That first picture says so much. Wonderful to see this mature, sophisticated, classy, even tranquil Marilyn. In some of the photos Marilyn looks older than her years but so striking and attractive. I wonder if the dress was made to be open so far in the back or just hadn't been fastened all the way. Peter, is that you or Bert Stern we see at the end? I hope the man in the picture is you. I still say that because of the dignified, well-produced way in which you honor Marilyn's memory and so generously share pictures of her with the rest of us your picture should be included with those of Marilyn. I can imagine Marilyn saying, "Yes. That's exactly right!"
Thanks Andrew, i appreciate that. At the end of the video its not me, its Bert Stern.I'll think about whether I will put my picture at the end of the video.
I believe the dress was originally cut low in the back. Almost all of Stern's fashion shots--even the ones between poses, etc--are excellent. It's the direction MM should have been moving toward, but as evidenced by her stripping for Stern twice during their three-day shoot, she was having a difficult time transitioning. Not that he helped it, by supplying her with so much liquor. Well, he helped himself, since getting her nude was what he really wanted. Several of the Black Dress shots are the most beautiful and evocative of her career. Right to the end, she could make magic happen in front of a camera.
I started thinking of Edith Piaf, another bright star, maybe because of the music and black dress. You are so good to choose music Mr Peter Sneyder, I can feel looking at those photos tragedy was close to her.
