Home / Arts and Entertainment / Marilyn Monroe: A Photographer's View
Marilyn Monroe: A Photographer's View
1 Jun
Summary
- Photographer Bruno Bernard captured Norma Jeane before she became Marilyn Monroe.
- Bernard and Monroe shared a bond as survivors of hardship.
- Photos reveal Marilyn's joyous moments and pensive waits on set.
Photographer Bruno Bernard, who escaped Nazi Germany, formed a unique bond with Norma Jeane Mortensen in the mid-1940s. Bernard, an orphan, and Norma Jeane, who endured foster care hardships, found solace in each other's company. This connection is explored in the book "The Marilyn Monroe Century: From Norma Jeane to Icon -- A Story in Photographs."
Bernard's lens documented Norma Jeane's transformation into the iconic Marilyn Monroe. One photograph from 1953 captures Monroe radiant at the Hollywood Bowl, wearing a borrowed tangerine dress. Another iconic shot from the filming of "The Seven Year Itch" shows her joyous struggle with her billowing white dress.
Bernard's diaries reveal Monroe's recognition of his influence, stating, "Remember, Bruno, it all started with you." A 1949 photograph at the Racquet Club of Palm Springs shows a relaxed, flirtatious Monroe, already using her stage name, but Bernard continued to see her as Norma Jeane until his death in 1987.
