The Seven Year Itch

Marilyn Monroe’s appearance in Western genre films required designer Travilla to create costumes ranging from saloon-style gowns to casual denim looks. Monroe wanted her character, Kay—a kind-hearted saloon singer torn between an ex-convict (Robert Mitchum) and her troubled fiancé (Rory Calhoun)—to have a natural feel. Her acting coach, Natasha Lytess, and director Otto Preminger clashed over whether Monroe should use her typical breathy voice, with the studio backing Monroe’s decision to forgo it.

The Donahue clan, led by husband and wife Molly and Terry (Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey), navigate the ups and downs of show biz, from their beginnings in Vaudeville to the Great Depression, in this musical comedy with songs by Irving Berlin. The family’s close bond is further tested with the arrival of the talented and driven Vicky Parker (Marilyn Monroe). Costume designer Travilla played an integral role in shaping Marilyn Monroe’s public image on- and off-screen. Together they famously produced looks that evaded censorship while still courting controversy. His designs for her showgirl characters are of particular note.

The Donahue clan, led by husband and wife Molly and Terry (Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey), navigate the ups and downs of show biz, from their beginnings in Vaudeville to the Great Depression, in this musical comedy with songs by Irving Berlin. The family’s close bond is further tested with the arrival of the talented and driven Vicky Parker (Marilyn Monroe). Costume designer Travilla played an integral role in shaping Marilyn Monroe’s public image on- and off-screen. Together they famously produced looks that evaded censorship while still courting controversy. His designs for her showgirl characters are of particular note.

The Donahue clan, led by husband and wife Molly and Terry (Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey), navigate the ups and downs of show biz, from their beginnings in Vaudeville to the Great Depression, in this musical comedy with songs by Irving Berlin. The family’s close bond is further tested with the arrival of the talented and driven Vicky Parker (Marilyn Monroe). Costume designer Travilla played an integral role in shaping Marilyn Monroe’s public image on- and off-screen. Together they famously produced looks that evaded censorship while still courting controversy. His designs for her showgirl characters are of particular note.

One of Monroe’s most successful roles was as The Girl in director Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch, a comedy about a restless husband left to his own devices for the summer. To market the film, photographer Sam Shaw proposed the indelible subway grate moment, which dozens of publicity photographers attended on location in New York City. Due to sound issues, the real scene was shot on the 20th Century-Fox lot in Los Angeles. Outside of this iconic scene, the exhibition Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon also features silk pajamas worn during a pivotal moment in developing Monroe’s girl-next-door character.

One of Monroe’s most successful roles was as The Girl in director Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch, a comedy about a restless husband left to his own devices for the summer. To market the film, photographer Sam Shaw proposed the indelible subway grate moment, which dozens of publicity photographers attended on location in New York City. Due to sound issues, the real scene was shot on the 20th Century-Fox lot in Los Angeles. Outside of this iconic scene, the exhibition Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon also features silk pajamas worn during a pivotal moment in developing Monroe’s girl-next-door character.

This contemporary Western—in which Marilyn Monroe stars as saloon singer Cherie, who dreams of one day making it big in Hollywood—marked a turning point in Marilyn Monroe’s career. She had recently formed Marilyn Monroe Productions and signed a new contract with 20th Century-Fox, earning a higher salary and more creative agency in the process. For the role of Cherie, which was one of the more dramatic and serious of her career to date, she began working with Method acting pioneers Lee and Paula Strasberg, who placed an emphasis on delving into an actor’s own experiences.

This contemporary Western—in which Marilyn Monroe stars as saloon singer Cherie, who dreams of one day making it big in Hollywood—marked a turning point in Marilyn Monroe’s career. She had recently formed Marilyn Monroe Productions and signed a new contract with 20th Century-Fox, earning a higher salary and more creative agency in the process. For the role of Cherie, which was one of the more dramatic and serious of her career to date, she began working with Method acting pioneers Lee and Paula Strasberg, who placed an emphasis on delving into an actor’s own experiences.

This contemporary Western—in which Marilyn Monroe stars as saloon singer Cherie, who dreams of one day making it big in Hollywood—marked a turning point in Marilyn Monroe’s career. She had recently formed Marilyn Monroe Productions and signed a new contract with 20th Century-Fox, earning a higher salary and more creative agency in the process. For the role of Cherie, which was one of the more dramatic and serious of her career to date, she began working with Method acting pioneers Lee and Paula Strasberg, who placed an emphasis on delving into an actor’s own experiences.

Marilyn Monroe’s work in director Billy Wilder’s comedic classic is often cited as her best. The film was controversial for its racy humor and story about two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who disguise themselves as women to evade the Mafia. But of equal scandal were the Oscar-winning costumes made by Orry-Kelly for Monroe’s Sugar Kane Kowalczyk. Both dresses are on display in the exhibit Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, on view through February 28, 2027. Some Like It Hot was made during a year of dramatic highs and lows for Monroe, with this film standing as a high point.

Marilyn Monroe’s work in director Billy Wilder’s comedic classic is often cited as her best. The film was controversial for its racy humor and story about two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who disguise themselves as women to evade the Mafia. But of equal scandal were the Oscar-winning costumes made by Orry-Kelly for Monroe’s Sugar Kane Kowalczyk. Both dresses are on display in the exhibit Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, on view through February 28, 2027. Some Like It Hot was made during a year of dramatic highs and lows for Monroe, with this film standing as a high point.

Marilyn Monroe’s work in director Billy Wilder’s comedic classic is often cited as her best. The film was controversial for its racy humor and story about two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who disguise themselves as women to evade the Mafia. But of equal scandal were the Oscar-winning costumes made by Orry-Kelly for Monroe’s Sugar Kane Kowalczyk. Both dresses are on display in the exhibit Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, on view through February 28, 2027. Some Like It Hot was made during a year of dramatic highs and lows for Monroe, with this film standing as a high point.

Penned by Arthur Miller, this contemporary Western centers on the recently divorced Roslyn (Marilyn Monroe) and her relationship with an aging former cowboy, Gay (Clark Gable), who now survives by rounding up wild mustangs to sell them to a slaughterhouse. Considered a commercial failure at the time of its original release, the film has since been regarded as a classic by critics and audiences, perhaps notably because it was the final completed film of both Gable and Monroe, and a fitting bookend to Monroe’s career—she credited Huston for her first big break in his The Asphalt Jungle (1950).

Restored by the Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation. Restoration funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

Penned by Arthur Miller, this contemporary Western centers on the recently divorced Roslyn (Marilyn Monroe) and her relationship with an aging former cowboy, Gay (Clark Gable), who now survives by rounding up wild mustangs to sell them to a slaughterhouse. Considered a commercial failure at the time of its original release, the film has since been regarded as a classic by critics and audiences, perhaps notably because it was the final completed film of both Gable and Monroe, and a fitting bookend to Monroe’s career—she credited Huston for her first big break in his The Asphalt Jungle (1950).

Penned by Arthur Miller, this contemporary Western centers on the recently divorced Roslyn (Marilyn Monroe) and her relationship with an aging former cowboy, Gay (Clark Gable), who now survives by rounding up wild mustangs to sell them to a slaughterhouse. Considered a commercial failure at the time of its original release, the film has since been regarded as a classic by critics and audiences, perhaps notably because it was the final completed film of both Gable and Monroe, and a fitting bookend to Monroe’s career—she credited Huston for her first big break in his The Asphalt Jungle (1950).