The Seven Year Itch Archives -

Published January 28, 2023

FAREWELL GEORGE S. ZIMBEL

Today we are mourning the passing of American-Canadian esteemed documentary photographer: George S. Zimbel, who died on 9th January 2023 at age 93.

Zimbel had an incredible career and captured some amazing photographs of iconic figures around the world including our girl Marilyn Monroe.
George was in attendance the night of the famous “upskirt” scene from “The Seven Year Itch” which was being filmed on the streets of New York in September 1954. It is claimed thousands of fans turned up to witness Monroe repeatedly walk over a subway grate whilst it blew cool air up her skirt, blowing it way over her head and creating one of the most iconic moments in cinema history.

George was lucky enough to be one of the photographers in attendance and was able to capture some of these iconic shots:

George said of this one specific shot:

“Finally when they started filming, DiMaggio walked right off the set, right in the middle of the film shoot, right in front of the camera, everything stopped… And that’s where I had my favourite photograph of serious Marilyn, she just stopped.. and the light is just coming down, light, light, light, light right on top of her head and it’s all black except for her. It was a heavy moment.”

For more information on George and his career, head to his website at:
http://www.georgezimbel.com

Published August 18, 2021

VOTE MARILYN FILMS TO THE NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY

The National Film Registry is part of the Library of Congress and ensures the conservation and survival of culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films. This is increasingly important in order to preserve film negatives and physical copies of films for future generations.

Every year the board decides on 25 films to be added to the registry. As of 2021, Some Like It Hot is the only Marilyn movie on the registry. While you can nominate up to 50 films every year, I would recommend focusing on two Marilyn films already being suggested in the registry’s official “Not Yet Added” list:

Seven Year Itch, The / Year column : 1955
Misfits, The / Year column : 1961

(please follow this title format when submitting)

Your vote can make a real difference. Films that receive the most support each year are given special consideration by members of the National Film Preservation Board.

All you need is an email address. You do not need to complete the two questions but it never hurts to show some passion:

https://www.research.net/r/national-fim-registry-nomination-form?fbclid=IwAR1iCf6cwTgGS1Xdw1XOSQI_OEfJigNo8d_-X29vbgfPnX4nTUayuHolQS4

The deadline is September 15th so get voting and spread the word!

Thanks to “Silver Technicolour” over at or Facebook group for wording, graphic and bringing this to our attention!

Published October 21, 2020

MARILYN AT THE ORIENTAL THEATRE 1955

Here is a great photograph taken in Chicago 1955, at The Oriental Theatre when The Seven Year Itch was released in cinemas… shout out when you can spot Marilyn!

Published July 1, 2020

REMEMBERING WALTER MATTHAU 20 YEARS ON

Remembering Walter Matthau who passed away July 1st 2000.

Walter Matthau was an American Oscar winning actor and comedian appearing in over 100 film and tv credits with a career spanning over 6 decades.

Some of Matthau’s biggest films hits include: “Charade,” “Hello, Dolly!” “Charlie Verrick” and “The Taking Of Pelham 123.” He also struck up a lifelong friendship and on screen partnership with Jack Lemmon and together they made 10 films together, including: “The Odd Couple,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “The Front Page” and “The Fortune Cookie” for which Matthau won an Academy Award for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role.’

Although his name isn’t instantly thought of when it comes to Marilyn, they do have a connection. Matthau was one of the original choices for the role of “Richard Sherman” in “The Seven Year Itch” and even went as far as to record a screen test (linked below.)
The role eventually went to Tom Ewell and the rest is history.

Although it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Richard Sherman, as Tom Ewell did such a fantastic job, I’m sure Walter Matthau would have put his own unique stamp on it!

WATCH WALTER MATTHAU’S SCREEN TEST FOR “THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH” HERE:
https://youtu.be/Cwyod0Fg-Dw

Matthau passed away at the age of 79 on July 1st 2000. He is buried at Westwood Memorial Cemetery in Los Angeles with his wife Carol, not too far away from Jack Lemmon and of course… Marilyn.