The film brought together three legendary actors - Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Montgomery Clift - under the direction of the esteemed John Huston.
These iconic figures of the silver screen, accompanied by the world-renowned Magnum photography agency, embarked on a cinematic journey that would be marked by challenges and personal tribulations.
The visual chronicle of this tumultuous production, captured through the lenses of renowned photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eve Arnold, Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Ernst Haas, Cornell Capa, Inge Morath, Erich Hartmann, and Dennis Stock, now graces the pages of "The Misfits: Story of a Shoot." Recently published in its English version by Phaidon in Spain, this book offers a collection of 200 black and white photographs that unveil the behind-the-scenes exhaustion of Marilyn Monroe, the strains in her relationship with Arthur Miller (the film's screenwriter at the time), Clark Gable's physical fragility, and the poignant decline of Monty Clift.
These evocative photographs reflect the emotional turmoil that gripped the actors, who channeled their personal struggles into their on-screen characters. Accompanying these images are insightful texts by Serge Toubiana, the director of the French Film Library and former editor of "Cahiers du cinema."
The book also features an interview with Arthur Miller, who discusses how he came to write the script following his wife's 1957 miscarriage, a traumatic event that left her unable to conceive again. Miller aimed to showcase his prowess in crafting more complex, dramatic characters.
While Marilyn Monroe's performance as Roslyn, the young divorcee who becomes the object of desire for the male characters in the story, did indeed highlight her acting talent, it also revealed the growing chasm in her marriage. A powerful image by Bruce Davidson captures the actress seated while having her hair attended to, with Arthur Miller's distant gaze directed elsewhere, seemingly disconnected from the scene unfolding around them.
These photographs poignantly convey the couple's emotional distance. Other images accentuate Marilyn's vulnerability, such as one capturing her in a makeshift bed, sun-drenched and exhausted during filming. Another image portrays her solitude in the desert as she prepares for her role.
Marilyn undoubtedly takes center stage in this visual narrative, much as she did in the film and on set. She displayed a rebellious spirit, as photographer Inge Morath recalled, "You could easily see that Marilyn was causing problems. She was always late, which wasn't fun for everyone else, and the film was running really late. But when she arrived, everyone was delighted to see her! She took pills to sleep and to wake up in the morning... She seemed to be groggy half the time. But when she was herself, she could be wonderfully effective. She wasn't acting, she wasn't faking emotions, it was real," as attested by John Huston.
Tragically, just 19 months later, Marilyn Monroe's life ended under circumstances that remain shrouded in mystery. She never had the chance to complete her next film, and "Rebel Lives" stands as her final cinematic work.
The same fate befell Clark Gable, whose strength waned shortly after the film's completion. He suffered a heart attack and passed away ten days later, on November 16, 1961. The physical demands of the film, evident in several photos within the book, had taken a toll on the veteran actor. An image by Eve Arnold captures Gable, visibly drained, with his horse in the background.
Montgomery Clift, the third star of the film, was not immune to difficulties either. His participation was jeopardized because an insurance company was reluctant to include him in the production. John Huston ultimately managed to secure his involvement, and despite Clift's battles with substance abuse, filming proceeded with relative normalcy.
Despite apparent fragility, Clift outlived his two co-stars, although not by much. He passed away in July 1966, five years after the conclusion of "Rebel Lives."
The shoot itself, set in the unforgiving Nevada desert, subjected these iconic figures to unconventional conditions. Their experiences aligned closely with the film's title, epitomizing the era they came to represent.
