Behind the Laughter: Marilyn Monroe & Billy Wilder During the Making of "Some Like It Hot", 1958

An extraordinary and highly evocative three-piece photographic set capturing Marilyn Monroe at the height of her fame during the production of Billy Wilder’s legendary 1959 comedy masterpiece “Some Like It Hot.” Taken at a press party held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in July 1958, the images depict an intimate and playful moment as director Billy Wilder feeds Marilyn Monroe during a relaxed exchange behind the scenes of one of the most celebrated films in Hollywood history.

The set includes:

* 14337-1: Vintage c.1970s black-and-white gelatin silver photograph on glossy Agfa German paper, 5.1” × 6.75”

* 14337-2: Original cut-out contact sheet gelatin silver print with turquoise-blue editorial crop marks, 2.5” × 2.5”

* 4452: Original camera negative marked “Kodak Safety Film,” 2.5” × 2.5”

Together, the three pieces provide a rare glimpse into the professional photographic process itself — from original camera negative to editorial contact sheet selection and later exhibition print. Such complete surviving groupings are exceptionally scarce and highly desirable to collectors because they preserve not only the image, but also the working history behind its publication and archival preservation.

The photograph captures Marilyn Monroe during one of the most important and turbulent periods of her career. Filmed in 1958 and released in 1959, Some Like It Hot is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American comedies ever made, starring Marilyn Monroe alongside Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon under the direction of legendary filmmaker Billy Wilder. Monroe’s unforgettable performance as Sugar Kane became one of the defining roles of her career and remains among the most iconic portrayals in Hollywood cinema.

Beyond its historical importance, the image reveals Marilyn’s remarkable charisma and spontaneity away from the camera. Laughing and relaxed in an elegant evening gown and opera gloves, she appears radiant and playful during a candid off-screen moment with Wilder — a striking contrast to the pressures and exhaustion she often experienced during the difficult production of “Some Like It Hot.”

The inclusion of the original “Kodak Safety Film” negative and contact sheet fragment with crop marks significantly enhances the archival importance of the set, offering collectors a direct connection to the original photographic session and editorial workflow.  A rare and visually compelling Hollywood archive documenting Marilyn Monroe during the creation of one of the greatest films in motion picture history.