While Marilyn Monroe gets to perform in a musical number, the film comes to life. Unfortunately, as soon as Frankie Vaughn enters to perform, which happens surprisingly often for a character who serves very little purpose in the final narrative.
It appears that the film began life as a script by Norman Krasna, who had written quite a few quality scripts prior to this, including the great Cary Grant comedy ‘Indiscreet.’ But when Marilyn Monroe signed on to the picture, as the story goes, her then-husband Arthur Miller (uncredited) took interest in adding some material to beef up Monroe’s part. Whether it was Arthur Miller’s alleged tampering, or whether Norman Krasna’s original script was flawed from the start, the balance here is all wrong. For all of the characterization that Yves Montand is given to work with, Marilyn Monroe gets almost none and as usual the camera loves her; the script sadly does not.
The musical numbers are mostly inconsequential. While some of the songs are good enough to listen to as they happen, the film lacks any kind of show-stopping number. Though Frankie Vaughn’s character is meant to be a romantic rival and obstacle for Yves Montand in competing for Marilyn Monroe’s affections, at no point is Vaughn credible as anything of the sort. This is more the fault of the material than Vaughn, but his scenes do tend drag regardless. And Cukor, who won an Academy Award® for directing ‘My Fair Lady,’ seems to be lacking inspiration in his staging of the performances here.
In the end, ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ isn’t a bad film, just a slightly uninspired one. With a cast led by Marilyn Monroe, and with George Cukor at the helm, this should be a great film, and it just isn’t. But there are enough small pleasures to make it a worthwhile if frustrating experience. And when that small pleasure comes in the form of Milton Berle making a scene-stealing movie-stealing cameo, it’s easy to forget the lesser moments.
The production values, starting with the good things, are quite gorgeous, with the photography particularly dazzling. Marilyn Monroe has seen better days physically, but her charm, sensuality and magnetic presence is still loved by the camera. "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" is absolutely sublime, very heartfelt and a high point of Marilyn Monroe's career. Wilfred Hyde-White and Frankie Vaughn fare the best of the rest of the cast by far giving the only good performances, both deserved more to do but their likeability shines through. Oh and Tony Randall and Frankie Vaughan get to flirt with Miss Knitted Jumper, too. So although this isn’t one of Marilyn Monroe's best, it’s certainly better than twiddling your thumbs.
LET’S MAKE LOVE MUSIC TRACK LIST
LET’S MAKE LOVE (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen) (Lyrics by Sammy Cahn) [Performed by Marilyn Monroe, Frankie Vaughan and Yves Montand]
MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY (Music by Cole Porter) (Lyrics by Cole Porter) [Performed by Marilyn Monroe]
GIVE ME THE SIMPLE LIFE (Music by Rube Bloom) (Lyrics by Harry Ruby) [Performed by Frankie Vaughan]
HEY YOU WITH THE CRAZY EYES (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen) (Lyrics by Sammy Cahn) [Performed by Frankie Vaughan]
SPECIALIZATION (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen) (Lyrics by Sammy Cahn) [Performed by Marilyn Monroe and Frankie Vaughan]
INCURABLY ROMANTIC (Music by Jimmy Van Heusen) (Lyrics by Sammy Cahn) [Performed by Bing Crosby, Yves Montand, Marilyn Monroe and Frankie Vaughan]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – 20th Century Fox and Signal One Entertainment presents us the film ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ and is presented in its original CinemaScope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. On the positive side, the transfer is very clean and steady, appearing virtually spotless. Grain appears natural and adds a pleasing look to the presentation. On the more critical side, the transfer is not particularly sharp, and the colour often has a muted, slightly faded look to it. It is by no means a terrible presentation, but is not reference quality either. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – 20th Century Fox and Signal One Entertainment brings us the film ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ with two options, which is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and both audio tracks are quality tracks. The 5.1 mix is mostly oriented towards the front speakers and features some mildly directional dialogue. While the 2.0 mix doesn’t have the same sense of separation, it is just as clean as its 5.1 counterpart. Both versions have been clearly recorded for dialogue that is never difficult to understand.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: The Making of ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ [2021] [1080p] [2.35:1] [7:08] With this featurette, here we get to meet film critic Mark Searby [Author] and talk about the most famous blond bomb shell in history, which of course is Marilyn Monroe and appeared in nine films before appearing in ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE,’ and here previous film was ‘Some Like it Hot,’ which showcased her good looks and brilliant comic timing and made $25,000,000 at the box office, and of course Marilyn Monroe was hot in more ways than one ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ was going to trade on that, and Marilyn Monroe played Amanda Bell and an off Broadway star who is wooed Billionaire Jean-Marc Clement played by French actor Yves Montand and his character finds out that there is going to be a play satirising him and his own life. The actress Marilyn Monroe chose to appear in the film ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ for one reason and one reason only, because of a contract obligation with 20th Century Fox and that the actress was locked into it, but upon sending the script and was not very happy Amanda Dell being portrayed in the film and asked her husband Norman Mailer to rewrite all of her lines, upon the return of the script from Norman Mailer, it had turned out it had brought out the character Amanda Dell, but greatly reduced the lines of Jean-Marc Clement, who at the time was going to be played by Gregory Peck, but when the actor looked at the new script and immediately dropped out. That set up a scramble by 20th Century Fox to find another leading man for the part, so the contacted Universal Pictures to see if they could borrow actor Rock Hudson, but Universal Pictures declined their request, and as such it was actually Marilyn Monroe that suggested the actor Yves Montand after seeing him in a performance of a one man off Broadway play and mostly would say it was because of his manly chiselled look, others might suggest because he looked a little bit like Joe DiMaggio [Baseball player] and in a notebook entry that Marilyn Monroe wrote while filming, in saying, “What am I afraid of, so I think I cannot act, I know I can act, so why am I so afraid,” so throughout filming, Marilyn Monroe was wracked with anxiety but so to was the actor Yves Montand, because it was his first English language feature film and at one point Marilyn Monroe said to Yves Montand “Now you are about to see what it is like working with the worst actress in the world, but Yves Montand said back to her, “ You think your’e bad, have a little thought about me, I‘m completely lost,” regardless of their personal thoughts, both of them worked incredible well together, especially on the screen, and critics said, “The Marilyn Monroe fizzes with seduction and Yves Montand plays up to that wonderful chilled look and also that Italian heart throb look also which he had, however that seduction scene between Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand, was actually happening off screen, but not on screen.” Marilyn Monroe and her husband Norman Mailer eventually became great friends with Yves Montand and his wife Simone Signoret [French actress] and they had spent months together beforehand filming ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ drinking and frolicking in Los Angeles, and they were pictured together, they actually had a joint bungalow, at the Beverly’s Hotel, however it was Norman Mailer decided to go to Ireland to talk to director John Houston about adapting his work, but in the meantime, Marilyn Monroe had become infatuated with Yves Montand and he says that Marilyn Monroe had become the aggressor in the relationship, now if that is true, Yves Montand never stood a chance against one of Hollywood’s blond bombshells. During March of 1960, the Guild called a strike and putting a halt on the production of filming LET’S MAKE LOVE,’ and there had been rumours in the newspapers about Yves Montand and Marilyn Monroe having an illicit affair, but during this time, Norman Mailer came back from Ireland and put on a show of solidarity with this wife Marilyn Monroe, especially when they went out and about together to show there was nothing wrong with their marriage. Upon completion of the film ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE,’ Yves Montand actually came out to say that he did have an affair with Marilyn Monroe, but Yves Montand apologised that he was never ever going to leave his wife, even for Marilyn Monroe, and that was a really stinging moment. Mark Searby [Author] says, ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE,’ actually makes use of the actress Marilyn Monroe beauty and sexuality, it is very prominent in the scene where Marilyn Monroe is sliding down the metal pole with nothing but the tights on and a blue woollen jumper, and the first time Marilyn Monroe says, “My name is Lolita, and I am not supposed to play with boys,” that aside, there is more of the real Marilyn Monroe as Amanda Dell than anyone would give credit for. Norman Mailer actually wrote most about Marilyn Monroe in the screenplay, so the character is very intelligent, very knowledgeable and quite cookie, and it is effectively art imitating life. Sadly Marilyn Monroe died after two years starring in ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ and was 36 years old, Yves Montand went into make 44 more films and died at the age of 70, however it was Marilyn Monroe in ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ that director George Cukor will remember the most and not for the reason most would think, and George Cukor said about the actress Marilyn Monroe, “She has this absolutely unerring touch with comedy, where she acts if she doesn’t quite understand why it is funny, Marilyn Monroe also invented this baby voice, and that face, it wasn’t pretty, but it was a really movie star face.” At that point, the featurette with Mark Searby ends and throughout this featurette we get to view scenes from the movie ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE.’
Special Feature: Still Gallery: With this featurette, we get to view some totally wonderful 71 black-and-white and colour 1080p images from the film ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE,’ as well some personal images, as well as behind-the scene images. Running time: 7:08.
Finally, ‘LET’S MAKE LOVE’ is not of the greatest film from star Marilyn Monroe and director George Cukor, but has some worthwhile moments, including some very amusing celebrity cameos. While the transfer is not as impressive as some other recent releases of 20th Century Fox classics, and while the bonus features are on the lighter side, this is still a quality presentation that should delight fans of Marilyn Monroe. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
