Here is the highly anticipated Marilyn doll that's been hinted at for months. The biggest surprise is that she is 22" tall. That's a lot of doll! I think she may be unique, not for her fashion but for her size. I don't have any dolls that size except for Cissy.
I'm guessing there will be gorgeous fashions replicating her famous costumes. I wonder if there are enough collectors willing to go this large. There is already the 22" American Model market collectors so this may not be so far out.
What do you all think?
The Madame Alexander Marilyn is 16"
Below: three others I found. The first two are from the Franklin Mint and the third is from the Estate of MM and Twentieth Century Fox. I do not know the measurements of the last one.
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| Vinyl Portrait Dress-up Doll; 15 1/8" tall; Original Price $110 |
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| Porcelain, 19" tall; released 1991, original price $200. |
The real doll!
I have to admit I was disappointed all around, but I will also say that I think part of my disappointment lies in the fault of the photo. In the photos taken directly at the Convention, the resemblance to Marilyn's face seems much better. Still, the body is way too thin. No curvy Marilyn figure on this doll. 22" is too much for me; it would have been much nicer to have a 16" articulated doll that could share the wardrobe of the FM Marilyns. Just my 2 cents. On the plus side - the costume and the jewelry do look spot on!
ReplyDeleteAs predicted, the doll's "authorized likeness" isn't there. Superior version of the costume and amazing jewels but the height, cost, and lack of, y'know, an actual resemblance make this an easy pass for me.
ReplyDeleteIf Robert Tonner ever did an ACTUAL likeness of someone's "authorized likeness," it would be a miracle.
Disappointed also, I won't get a 22" doll, and this is NOT MARILYN
ReplyDeletethe body is too skinny and the face is nothing like Marilyn and
the dress is SO TIRED by now.
Fact: Marilyn Monroe's face is copyrighted...so Tonner or let alone any manufacturer can't do a perfect likeness without infringing on it, however, I think overall, while I'd like to see a few things tweaked, she's not bad at all. :)
ReplyDeleteFact: The Marilyn Monroe estate has okayed this, as they okay everything with Marilyn's image. Mattel, Franklin Mint, et all all make reference to the Monroe estate. (In fact, it's difficult for the Monroe estate not to not okay anything--they like the money her image brings, no matter how godawful.)
DeleteI ofthen wander if I am the only gay guy that does not have a hard on for marilyn, yes she was beautiful but hardly represents anything I want my dolls to be, I don't see why insist on a character that has been explored by everyother doll company, aren't there any other Hollywood icons that need exploring...I think is just laziness form the makers it is easier to do a marilyn M. because all the ideas are out there instead of having to research somebody that hasn't been done yet...
ReplyDeleteand BTW I agree RT simply can't do a reeal likeness to anybody in 17 years of collecting I have yet to see a tonner doll that resembles anybdoy
You know, the collector who presented at tonight's event pointed out that at Moneoe's curviest period, the lovely 5'5.5" real life doll weighed in at 140 pounds. To me, that doesn't seem all that curvy--either by today's or 1962 standards. Apparently at her "usual" weight, and at the time of her death in 1962, she weighed 117.
ReplyDeleteI just don't see that as all that curvy.
Very helpful post, Alison. Thank you.
DeleteCurves or not, proportions at least vaguely consistent with the iconic original are what I'm not seeing in this photo of the doll.
ReplyDeleteAs to the facial resemblence......well, I have never been impressed with any of the Tonner portrait faces, yet I have seen repaints using those same sculpts that were dead on! That suggests to me that the basic face structure is pretty close but the paint jobs are weaker.
The FM Marilyn's had the same problem and yet when repainted by someone talented are stunning.
I think the 22 inch size is a better idea then the 16 inch size since it dodges direct comparision on line by line basis between the Tonner and FM girls.
For much of her life Marilyn was curvy but slim at the waist. Her waist at its tiniest was 22-23 inches. Alison: in 1962 Marilyn was at her thinnest, most fragile-looking and this was not representative of her typical size during the 1950s. She had lost 25 lbs in 1961 from gall bladder surgery.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm disappointed with Tonner's failed attempt. The dolls (22" & 16") are too skinny (there's a glut of this type already) and the face is probably from one of his female superhero sculpts. It looks nothing like Marilyn. Sheesh, the new 16" DeeAnna Denton is skinny compared to the lush 17".
The Franklin Mint did a much better job with Marilyn. They made the body curvy, copying the slope of her shoulders, the roundness of her arms, even the shape of her breasts. They got her nose right, too. A shame FM didn't give it more articulation.
I'm sorry if I was mistaken about her lower weight: 117 lb. I was going based on what I heard from Scott Fortner, who presented this information at the dinner. (I really am not at all an expert on Marilyn, and was shocked to hear her top weight). I should clarify that I thought I heard him say that her weight at her death and after her gall bladder was removed was 117 lb. And to me--to weigh 117 lb at 36 is pretty small.
DeleteHis website is The Marilyn Collection, and he is often called in to verify the authenticity of items up for auction. But I very well could have gotten my information incorrect. :)
I see where your coming from, they did have a few details right, although i was thinking back and if you search the Tonner Power Girl from their DC Stars line, it looks to have better domension that are closer, they couldve scaled that up maybe
DeleteI don't know...although I like Marilyn, I am not a Marilyn fan per se, so my emotional investment is low, but when I look at Tonner's 22" Marilyn doll, I see a GORGEOUS doll first and foremost. Then I notice that she definitely resembles Marilyn. I think her eyes in particular are very accurate (but you have to see an up-close pic). Of all the pictures of Marilyn dolls that Terri has gathered, I like Tonner's version the best. I never seek out Marilyn dolls, and yet I am fighting some serious temptation with this one! Gah! I really hope there is a more affordable basic in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think this doll is great. In comparison to other Marilyns she has a pretty good resemblance. But I also agree that the body does not resemble the style of the fifties that wanted women more on the curvy side. Marilyn was pretty short and not very muscular. So it could be that she weighted little but looked curvy. I just cannot see any more Marilyn dolls. This lady has been way too exploited over the years. I will agree that we need to see other charming ladies come to life through dolls.
ReplyDeletei got a iplehouse BJD doll and i find the body with the med boob's is pretty close to MM body, as i too see all kind's of MM doll's out there and not one good to be called (MARILYN MONROE)
ReplyDeletei not knowing to much sewing made a pattern,and red dress like the one from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDE'S - AND I DID A FAIR JOB..better then what i have seen!
i got a iplehouse BJD doll with med boob's -with is very close too MM body type,and i wanted a red dress like in gentlemen prefer blonde's--and no-one make one close to what MM wore.
ReplyDeleteso i don't sew much,but i took a try at it. and it came out not bad.made a pattern for a 65' doll
and will post the photo's once i learn how to . jonathon
These sites are shocking. How about sites about what we think of America policy BDS against Israel? What we think of immigration policy? What we think of EU? What we think of Kerry or Obama?
ReplyDelete