The Misfits 1960 | 125mins | dir: John Huston | starring: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Eli Wallach | 1.00pm, Channel 4, Monday 5 July reviewed by Lebby Eyres uploaded: 28-06-2004 Troubled stars, a troubled shoot and a troubling film – but The Misfits is still worthy of being called a classic For a film that’s all about debunking a few all-American myths, it’s ironic that, through a few twists of fate, The Misfits has acquired such iconic status. Written by Arthur Miller as he prepared to marry Marilyn Monroe, the film starred her and Clark Gable in what turned out to be their final roles, as well as being one of Montgomery Clift’s last hurrahs. Legend has it on the last day of filming, Gable declared, “Christ, I'm glad this picture’s finished. She damn near gave me a heart attack". She, of course, was Marilyn, vulnerable and difficult, teetering through the last few months of her life. And Gable couldn’t have been more right – 12 days after saying those words he was dead, of a massive coronary, his demise perhaps more due to undertaking his own stunts than frustration with Marilyn, however. But although The Misfits’ fame might have been secured by being associated with the deaths of two of America’s finest, it was not guaranteed affection. The public did not take to it, perhaps because of its slightly difficult nature – as the title suggests, its characters are not particularly sympathetic, nor its story heart-warmingly uplifting. Seen from a modern perspective, however, that probably makes it a more enticing prospect. Gable and Eli Wallach play cowboys who are drifting round the West in search of purpose and a wage packet. Wallach meets Monroe, who has come to Reno in search of a quickie divorce, but she is soon snared by the more sensitive Gable. The trio set off together, picking up Clift on the way, and embark on a plan to make money by rounding up wild Mustangs and selling them for dog meat. The tensions between this mismatched quartet eventually come to a head during a terrific final scene, set out in the raw, unforgiving desert. All four actors prove themselves equal to the challenge of a difficult and intense denouement, but inevitably the focus is on Monroe who gives, arguably, her finest performance by letting her own vulnerability shine through. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, the film becomes even more poignant and unsettling – but definitely not one you’ll want to pass you by. Best quote: "I don't know. Maybe all there really is is just the next thing. The next thing that happens. Maybe you're not supposed to remember anybody's promises" Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe) rating: 8/10 The very fact it's Gable and Monroe's last film is reason enough to watch it – but there's plenty more to recommend it as well [Cocktail]