A Long, Hot Misfits Summer

More Stars Soon in Heaven ---Part TwoProblem with event movies was unwashed public needing to agree that they were indeed events. Subject matter still had to matter, doubts frankly as to whether The Misfits would. Robert Mitchum was wanted initially for lead man. Memos I read suggest they wanted him badly. Did Mitchum see this as too much reprise of his previous The Lusty Men for RKO? Was writer Arthur Miller too lofty a prospect? Maybe Monroe as screen mate distanced him. By 1960, would her people have insisted on top billing for MM? There was no argument she’d cede placement to Gable, age before beauty perhaps, or one legend checkmating another. But Monroe was still a working actress at heart, not yet legendary as early and mysterious death would confer. Respective pay level told truth as to that … Gable got $750K, her fee $300K same as Huston. Both were in for percentages. I understand Monroe’s estate still gets checks from The Misfits and Some Like It Hot. Gable under such…