The MIS – Museum of Image and Sound has prepared a special programming to celebrate the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, commemorated on June 1st. Throughout the month, the public will be able to check out a film show, a course about the artist’s trajectory, and a special edition of Doc.MIS, dedicated to the documentary Marilyn Monroe: the end of days. The activities take place in parallel to the exhibition Marilyn: the last interview, inaugurated in May within the programming of the Maio Fotografia project at MIS 2026. The exhibition presents to the public, for the first time, the last photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe inside her own home. The records were made for LIFE magazine by photojournalist Allan Grant during an intimate interview with the actress. In the images, Marilyn appears relaxed and spontaneous, barefoot, making faces, pirouettes, and showing moments of emotion.
The exhibition brings together over 400 images produced at that meeting, many of them unpublished. The material offers a more intimate look at the star of Some Like It Hot and reinforces the cultural and artistic impact of Marilyn Monroe a hundred years after her birth. The curatorship of filmmaker André Sturm selected twelve titles with more or less prominent participations by Marilyn, but with special emphasis on her less revered works, of a more intimate or sober character. I wanted to highlight a serious Marilyn Monroe on screen, or still shy at the beginning of her film career. Her most celebrated films, especially those directed by Billy Wilder, are excellent and are already in the audience’s memory. The idea here was to try to reveal this less pop, less obvious Marilyn, less object of desire, so her more ‘B-side’ films, so to speak. We will be able to see a pre-magnetism total Marilyn.
The list of films includes rarities, among which is Idade Perigosa, which marks Marilyn Monroe’s first speaking role; Mentira Salvadora, which features her first starring role; and Só a Mulher. These lesser-known films offer a deeper perspective on Marilyn Monroe’s career and personality, allowing spectators to discover new facets of the artist. In addition to the film show, the MIS will also offer a course about Marilyn Monroe’s trajectory, exploring her life, career, and cultural impact. The course will be taught by specialists in the area and will offer a unique opportunity for participants to learn more about this iconic figure of pop culture.
The film show and the course about Marilyn Monroe are just two of the activities that the MIS has planned to celebrate the centenary of the artist’s birth. The exhibition Marilyn: a última entrevista and the special edition of Doc.MIS, dedicated to the documentary Marilyn Monroe: o fim dos dias, are also part of the museum’s special programming. With these activities, the MIS aims to provide a rich and diverse experience for visitors, allowing them to discover new facets of Marilyn Monroe and her lasting impact on popular culture. With such a complete and attractive programming, the MIS becomes an unmissable destination for Marilyn Monroe fans and for those who want to learn more about this iconic figure in cinema history.
