The 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth has prompted the rerelease of her most serious and poignant film, John Huston's 1961 western drama 'The Misfits'. The film's desolate, end-of-an-era atmosphere feels more sombre than ever, marking the final screen appearances for both Clark Gable and Monroe, and a melancholy late role for Montgomery Clift.
Written by Monroe's then-husband Arthur Miller, adapted from his own short story, the film follows Roslyn (Monroe), a naive divorcee who arrives in Reno, Nevada for a quick divorce. She soon finds herself the object of affection for three men: ageing cowboy Gaylord (Gable), his friend Guido (Eli Wallach), and gentle bronco rider Perce (Clift). The men are drawn to her vulnerability and free spirit, but their plans to capture wild mustangs for pet food lead to a devastating climax.
Monroe's performance is fascinatingly sad, with her signature breathiness giving way to a strange normality in a key scene. The film explores themes of loneliness, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a stark American landscape. The title's irony is that none of the characters are true misfits; they fit all too well into their bleak surroundings and each other's lives.
The Misfits remains a powerful and melancholic work, a fitting tribute to Monroe's legacy on her centenary.
