Netflix has unveiled the official trailer for The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes, a documentary that promises to peel back the layers of Hollywood’s most enduring and tragic icon. Directed by Emma Cooper and produced in collaboration with Story Syndicate, the film is set to premiere exclusively on the platform and aims to deliver a revelatory exploration of Monroe’s complex life, meteoric rise, and sudden death.
The documentary uses newly unearthed audio recordings of interviews conducted in the 1980s by investigative journalist Anthony Summers for his book Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe. These tapes—many of which have never been heard by the public—feature candid accounts from Monroe’s closest friends, colleagues, and confidants, painting a picture of a woman far more nuanced and vulnerable than the glamorous persona that captivated the world.
Opening with archival footage of Monroe’s iconic on-screen moments, the trailer quickly pivots to a darker tone, hinting at the controversies that swirled around her personal life. From her troubled childhood and string of high-profile marriages to her rumored affairs with President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Monroe’s private world has always been the subject of fascination, speculation, and conspiracy theories. This documentary seeks to separate fact from myth, providing a more grounded and human view of the star.
One of the most compelling aspects of the film is its focus on the days leading up to Monroe’s death in August 1962. While officially ruled a probable suicide due to a barbiturate overdose, numerous inconsistencies and unanswered questions have lingered for decades. The documentary doesn’t shy away from these uncertainties. Instead, it presents different interpretations of the evidence through interviews with key figures—detectives, FBI contacts, and Hollywood insiders—who all offer varying accounts of what may have really happened.
Director Emma Cooper described the film as an attempt to allow Monroe, in a sense, to tell her own story. Through authentic voices and audio, audiences hear Monroe’s world reflected through those who truly knew her, many of whom struggled to reconcile the public image with the private woman they loved and supported. Cooper has said she wanted to move away from sensationalism and instead portray Marilyn as a person who was shaped—and often broken—by the forces around her.
Visually, the film blends noir-style re-creations with a wealth of original photographs and film clips, offering an immersive viewing experience. It highlights Monroe’s intelligence and ambition, qualities often overshadowed by her beauty and sex symbol status. The documentary argues that she was not simply a passive victim of fame but also a woman who sought creative control and fought hard to be taken seriously in a male-dominated industry.
Critics who have previewed the documentary note its sensitive approach and respect for Monroe’s legacy, acknowledging it as one of the more balanced and compelling portrayals of her life to date. Rather than focusing solely on her tragic end, the film celebrates her achievements and resilience, reminding viewers why Marilyn Monroe remains a symbol not just of glamour, but of complexity and humanity.
The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes is available for streaming now on Netflix. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering Monroe for the first time, the film offers an intimate and powerful portrait of a woman whose story remains as relevant—and mysterious—as ever.
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