Page "George Cukor" Paragraph 19

Over the next ten years, Cukor directed a handful of films with varying success.

Les Girls ( 1957 ) won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Wild Is the Wind ( 1957 ) earned Oscar nominations for Anna Magnani and Anthony Quinn, but neither Heller in Pink Tights nor Let's Make Love ( both 1960 ) were box office hits.

His most notable project during this period was the ill-fated Something's Got to Give, an updated remake of the 1940 screwball comedy My Favorite Wife.

Cukor liked leading lady Marilyn Monroe but found it difficult to deal with her erratic work habits, frequent absences from the set, and the constant presence of her acting coach, Paula Strasberg.

After thirty-two days of shooting, the director had only 7½ minutes of usable film.

Then Monroe travelled to New York to appear at a birthday celebration for John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, where she famously serenaded the President.

Studio documents released after Monroe's death confirmed that her appearance at the political fundraising event was approved by Fox executives.

The production came to a halt when Cukor had filmed every scene not involving Monroe and the actress remained unavailable.

20th Century Fox executive Peter Levathes fired her and hired Lee Remick to replace her, prompting co-star Dean Martin to quit, since his contract guaranteed he would be playing opposite Monroe.

With the production already $ 2 million over budget and everyone back at the starting gate, the studio pulled the plug on the project.

Less than two months later, Monroe was found dead in her home.