The Misfits: A film ahead of its time

"The man who's too afraid to die, is too afraid to live." 

                                                                                                                                        - Gay Langland 

If you follow me on Pinterest, you probably could have guessed which film I would write about next based on the theme of my recent pins. This past weekend I watched the 1961 film, The Misfits for the first time. I had been wanting to see this movie for a while as it's the last film of its two stars. Clark Gable suffered a heart attack two days after filming ended; ten days later he passed away after a massive second heart attack. Marilyn Monroe died a year and a half after finishing The Misfits. Although in-between she had been cast (then fired, then re-hired) in the movie Something’s Got to Give, she passed away in the middle of filming, making The Misfits her final, completed film.

Czech movie poster for The Misfits. Via.

At the time of its release, The Misfits was a box-office bomb; some even say it was the flop of its time. Having now seen the film, I can only assume this failure was due to a lack of understanding on the part of audiences and critics. It’s undeniable that The Misfits was way ahead of its time; the overall feel of the film is much more reminiscent of late 60’s and 70’s movies. Arthur Miller wrote an intimate screenplay that takes a look at the lives of four very vulnerable, lost characters.  As a result of its unsuccessful debut however, it is often an overlooked and forgot film, which is a shame considering the fantastic performances by the entire ensemble.

Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Misfits. Via. 

The script, which was written as a Valentine’s gift for Miller’s then wife Monroe, was inspired by Miller’s own trip to Reno in the late 50’s. He had been staying there while waiting out a divorce from his first wife, in order to more publicly pursuit Monroe. There he became fascinated by the life of the cowboys; these were not the cowboy dandies of Hollywood, but real cowboys who by the 20^th century, had long outlived their place and purpose in the world. This displacement and inability to adjust to their environment is the idea that initially gave life to The Misfits. His four main characters are all drifters and dreamers who have relocated to the isolated west trying to escape something; it’s in the deserts of Nevada that they look for a reconfirmation of life. 

Cliff, Monroe, and Gable goofing around on the set of The Misfits. Via. 

Before even watching the film, what struck me was how appropriate the title was for the actors starring in it. Like their characters, Gable, Monroe and Montgomery Cliff were all themselves misfits in Hollywood.

According to most sources, Gable never fully recovered from the sudden death of his third wife, Carole Lombard. On top of that, Gable was 59 years old at the time of filming, and no longer felt at home in the “new Hollywood;” he was apparently very nervous about taking on the role of Gay in The Misfits, as its other three stars (Cliff, Monroe, and Eli Wallach) had all been trained in “The Method,” which, for Gable, was a mysterious and foreign approach to acting.

Clark Gable in The Misfits. Via.

Montgomery Cliff’s personal life at the time of The Misfits was a sad one as well. It was marked by heavy alcohol abuse, internal demons and guilt as a result of hiding his sexuality, and massive physical recovery (as this was 5 years after his 1956 car crash and consequential face reconstruction.)

Montgomery Cliff in The Misfits. Via.

And then there was poor Marilyn Monroe; she essentially played herself in The Misfits- a lonely and lost divorcee who is trying to rediscover life and something to live for.

Marilyn Monroe in This Misfits. Via. 

Now, don’t get me wrong- I do not dislike Marilyn Monroe; I personally find it frustrating, however, that Marilyn Monroe “the legend” has far outlived and out-shadowed Marilyn Monroe “the actress.” In pop culture today Monroe is synonymous with beauty, glamour and sex; most idolize her without even having seen any of her performances. People too often are seduced by the idea of her, the dream of her. 

I found Monroe’s performance in The Misfits impressive- was it the best performance I've ever seen? No, not by a long shot. But, it was the best Marilyn Monroe performance I've ever seen. Maybe that’s because she finally set aside the dumb blonde caricature, or maybe because she was playing a character so similar to herself. Either way, her portrayal was moving and heartfelt- heartbreaking even.

The best scene of this film is without a doubt the climax of the movie- the mustang-hunting scene. This scene is what solidified the film for me. Miller outdid himself with the writing, and the performances of all four actors on screen are so real and so touching. 

As I watched the three men (Gable, Cliff, and Wallach) take on a mustang stallion, capturing it to be sold (and not for riding- but to be butchered and turned into dog food), I couldn’t stop myself from comparing the poor horse to Monroe’s character, Roslyn. These men are all trying to tie down this beautiful, wild thing, just as all three men have been trying to win over Roslyn throughout the entire story. 

As Guido (Wallach) notes early on in the film, Roslyn “has the gift for life. The rest of us, we’re just looking for a place to hide and watch it go by.” But Roslyn, like this stallion, just wants to be free and won’t stop struggling against these men who see her as salvation in their troubled world. Each man reacts differently to Roslyn’s screams and insistent demands to leave the poor horses alone. All three male characters undergo massively dynamic transformations. Their true selves are revealed in this scene; some are for the better and some are not. It’s truly an engrossing scene that deserves multiple viewings.

The Misfits is an interesting film, partially because of the legends behind the camera and partially because of Arthur Miller’s thought-provoking story. Although I did enjoy the film, it does not earn a spot on my list of favorite movies. Some scenes, especially in the middle of the film, are less than notable; the final 20-or-so minute showdown hunting the mustangs, however, warrants a recommendation. If you haven't already seen it, give it a try one night and see what you think. 

John Huston, Arthur Miller, and cast of The Misfits. Via.

Also check out the PBS documentary The Making of the Misfits which is on YouTube, uploaded in three separate sections. This short documentary shared very interesting insights into the tension and stress behind the scenes of The Misfits; from the 108 degree Nevada heat to the disintegrating marriage between Miller and Monroe, the set was more than taut with frustrations, resentment and anxiety. Definitely take the time to watch this documentary after experiencing this film.

Lisa Helene.