All articles from Mad Men blog »

1960s Handbook - Conspiracy Theories on Marilyn Monroe's Death

marilyn-monroe-200x250.jpg

On August 5, 1962, at the age of 36, Marilyn Monroe died of acute barbiturate poisoning, a "probable suicide," according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. Yet, nearly 50 years later, conspiracy theories still abound regarding her death. Was it caused by an accidental overdose, or was it part of an elaborate murder plot engineered by the Kennedys,the CIA, or the Mafia?

One theory says she simply lost track of the number of sleeping pills she took that night. Another says her doctors botched things up, with her psychiatrist prescribing a sedative and her internist prescribing barbiturates -- a potentially lethal combination.

The Kennedys also loom large in the mythology. Monroe supposedly told JFK bother-in-law Peter Lawford the day before to "Say goodbye to Jack." Some say a rumored affair between Monroe and the president led to a cover-up murder at the behest of the White House. Investigators suggested that members of the mob disposed of her in an attempt to frame the Kennedys or that the CIA did it to bring the family down.

The first Los Angeles Police Department officer to arrive on the scene described what he saw this way: "Marilyn was lying face down in what I call the soldier's position. Her hands were by her side and her legs were stretched out perfectly straight. It was the most obviously staged death scene I have ever seen....It all looked too tidy."

Posted by Carolyn Koo
October 1, 2008 1:00pm

Filed under: 1960s Handbook

Comments

user-pic
By greytone on October 1, 2008 8:41 PM

{{smile}}
'bother-in-law Peter Lawford..."

user-pic
By jamm54 on October 2, 2008 2:56 AM

Was the song Monroe was singing over the end credits from "Some Like It Hot" or "Bus Stop"? Anyone know, and what was the title?

default userpic
By drake on October 2, 2008 12:02 PM

It was "I'm Thru With Love" from 'Some Like It Hot' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbFLfSVNYSQ

user-pic
By SCD&Pfan on October 2, 2008 1:40 PM

What a shame she never got to complete the movie she was making with Dean Martin ("Something's Got to Give") was that the name of it? Too too bad.
BTW, "Some Like It Hot" was the funniest movie ever, I think. Utterly hilarious. I've seen it a zillion times and it makes me laugh every time still. Classic.

user-pic
By jamm54 on October 2, 2008 2:20 PM

Thank you drake. That must be from the scene in the ballroom where she's wearing that rhinestone, fleshtone "see through" looking dress that she's spilling out of. Will check it out on youtube. Thanks!

@scfan/gidget: I loved Monroe, especially in "How to Marry a Millionaire", "Misfits", "Monkey Business" and "We're Not Married" besides the other two I mentioned. I used to love the "Seven Year Itch", but I really think HTMAM is classic.

default userpic
By kimkim on October 2, 2008 3:34 PM

Also "Some like it hot" is a fantastic Billy Wilde movie. Also referenced was "The Apartment" One of Billy WIldes fantasticly written movies, that one however only had a Marilyn lookalike.