AllMovie

An account of the life and career of Marilyn Monroe, one of Hollywood's most famous and glamorous movie stars, is presented in this Biography program from A&E. Her sad and difficult childhood is recounted, including her mother's breakdown and her life with unsympathetic foster parents. After being "discovered" by Hollywood, Monroe endured many insecurities and problems that came along with a world that called her a "goddess," but saw her as a sex object. Although her movie roles reveal a sense of humor, warmth, and talent, her life continued to be troubled -- with three failed marriages, addiction to drugs and alcohol, and a tragic, controversial death. Interviews with actress Sheree North (who played her mother in a TV movie), Gloria Steinem, Donald Spoto (one of Monroe's biographers), and Monroe's first husband offer information and reflections.