Summary

In “Nell 1952,” for the movie Don’t Bother to Knock, Norma Jeane patterned her behavior as Nell, who had just been released from the psychiatric hospital, after her mother. Richard Widmark, the leading male, sensed that when Marilyn was portraying Nell, she was not herself. He noted it was hard to communicate with her, as if she were sleepwalking. He was later angry because Marilyn stole every scene in the movie in which they appeared together.

When Norma Jeane visited her mother, she felt guilty when she watched her mother’s mannerisms. She feared she might be accused of stealing these mannerisms for use in her acting. Norma Jeane noticed that Gladys appeared to be smiling at her with pride when she showed her a full-page photo of Marilyn Monroe. The moment was ruined for Norma Jean because...