{"id":37291,"date":"2016-09-09T11:57:51","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T18:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=37291"},"modified":"2021-01-09T16:44:49","modified_gmt":"2021-01-09T23:44:49","slug":"misfits-the-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=37291","title":{"rendered":"Misfits, The (1961)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You have the gift for life, Roslyn.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-37292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Poster.jpg 496w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA dancer (Marilyn Monroe) divorcing her husband (Kevin McCarthy) in Reno befriends a divorcee (Thelma Ritter) and becomes involved with an aging cowboy (Clark Gable) living on property owned by a widowed tow-truck driver (Eli Wallach). The arrival of a down-and-out rodeo rider (Montgomery Clift) &#8212; and the three men&#8217;s plans to corral nearby wild mustangs &#8212; further complicate romantic and ethical tensions among the group.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Arthur Miller Films<\/li>\n<li>Clark Gable Films<\/li>\n<li>Cowboys<\/li>\n<li>Divorce<\/li>\n<li>Eli Wallach Films<\/li>\n<li>John Huston Films<\/li>\n<li>Kevin McCarthy Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Marilyn Monroe Films<\/li>\n<li>Masculinity<\/li>\n<li>Misfits<\/li>\n<li>Montgomery Clift Films<\/li>\n<li>Thelma Ritter Films<\/li>\n<li>Westerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary argues that while this &#8220;last film of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable&#8221; will be of &#8220;more than passing interest&#8221;, it&#8217;s &#8220;not the classic that it should have been, considering that Monroe, Gable, and Montgomery Clift were its stars, John Huston directed, and Arthur Miller wrote the script (he adapted it from an article he wrote for <em>Esquire<\/em>).&#8221; He writes that Miller &#8220;laments the disappearance of the heroic Age of Cowboys, suggesting that today&#8217;s &#8216;cowboys&#8217; (misfits) can&#8217;t retain their manly pride by riding in rodeos on spooked horses and bulls or capturing mustangs for dogfood dealers&#8221;; however, he argues that &#8220;Miller&#8217;s script is overwritten, without being insightful&#8221; and too &#8220;full of gloom and doom&#8221;. He also asserts that John Wayne would have been better-cast than Gable (I disagree), and that &#8220;it&#8217;s a shame&#8221; &#8220;Clift and Monroe, both known for their sensitivity&#8221;, &#8220;didn&#8217;t have more scenes with each other&#8221; (true). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe2.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe2-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe2-300x191.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Despite all those caveats, Peary points out how &#8220;amazing&#8221; it is &#8220;what a wonderful performance [Monroe] gives&#8221;, given the fact that she was &#8220;having tremendous psychological problems during the filming&#8221;. He writes that she&#8217;s &#8220;beautiful, angelic, vulnerable, assertive, wise beyond her education, unhappy, [and] the sufferer for all creatures (man or animal) that hurt&#8221;, and he states that he&#8217;d &#8220;like to think that this role comes closest to the real Marilyn Monroe&#8221;. Monroe&#8217;s performance is truly noteworthy: it&#8217;s literally impossible to keep your eyes off of her, and we instantly understand why all the other characters want to be near her. Ritter, meanwhile, is wonderfully droll in one of her many stand-out supporting performances:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ritter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ritter.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ritter.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ritter-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ritter-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ritter-424x270.png 424w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and all three men do fine ensemble work together. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography2.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography2-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography2-300x191.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While the overly dense storyline may not pack as much of a punch as it could, there&#8217;s no denying that this remains an impactful, affecting film on many levels, and is worth viewing by all film fanatics at least once. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/10\/15\/us\/wild-horses-us-west.html\">this recent NY Times article<\/a> for an update on the status of wild horses across the United States.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marilyn Monroe as Roslyn<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe3.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe3-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe3-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Monroe3-424x270.png 424w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Fine performances by the ensemble cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ensemble.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ensemble.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ensemble.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ensemble-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Ensemble-300x191.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Russell Metty&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography1.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography1-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Cinematography1-300x191.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Men.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Men.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Men.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Men-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Men-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Misfits-Men-424x270.png 424w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a poignant film by a master director. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0055184\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3544misf.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/19301\/the-misfits#articles-reviews\">TCM Trivia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You have the gift for life, Roslyn.&#8221; Synopsis: A dancer (Marilyn Monroe) divorcing her husband (Kevin McCarthy) in Reno befriends a divorcee (Thelma Ritter) and becomes involved with an aging cowboy (Clark Gable) living on property owned by a widowed tow-truck driver (Eli Wallach). The arrival of a down-and-out rodeo rider (Montgomery Clift) &#8212; and the three men&#8217;s plans to corral nearby wild mustangs &#8212; further complicate romantic and ethical tensions among the group. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Arthur&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=37291\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37291"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62563,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37291\/revisions\/62563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}