On September 15th, 1954, Marilyn Monroe filmed her iconic "skirt scene" for the movie "The Seven Year Itch" in New York City. The scene, which features Monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress is blown upwards by a passing train, has become one of the most memorable moments in film history.
The scene was shot on Lexington Avenue at 52nd Street in Manhattan, and attracted a large crowd of onlookers and paparazzi. Monroe's then-husband, Joe DiMaggio, was also present on set and reportedly became furious with the attention his wife was receiving.
Director Billy Wilder had originally wanted to shoot the scene on the actual subway grate, but due to the overwhelming crowd, they had to recreate the scene on a soundstage. Monroe wore two pairs of white panties to ensure that the scene remained family-friendly.
The white halter dress worn by Monroe in the scene, designed by William Travilla, was made of rayon-acetate crepe and featured pleated sunburst skirts. In 2011, the dress sold at auction for a staggering $4.6 million, making it one of the most expensive film memorabilia items ever sold.
The scene has been parodied and referenced countless times in popular culture, cementing its status as a timeless Hollywood moment. Interestingly, the scene almost didn't make it into the final cut of the film, as 20th Century Fox executives thought it was too risqué. However, Wilder insisted on keeping it, and the rest, as they say, is history.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
