Discovery of lost nude pictures of Marilyn Monroe leads to legal fight
Now the discovery of long lost semi-nude pictures of the actress and singer has unleashed a bitter legal battle, which is being watched closely by the guardians of her status as in international style icon.
The photographs, believed lost for more than 40 years, are among a series featuring the star of Some Like it Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in a series of erotic poses wearing not much more than a set of pearls and a sultry pout.
They were taken by New York photographer Bert Stern, now 78, during a now legendary three day session with the star at Los Angeles' Bel Air Hotel in July 1962, just six weeks before she died from an overdose of barbiturates.
The shots from the famed "Last Session" were recreated by Mr Stern in a photo session with the actress Lindsay Lohan.
According to papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Mr Stern gave a selection of the pictures, which were originally shot for Vogue magazine, to the long defunct erotic publication Eros in the 1960s, but they were never returned.
But the seven negatives, described as "unique and irreplaceable", recently surfaced when Mr Stern was contacted by two New York photographers Michael Weiss and Donald Penny. Now he is suing to get them back and demanding $1 million in damages...
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
The photographs, believed lost for more than 40 years, are among a series featuring the star of Some Like it Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in a series of erotic poses wearing not much more than a set of pearls and a sultry pout.
They were taken by New York photographer Bert Stern, now 78, during a now legendary three day session with the star at Los Angeles' Bel Air Hotel in July 1962, just six weeks before she died from an overdose of barbiturates.
The shots from the famed "Last Session" were recreated by Mr Stern in a photo session with the actress Lindsay Lohan.
According to papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Mr Stern gave a selection of the pictures, which were originally shot for Vogue magazine, to the long defunct erotic publication Eros in the 1960s, but they were never returned.
But the seven negatives, described as "unique and irreplaceable", recently surfaced when Mr Stern was contacted by two New York photographers Michael Weiss and Donald Penny. Now he is suing to get them back and demanding $1 million in damages...