During his long career in Hollywood, photographer Milton H. Greene managed to capture all of the city's biggest stars.
Greene shot movie stars like Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, as well as musical icons like Frank Sinatra. But of all of his celebrity subjects, his photo shoots with Marilyn Monroe are the most famous. Not only because Monroe remains one of Hollywood's biggest names, but also because she had a unique relationship with Greene.
Monroe met the photographer during a magazine photo shoot in 1953 and the pair became fast friends. They stayed close for years, and Greene even helped the actress escape her restrictive contract with 20th Century Fox. Greene co-founded Marilyn Monroe productions with the actress.
While Greene photographed Monroe multiple times for magazines and promotional art, he also had dozens of private photo shoots with Monroe. The actress would steal an outfit from her wardrobe department and pose for a few photos on the studio backlot between takes.
Now, a new book is collecting hundreds of Greene's photos of Monroe, and the never-before-seen pictures are stunning...
Joshua Greene, Milton's son, restored dozens of damaged and worn out photos that his father assumed were lost forever.
He has collected 284 of his father's most iconic photos of Monroe in a new book called The Essential Marilyn Monroe, and they offer a side of the movie star that even her biggest fans have never seen. Literally, because 176 of the photos have never been seen before. Most of them were meant for Greene's private collection, not a magazine or photo book.
"Her natural ability shows in the pictures," Joshua Greene told CNN. "And it's not just with my dad. I mean, she's a wonderful muse. He loved photographing her. She was gifted, truly gifted in that way, and it shows."
There's no telling what has kept Monroe's legacy alive for so long, with devoted fans still watching her old movies, collecting her old photos, and buying her old dresses, but as Johsua says her fame has "lived on from generation to generation to generation."
You can buy The Essential Marilyn Monroe here.
Share this story if you still love Marilyn Monroe!
[H/T: CNN]
