River Of No Return (1954)

Marilyn Monroe is sweet, smart, sassy, sexy, strong and sonorous in River Of No Return. Robert Mitchum and Tommy Rettig play the dad and boy entranced by Monroe's mellifluous moves. Despite two misogynistic scenes involving Monroe (one involves the finale) and the film's treatment of Indians, Otto Preminger has fashioned an exciting western and Monroe is the consummate actress in one of her best movies.

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Don't Bother To Knock (1952)

The closest Marilyn Monroe ever came to appearing in film noir is the first movie in which her name appears above the title, the 1952 black and white thriller Don't Bother To Knock with noir favorite Richard Widmark and singer Anne Bancroft. Although not the brightest script, Monroe proves her acting chops as the baby sitter in hotel room 809; she is poignant, detached and bat-shit crazy. I've read that this movie is closest to the real Monroe (not the blonde bimbo) but there is no playacting here; Monroe is mesmerizing.

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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Sassy Jane Russell and sweet Marilyn Monroe bring their many charms to this wonderful film of the Broadway musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Howard Hawks directs the lively, colorful, entertaining and tuneful tale about two showgirls looking for love (and money) into a frothy and uncomplicated soiree. Monroe's iconic Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, Russell's so-hot-they-needed-a-pool Ain't There Anyone Here For Love and the duet Two Little Girls From Little Rock show how neither woman has ever been better - and not many films have either.

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...How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)

How to Marry A Millionaire is an absolute charmer with three lovely leading ladies (Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable) playing exquisitely with their respective glasses, hamburgers, and snow suit. The film has the airiness of a musical (although it's just a plain old light comedy) and four men who hold their own against our leading babes (Dick Powell, Rory Calhoun, David Wayne and Cameron Mitchell). Catch this one anytime you can.