Marilyn: Behind the Icon

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Marilyn Behind the Icon
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Marilyn: Behind the Icon is a dramatic multi-season podcast series blending a uniquely scripted episodic story with commentary on the remarkable life of Marilyn Monroe. It’s up close, raw and real; telling her story through extensively researched historical events, including Marilyn Monroe’s own perspective in her own words. We explore her inner journey and human side as no other podcast, film or TV show has ever done before. The series portrays her personal struggles with mental illness and addiction in addition to her amazing resiliency in achieving her dreams as one the greatest movie actresses and icons in motion picture history. We begin our story with her life as a young girl named Norma Jeane—a girl desperate for a stable family and home life — a girl seeking to find her place—a girl nobody wanted—who grew up in the care of foster families and caretakers. As a young teen searching for her identity, she became determined to make something of herself and created a life born out of her dreams, imagination, and talent. Marilyn became a top cover girl model, a young starlet, a celebrated actress, an accomplished singer and dancer, a wife, aspiring mother, a producer, and ultimately, a legend—an enduring ICON.

We’ll highlight the tragedy and pain yet celebrate the triumphs of the life, legend, and the global phenomenon known as MARILYN.

The Series Opener

Producer, Nina Boski, shares the history and the making of Marilyn: Behind the Icon and the reasons why the podcast is so relevant today. Nina was also one of the producers and the host of Goodnight Marilyn Radio in which the relationship with the other two writers and producers started.

Prelude: Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

Nina Boski and Gary Vittaco-Robles speak to Michael Selsman, a former press agent employed by the Arthur P. Jacobs Company that represented Marilyn. They dispel myths about the media coverage of her death, rumors of Marilyn scheduling a press conference shortly before her death, drinking alcohol on her last day, and having an abortion shortly before her death. Check out more at behindtheicon.com.

Prelude: Classic Cool

An interview with Deana Martin, the daughter of Dean Martin about her father’s relationship with Marilyn. Dean was Marilyn’s friend and her leading man in her final, unfinished film, Something’s Got to Give. Gary and Nina reminisce with Deana about the “Rat Pack”era and the Martin family’s special connection to Marilyn. To see more, find us at behindtheicon.com

Marilyn: Behind the Icon Trailer

Marilyn: Behind the Icon is a dramatic multi-season podcast series blending a uniquely scripted episodic story with commentary on the remarkable life of Marilyn Monroe. It’s up close, raw and real; telling her story through extensively researched historical events, including Marilyn Monroe’s own perspective in her own words. We explore her inner journey and human side as no other podcast, film or TV show has ever done before. The series portrays her personal struggles with mental illness in addition to her amazing resiliency in achieving her dreams as one the greatest movie actresses and icons of motion picture history. We begin our story with her life as a young girl named Norma Jeane — a girl desperate for a stable family and home life — a girl seeking to find her place — a girl nobody wanted — who grew up in the care of foster families and caretakers. As a young teen searching for her identity, she became determined to make something of herself and created a life born out of her dreams, imagination, and talent. Marilyn became a top cover girl model, a young starlet, a celebrated actress, an accomplished singer and dancer, a wife, aspiring mother, a producer, and ultimately, a legend — an enduring ICON.

We'll highlight the tragedy and pain yet celebrate the triumphs of the life, legend, and the global phenomenon known as MARILYN.

Prelude: Moment of Truth

A panel of experts debunk rumors and theories about Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 death, cite the forensic evidence from the LA DA report summarizing the 1982 re-investigation, and correct lingering outlandish rumors. Check out more at behindtheicon.com

EP1 Please Let Me Out

Following an extremely difficult year of two challenging film productions, her divorce from Arthur Miller, a suicide attempt and the death of Clark Gable, Marilyn is admitted to two psychiatric hospitals in 1961. It is a time of deep personal challenge for Marilyn when she is forced to confront her greatest fears. She fights for her own sanity amidst harrowing conditions at the facility. Her attempts to escape are stopped until an unexpected friend comes back into her life to rescue her. See more at BehindtheIcon.com

#1 Norma Jeane: Discovering Truths

The Marilyn: Behind the Icon producers Nina Boski, Randall Libero and Gary Vitacco-Robles talk about their perspective on developing this dramatic series from a historical and factual approach. Gary offers reasons why his commentary regarding Marilyn Monroe’s mental health perspective is important to tell Marilyn’s story accurately. They explore Marilyn’s goals to become an actress, wife, and mother, her personal challenges and crises related to intergenerational mental illness in her family, and her own childhood trauma. The co-writers reflect upon the responsibility of ethical research, legitimate sources and new source material unearthed by recent auctions. See more at BehindtheIcon.com.

EP2 A Promise of Hope

Marilyn shares her story of recovery with photographer George Barris during her final photo session at a Santa Monica beach. Marilyn heals from her agonizing experience after moving to a convalescent hospital in New York with Joe DiMaggio by her side in early 1961. She is released from care and greets the awaiting media onslaught outside the hospital with press agent Pat Newcomb. Marilyn renews her relationship with Joe DiMaggio as the couple travel together to Florida. She makes plans to star in her own production of the drama, Rain for NBC television.

#2 Norma Jeane: Discovering Truths

The series producers, Nina, Randall, and Gary provide insight into the Monroe-DiMaggio relationship at the end of Marilyn’s life. Gary discusses the Tampa Bay, Florida community’s reaction to the couple’s famous visit in 1961 depicted in the episode from a historical perspective. Nina and Randall talk about working with actress Erin Gavin and the studying of Monroe’s real life vocal inflection, intonation, and speech patterns using actual recordings and how it differs from her acting voice. Gary reveals more about Marilyn’s professional goals in 1961 and DiMaggio’s efforts to increase his sincere emotional support for Marilyn despite his past transgressions. More at BehindtheIcon.com

EP3 I Was a Black Mark on a White Cross

The episode opens with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn on the set of Some Like it Hot discussing the production shoot. Marilyn reveals an early childhood memory that still haunts her. In 1960, Marilyn engages in psychotherapy with Dr. Ralph Greenson as a result of her personal crisis after the production of Let’s Make Love. She explores her extensive maternal family history of mental illness as Greenson begins to connect the patterns in her past to her current relationships with men. More at BehindtheIcon.com