Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe’s first film contract has emerged for sale for £25,000.
The starlet still went by her birth name of Norma Jean Dougherty when she put pen to paper in 1946.
The then 20-year-old had done a few modelling jobs but was a relatively unknown, novice performer.
As a result, Twentieth Century Fox put her on a modest six-month contract while she honed her acting craft, paying her $150 per week, around $2,350 (£1,854) in today’s money.
In her late 1950s heyday, she earned $500,000 per film – the equivalent of nearly £5million when adjusted for inflation.
Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe’s first film contract has emerged for sale for £25,000
The starlet still went by her birth name Norma Jean Dougherty when she put pen to paper in 1946
While under this first contract, she changed her name to Marilyn Monroe on the advice of film executive Ben Lyon.
The agreement was renewed in February 1947 and she had small roles in Dangerous Years (1947) – where she played a waitress – and Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948).
But the film studio dropped her in August 1947 and she worked odd jobs and minor theatre roles before Columbia Pictures snapped her up.
She appeared in one film, Ladies of the Chorus (1948), before rejoining Fox, who put her on a contract of $500 per week.
It was not until 1953 that she rose to superstardom following her performances in the films Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire.
The original four-page contract, hand-signed and dated July 25, 1946, is going under the hammer at auctioneers Christie’s New York.
It is additionally signed by Twentieth Century Fox general manager Lew Schreiber, her legal guardian Grace Goddard and notary June Downey.
A Christie’s spokesperson said: ‘A 20-year-old Marilyn Monroe signs her first contract with Twentieth Century-Fox.
‘Already enjoying some success as a model, the ambitious Norma Jean Dougherty set her sights on an acting career, signing with agent Harry Lipton, then with National Concert & Artists Corporation (NCAC) in June 1946.
‘Following a unsuccessful interview at Paramount, Fox executive, Ben Lyon arranged for a silent screen test on July 19, 1946 which resulted in Lyon recommending that the studio offer her an option agreement for a film and sound test.
‘The present document was executed at the close of July 1946, and bound the studio to conduct a screen test within 45 days of the agreement with an additional 10 days from the date of the screen test to offer a contract (or not).
The then 20-year-old had done a few modelling jobs but was a relatively unknown, novice performer. As a result, Twentieth Century Fox put her on a modest six-month contract while she honed her acting craft, paying her $150 (£120) per week
Marilyn Monroe starred in Ladies of the Chorus in 1948 alongside Adele Jergens (left)
It was not until 1953 that she rose to superstardom following her performances in the films Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. Pictured: Marilyn in How to Marry a Millionaire alongside David Wayne
Marilyn Monroe in 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, one of the roles that propelled her to superstardom
Monroe died aged just 36 from an overdose of barbiturates at her Los Angeles home on August 4, 1962
‘That screen test occurred on August 14, and although Fox chief Darryl Zanuck was unenthusiastic with the results, he decided to offer her a six-month contract in order to prevent her from signing with rival RKO.
‘On August 24, she signed a six month agreement with Twentieth Century-Fox.
‘With the assistance of Ben Lyon, she would soon choose her stage name.
‘Marilyn had been suggested by Lyon as it reminded him of Marilyn Miller, and Norma Jean chose Monroe, her mother’s maiden name.’
The contract has been consigned for sale from an undisclosed source.
Peter Klarnet, Christie’s senior specialist for books and manuscripts, said: ‘This document represents the genesis of the screen phenomenon that would become Marilyn Monroe.’
Monroe died aged just 36 from an overdose of barbiturates at her Los Angeles home on August 4, 1962.
The sale takes place on October 19.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk