MUMBAI: Bideo.com is hosting an online auction for a never before published amateur video of Marilyn Monroe on the set of the film Some Like It Hot. The listing marks the 50-year anniversary of Monroe’s Golden Globe victory for her historic performance in the highly acclaimed comedy on 8 March, 1960.
The 20 day auction will run concurrently from 8 – 28 March, the 51st anniversary of the movie’s 1959 premiere.
Captured by a young sailor who was personally invited to the set by Monroe, the 2 and a half minute home video reveals a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of what the American Film Institute dubbed the greatest American comedy of all time. It depicts a casual side of the actress on the beach, as she interacts with cast, crew and fans between takes at the Hotel Del Coronado Resort.
The footage dates back to a difficult and important period in the actress’ life, as her pregnancy began inducing noticeable weight gain and complications in her highly publicized marriage to Arthur Miller proliferated.
Presumed lost for decades, the original 8mm reel recently resurfaced in Australia when the creator’s daughter discovered it among his belongings. In 2008 it was sold to an anonymous collector in Melbourne for $14,624. Plans to commercialize the video never materialized, and the current owner is hoping to find it a more suitable home by selling the full copyright and original reel through the Bideo platform.
Bideo.com, launched in January, is an online auction house for newsworthy user generated photos and video.
Bideo.com CEO and founder Pike Barkerding said, “This is precisely the kind of situation Bideo is meant to facilitate. And as one of the first examples of user generated video, it’s about as symbolic as it is iconic. We hope it will further prove Bideo’s value to the abundance of citizen photojournalism seen today, which is too often given away without proper compensation or recognition to the creator.”
The 3 week auction is currently underway on Bideo.com, where the starting bid is set just below the former sale price at $14,000 USD. On 28 March the winning bidder will receive the non watermarked digital file, a DVD copy, the original 8mm Kodak reel, and exclusive, full commercial rights to the footage. All copies including the watermarked proof will be deleted thereafter.
