Fifty five years ago, the great Shakespearean actor Sir Laurence Olivier teamed up with the biggest movie star in the world, Marilyn Monroe for a little comedic film called “The Prince and the Showgirl.” Olivier ,at nearly 50-years-old, directed the film and played the prince. Monroe, at 30, played the showgirl. Olivier was dedicated to old-school British theatric acting. Monroe was dedicated to the method. The two clashed repeatedly. And all the while, a young man, a third assistant director, looked on, took notes, and became close with Olivier, and even closer with Monroe.
That young man’s memoirs became a book called “My Week with Marilyn,” and a new movie of the same name. The film stars Michelle Williams as Monroe and Kenneth Branagh as Olivier. It’s directed by Simon Curtis.