Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) never looked as beautiful, sensual and enchanting as she did in this screwball comedy, which had to remain unfinished because of her untimely death. The few scenes that had already been shot show her as Ellen Arden, who was missing for five years after a plane crash and, after her accidental rescue, reappears with her husband (Dean Martin), who is about to get married again. Marilyn's nude (leotard) appearance in the swimming pool is simply great and still well worth seeing!
But there was someone else on the deserted island. The good Ellen Arden was stranded there with a striking male Adonis, who was played by Tom Tryon (1926-1991). As is well known, the film could not be finished. That same year, Tryon had a small appearance in "The Longest Day." Things got better in 1963 when he landed the title role in "The Cardinal" alongside the German-Austrian world star Romy Schneider (1938-1982). There was also a Golden Globe nomination for the attractive actor.
But Tom Tryon not only had an enviable body, but also something on his mind. In the 1970s he developed into a successful writer. Based on his own short story "Crowned Heads", he wrote the script for "Fedora" (1978) by Billy Wilder, which was intended to help Hildegard Knef (1925-2002, of course under her international star name Hildegarde Neff) make a big comeback. It didn't quite work, but the film is well worth seeing. The story of the filming of this film has just been made into the novel "Mr Wilder & Me" by Jonathan Coe.