Michelle Mulls Marilyn!

Marilyn Monroe has been the source of much imitation in Hollywood today – as we here at On the Marquee know all too well. Stars recreate her famous photos, her famous looks, even her famous scandals. Now, actress Michelle Williams has reportedly been asked to play Monroe in the upcoming film, My Week With Marilyn. The film, to be directed by Simon Curtis, will document Monroe's time filming the 1957 movie The Prince and The Showgirl. It’s based on a diary kept by the film's assistant director Colin Clarke. (FYI: Marilyn’s difficult behavior on set reportedly drove director Laurence Olivier so crazy that he basically abandoned directing altogether after that!)

All we can say is, thank God they’re not offering the part to Scarlett Johansson. While Johansson seems to be the obvious choice (she’s got the hair, the curves and that whole sexpot thing going), we’re glad the filmmakers have a more substantial actress in mind (and before you make any Dawson’s Creek jokes, remember: Williams proved her acting chops with her Oscar-nominated portrayal of a rejected wife in Brokeback Mountain). And come on, don't you think ScarJo tries a little too hard sometimes? Granted, Williams has yet to accept the offer – but we sincerely hope she does. The movie’s due to start filming in June. Mull it over Michelle, we’ve got your back.

Think Michelle Williams is up for the task? Who else could play Marilyn? Word is, Amy Adams and Kate Hudson were also in the running - but we just can't picture it.

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When in Rome...

Back in 1980, Sophia Loren – then 56 – somehow managed to play her younger self and her mother in Sophia Loren: Her Own Story. Even then, that was pushing it. Thankfully, in a new upcoming TV movie about her life, 75-year-old Sophia realized she can’t exactly manage dual roles. Enter 27-year-old Sicilian beauty Margareth Made. This acting newcomer portrays Sophia in her pre-Hollywood bombshell days, while Sophia steps into the role of her own mother once again. The film La Mia Casa è Piena Di Specchi (My House Is Full Of Mirrors), now shooting in Rome, will be broadcast on Italian TV next year. Ok, so we won’t exactly get to watch the finished product, but we can take a sneak peek at the uncanny resemblance between the two.

Margareth and Sophia

Sophia and her real-life mom

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Quick Quips for September 23rd

"Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you'll find the real tinsel underneath."
- Oscar Levant

What If James Dean Didn't Die?

What if James Dean hadn’t died in that fateful car crash in 1955? It’s a question people have been asking since the tragic accident happened – and it’s one I ask myself every time I watch his films. But now a South African advertisement is hypothetically answering it. The eerie clip, entitled Legend, shows what Dean’s life might have been like, had he lived past 24. There are shots of Dean receiving a lifetime achievement Oscar, directing a film, protesting against the Vietnam War and working as a humanitarian ambassador.

Not gonna lie, this is pretty freakin’ cool. It was shot over 14 months and a combination of make-up, prosthetics, body doubles and CG face replacement were used to bring Dean “back to life.”

The ad finishes with the tagline: “Given more time, imagine the possibilities.”

I think I just got chills.

Quick Quips for August 21st

"I think that every religion says to love your neighbor. In Hollywood they add, "But don't get caught."

- Anita Ekberg

Kate to Channel Crawford?

Is Kate Winslet stepping into Joan Crawford’s perfectly polished pumps? EW.com reports that Winslet is currently in talks to star in a new mini-series adaptation of Mildred Pierce. The five-hour project is being shopped around to various cable networks, including HBO, and it’s based on James M. Cain’s Depression-era novel. The novel was also, of course, the basis for the 1945 film starring Ms. Crawford herself. Crawford played a protective single mother who’ll do anything for her children – even her spoiled, ungrateful teenage daughter played by Ann Blyth (seriously, you’ll want to slap that bitch). It’s a pure, melodramatic “woman’s picture” and it’s awesomely ridiculous. It netted Crawford an Oscar and the film itself nabbed Best Picture. While news of remakes generally make us cringe, this one potentially involves Kate Winslet so we’re loving it already. Start trying on your shoulder pads and penciling in those eyebrows, Kate. Mildred Pierce is calling for you!

On a Holiday!

Hey all! Apologies for the lack of regular posts lately. On the Marquee is taking a bit of a summer vacation. A "holiday," if you will - kinda like that Cary Grant movie. And speaking of which, Andrea is off to Grant's motherland, aka England, for some much needed R and R. Don't worry though, we'll be back and better than ever in no time! In the meantime, feel free to send us suggestions of posts you'd like to see!