Bert Stern/ Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting

by Bert Stern

Bert Stern, the famous commercial and fashion photographer of the 60s, was the last to be granted a sitting by Marilyn Monroe six weeks before her tragic death. The three-day session yielded nearly 2,600 pictures-fashion, portrait, and nude studies-of indescribable sensual and human vibrancy, of which no more than 20 were published. And yet these few photographs ineradicably shaped our image of Marilyn Monroe.

This book presents the complete set of 2,571 photos. The monumental body of work by the master photographer and the Hollywood actress marks a climax in the history of star photography, both in quantity and quality. It is a unique affirmation of the erotic dimension of photography and the eroticism of taking photos, and it is the world's finest and largest tribute to Marilyn Monroe.

In front of the camera, Marilyn was known to possess an incredible chameleon-like ability to transform herself into whatever role she was meant to play. In these pages she is goddess, siren, child, woman, femme fatale and dream date. Yet there is an air of desperation about these photos as well. In his fascinating foreword to the book. Bert Stern looks back on that momentous sitting, offering a revealing, naked portrait of Marilyn the person -- of a vulnerable, confused woman who although at the apex of her career, had relinquished control of her life -- and of the fashion world of the early 1960s, with its new openness towards drugs, sex, and art.

From the glamorous, sophisticated photos which Vogue would publish in a black-and-white "memorial" spread, to the less restrained color shots which Stern coaxed out of Marilyn during an intense, exhausting session, this collection covers nearly every aspect of modern photography: portraiture, fashion-driven, erotic, and artistic. But more than a comprehensive display of Stern's immeasurable talents, these photographs combine to create an homage to America's first goddess. A woman we invented, but whom we could never really know.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Art, Photography, Art and Photography, Media Tie In, Film

464 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Susie Gale · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand why some people are so enamored with this book. The fact that Bert Stern got Marilyn drunk and that she looks buzzed in a lot of these pictures, really takes away from what this could have been. All I see is exploitation being glorified. I also have lots of contempt for Stern for having published the photographs that Marilyn didn't approve of and had marked up. I think that is pretty low too. When it comes to MM, I prefer the work of George Barris, Sam Shaw and Ed Feingersh. This is not a book I would recommend.

[Joey Traughber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a joy to own! The photos are so beautiful and amazing! I don't usually re-read many books. But, I never tire of reading it! There is not not much text (less than 30 pages). Over 2,500 photos is the biggest photo collection of Marilyn I have ever seen! I love this book and I highly recommend it to all Marilyn fans!

[Kelly Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband bought me this book as a present for our anniversary as I am a huge Marilyn fan. I love this book and I keep going back and looking through it every so often. Marilyn looks absolutely beautiful in all of these photos. This book is a must have for any Marilyn fan as the collection of photos are stunning! Of all the Marilyn books I have, this by far is my favorite of them all!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an odd book because Bert Stern comes off as an "I coulda fucked her, but I didn't" sort of guy. But if you take the commentary with a grain of salt, it's a fascinating and oddly heartbreaking series of photos.

[AnaRosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new, more mature Marilyn had emerged and with a halo of light around her each photograph explores the moods and intimacy of a woman loved by the world still unforgettable nearly 50 years later. An extraordinary look at Marilyn in the final days of her life. A treasure!

[Dana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the photos truly are beautiful, but it's absolutely impossible to enjoy this book for all of Bert Stern's disgusting descriptions of what's gone on during the shoot. She is visibly checked out in a lot of them, which just makes it impossible to ignore what was going on.

Do you want to read a book by a man who:
- cannot stop talking about how much he wants to get her naked and alone in a room
- is aware of the fact that she had her drink spiked with 100% vodka, yet supplies more and more alcohol during the shoot
- takes pride in only kissing Marilyn after she just about managed to say "no" before she passed out on the bed after a grueling day of shooting
- repeatedly gets off on describing her as "childlike" and "vulnerable", so far as comparing it to spying on his 12 year old girl next door as a teenager
- coherses her into taking all of her clothes off, then taking photos for his "private collection" when she accidentally drops one of the items covering her bottom half
- stands over her as it makes him feel powerful while she's reluctant and distant, then shouts at the crew for someone to "turn her on"
- is at the time of his writing aware that for all intents and purposes, Marilyn committed suicide shortly after seeing the finished photos, of which she brutually vetoed more than half, and yet feels zero shame over the fact that even then he goes on to publish those photos (destructions marks and all)

It's disgusting explotation to the max. The fact this was later released again as "The Complete Last Sitting", presumably with even more photos she didn't wan the world to see... I can't. Disgusting through and through.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

"read" this again in 05, it's just an essay with a jillion fabulous pictures of Norma Jean. Highly recommended.

[Slawka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that all the pictures are perfect, but descriptions that Stern gave somehow disappointed me. Still worth seeing!

[Luke Dimech · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3 Beautiful photos and beautifully written. Revealing, Expressive and sensitive.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

5++ stars for the photos, 1 for the introduction by Bert Stern who comes off self-serving, smarmy, and vaguely repulsive.

[Jay Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real "hommage" to Marilyn! The best pictures of M!!

[Anna Wallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text for this edition is in German, but I borrowed it for the photos so didn't read it. Beautiful photos of Monroe.

[Ben Telling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing photos of an artist on the verge of a break through who unfortunately did not get the chance to level-up even further. Marilyn Monroe played masterfully when dealt shi!tty hands, but the game ended abruptly. There is a full range of emotions in this shoot.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visually breath taking!! Truly a coffee table book for all, hard to believe Marilyn wasn't considered photogenic by the major studios at first!

[Akshay Karna · Rating 4 out of 5]

nicely collaborated..photographs are fascinating but yet something seems to be missing..maybe thats marilyn itself

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought it right when it came out. Great photos.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite some slightly creepy passages from the photographer, this book is extraordinary. The photos are magical.