As Monroe made most of her films at Fox, this documentary is at a great disadvantage as Producer David L. Wolper could not get clearances to use film clips from any of them. The Fox Studio wished to protect its investment in its own 1963 documentary on the star entitled "Marilyn" narrated by Rock Hudson.
During he montage of photos depicting Marilyn's rise to prominence as a star, there's a still of her with Robert Wagner in what appears to be a studio-arranged publicity date with the young actor, who was also a Fox contractee.
A re-edited version aired on ABC's "Wide World of Entertainment" on February 27, 1974 under the title "Marilyn Remembered." That 90-minute version omitted some portions of the documentary and included new wrap-around segments hosted by Peter Lawford, who also conducted original interviews with several of Miss Monroe's close associates.
A white baby grand piano is mentioned, and shown in the closing shots, as (according to narrator, Huston) of Monroe's effects in storage.
This piano was eventually auctioned in '99 and successfully bid on (at $662,500) by singer, Mariah Carey, after Anna Strasberg, last wife of Lee Strasberg, whom Monroe had named in her will as beneficiary of her personal effects, duly inherited from from him as his surviving wife thereby including Monroe's inheritance: the auction catalogue gave: "From the estate of Marilyn Monroe: A white lacquered piano, early-20th century, unknown American manufacturer. The case with square tapering legs and feet with caster; together with a matching bench.
The piano originally belonged to Marilyn Monroe's mother, Gladys. After the star's mother was institutionalized, the piano was sold and it would take years of searching for Marilyn to finally locate the piano and buy it back. Her sentimental attachment to this instrument is well-documented in the 1974 book (published posthumously), My Story, by Marilyn Monroe, in Chapter One entitled 'How I Rescued A White Piano': Estimate: $10,000-15,000." Of note, is that in her own 'My Story', she (Monroe) says she had bought it (too) at an auction, from when previously belonged to actor Frederick March.
Marilyn Monroe's latter acting coach and 'mentor', Lee Strasberg seen in interview, and also heard at the end, giving part of her funeral's eulogy was to become the major beneficiary of her will, including her bequest of all her personal effects and clothing to him - so including the white baby grand piano that is featured and which is also shown, plus near the end, narrator Huston says is "in storage." When Lee eventually died (in '82), his inheritance - so then also including that of Monroe's - devolved to his then wife (Anna; whom Monroe either did not know, or possibly had met once), whom he had married after his previous wife Paula - whom Monroe did know from their acting school - had pre-deceased him (in '66). He was 67, she 27. In '94, following a court case against an auction house, Anna declared that she had no intention to ever sell Monroe's personal effects. (Another beneficiary of Monroe's will was her business manager, Inez Molson, whose nephew had contracted with the auction house.)
However, five years later (in '99), Christie's auction house finally auctioned the bulk of Monroe's personal effects - including the piano (bought by singer Mariah Carey) - raising c. $12 million. (Inez's nephew also held another auction later in '05.) Almost forty years after her death, the New York Surrogate Court finally declared on Monroe's estate in 2001, as finally and completely settled, including the authorisation to transfer the (any) remaining assets of her estate, into a company both established and also managed by Anna (then in her sixties) of ''Marilyn Monroe LLC". In 2010, this business was acquired by 'Authentic Brands Group' and 'NECA' (at an estimated $50 million), which then formed the "The Estate of Marilyn Monroe, LLC."
Thereby, Marilyn Monroe's estate and posthumous name and fame thus now continues to generate its value - with associated earnings - as a result of how her will directions were to ultimately transpire.
However, five years later (in '99), Christie's auction house finally auctioned the bulk of Monroe's personal effects - including the piano (bought by singer Mariah Carey) - raising c. $12 million. (Inez's nephew also held another auction later in '05.) Almost forty years after her death, the New York Surrogate Court finally declared on Monroe's estate in 2001, as finally and completely settled, including the authorisation to transfer the (any) remaining assets of her estate, into a company both established and also managed by Anna (then in her sixties) of ''Marilyn Monroe LLC". In 2010, this business was acquired by 'Authentic Brands Group' and 'NECA' (at an estimated $50 million), which then formed the "The Estate of Marilyn Monroe, LLC."
Thereby, Marilyn Monroe's estate and posthumous name and fame thus now continues to generate its value - with associated earnings - as a result of how her will directions were to ultimately transpire.