Top 10 Things Revealed In The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

One of the earliest revelations in the documentary confirms a sad albeit assumed fact about the inner workings of Hollywood⁠, especially during its Golden era. A major showbiz agent of the time, Al Rosen confesses that casting directors would hire actresses based on sex appeal. It’s hardly a shocking truth, especially in the light of everything we’ve learned during the #MeToo era. Still, it’s heartbreaking to think about all those hopeful actresses who were objectified and exploited when they just wanted to create art. The documentary shows crowds of young women literally being measured, which tells you everything you need to know about how the business operated.

Apparently, there’s nothing Marilyn Monroe wanted more than to be a mother. Sadly, this was a joy she never got to experience, having suffered multiple miscarriages. According to photographer Milton Greene, she was keen on having a child. And her friend Arthur James speculated on to what extent that was true. Monroe reportedly told Danny Greenson, her psychiatrist’s son, that she was at her happiest when she got pregnant during her marriage to Arthur Miller. This was around the same time she was shooting “Some Like It Hot.” Sadly, Monroe ended up losing the baby, which was understandably thought to have affected her deeply. There are no reports suggesting that she tried again, and she and Miller got divorced in 1961.

Marilyn and playwright Arthur Miller were an unexpected Hollywood couple. Yet it was clear that they were very much in love, and they soon married. Shortly after, the newlyweds headed to London, where she was filming “The Prince and the Showgirl.” While there, Monroe came across a note Miller had written, expressing his disappointment in her. Monroe seemed to really believe in this relationship, so naturally, she was shaken. While it didn’t end their marriage, the incident didn’t seem to be something they could bounce back from. Judging by the documentary, it started the downward spiral that would ultimately end in their separation years later.

The documentary briefly touches on Monroe’s troubled youth. Her mother struggled with mental illness, and was taken into care. So she was passed around between different foster homes and orphanages. The experience didn’t leave her unscathed, with the documentary detailing her struggles with depression, paranoia, and addiction. These all seemingly stemmed from her chaotic and harrowing past. To make matters worse, men in her life often left her feeling used. Her psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson felt that she needed a family more than anything else. However, she refused to call herself an orphan, repeatedly describing herself as a “waif” instead. There’s no doubt that her difficult childhood had a sizable impact on her adult life.

In 1954, Marilyn and baseball champion Joe DiMaggio married after a couple of years of dating. But it was far from a picture-perfect Hollywood love story. DiMaggio had a mean jealous streak, and was reportedly rather possessive. He struggled with his wife’s “pin-up” image, and supposedly wasn’t the biggest supporter of her career. According to the interview with Monroe’s hairdresser, Gladys Whitten, DiMaggio was enraged by the famous subway grate scene from “The Seven Year Itch.” She emerged the following day with bruises, which were simply covered up with makeup. About nine months after their nuptials, the couple separated.

Monroe reportedly became romantically involved with JFK in the 1950s, long before anyone imagined he’d be President one day. Their paths crossed again years later at Peter Lawford’s famous parties. She allegedly became intimate with both Kennedy brothers, although more so with Bobby. Unfortunately, she got caught in the crossfire between her lover, who was also the Attorney General of the United States, and his nemesis, Teamsters union boss Jimmy Hoffa. Hoffa had Monroe spied on, shedding light on her private interactions with each brother. Eventually, the Kennedys cut ties with the star for speculated reasons we’ll soon discuss. This was another big blow, leaving the actress utterly distraught. Her friend Arthur James believed this marked the beginning of the end.

As we mentioned, Jimmy Hoffa had a vendetta against Robert Kennedy, who was the Attorney General at the time. So he hired Fred Otash, one of the highest-paid private investigators, who was known for digging up dirt on celebrities. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for the right price. Unfortunately, it was Monroe who would pay in the end, though not in dollars. Otash wired up her house, Pete Lawford’s Malibu home, and phone lines in order to uncover any juicy facts about the Kennedys. John Danoff, a PI who worked for Otash, detailed some of the conversations and other activities that were overheard. Eventually, they’d accumulated a collection of tapes detailing the most intimate moments of her relationship with both brothers.

Shockingly, the FBI had a file on Marilyn Monroe. They knew she was tight with the most powerful men in America, but were concerned about her political persuasion. This was during the Cold War when tensions were heightened, and the threat of nuclear war seemed pretty imminent. Her former husband, Arthur Miller, had communist ties, and the actress allegedly had plenty of friends who were known exiled communists. So American intelligence was worried that she might share confidential information that would then be fed back to the enemy. Bobby Kennedy once visited a nuclear testing site after a rendezvous with the actress, which perfectly illustrates why the FBI was so concerned. It’s also thought to be why the brothers eventually ceased contact.

On August 5th 1962, sometime after 3 am, Monroe’s housekeeper and psychiatrist found the actress, who had taken too many sleeping pills, dead. At least that’s the story that was widely reported. However, this story is contested by Natalie Jacobs, the widow of Marilyn’s PR manager Arthur Jacobs. She revealed that she and her husband were at a concert when he was called away with news about Monroe at about 10:30 pm. So how could such different timelines exist? Well, Anthony Summers’ research painted a very different picture of that fateful night. Apparently, Monroe was found in a comatose state and died later in the ambulance on her way to the hospital. She was then returned to her home.

It’s widely accepted that Monroe took her own life, either accidentally or on purpose. But there have been multiple theories that suggest there was more going on. One of these links back to her relationship with the Kennedys. They also apparently fought on the phone before her death. The most surprising part of all is that operatives were allegedly sent to quickly erase any evidence of her relationship with the Kennedy brothers. Now, Summers doesn’t suspect any foul play regarding her actual passing. However, he believes that the circumstances surrounding it were kept secret in order to protect the Kennedys. Ultimately, it’s unlikely we’ll ever know the entire truth.