A photographer’s week with Marilyn Monroe : trains, corsets and an elephant

IN March 1955, photographer Ed Feingersh spent a week photographing Marilyn Monroe for Redbook magazine. His candid shots, taken without flash, including a corset fitting and the opening night of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, were quite different from her usual posed shots.

Monroe was attempting to free herself from her contract with Twentieth Century Fox at the time. Feingersh’s beautiful black and white shots capture her on the subway, relaxing in her hotel room and putting on perfume and make up.

The week culminated with her legendary appearance astride a pink elephant at the circus.

Years after Feingersh’s death in 1961, reels of film were found with more pictures from his time with Monroe.

Images from the session are on display at Galerie Prints Gallery in Arthur Road, Wimbledon Park, London SW19 from February 15 to March 30