Marilyn Monroe’s iconic flying skirt scene from the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch” is one of the most memorable moments in Hollywood history. The scene was filmed on a busy street in New York City, where Monroe stood over a subway grate while a strong gust of air from a passing subway train lifted her skirt, revealing her white undergarments.
The scene was carefully choreographed and used a wind machine to create the dramatic effect of Monroe’s skirt flying up. The scene was a massive hit with audiences and quickly became one of the most iconic moments in Hollywood history. Marilyn Monroe’s beauty and charm, combined with the playful and flirtatious nature of the scene, made it an instant classic. Monroe’s dress for this scene was a famous white halter-neck dress designed by William Travilla. The dress was made of a lightweight fabric and had a full skirt, which was perfect for the scene as it created a dramatic effect when the wind lifted it.
The iconic “flying skirt” moment was conceptualized by photographer Sam Shaw, who had met Marilyn Monroe on the set of “Viva Zapata!” in 1951. At the time, Monroe was a rising starlet in the early stages of her career. The two of them developed a close friendship, and Monroe referred to Shaw as “Sam Spade.” When Monroe was cast in the lead role in Billy Wilder’s film “The Seven Year Itch,” Shaw was reading the script and had a flash of inspiration. He had previously attempted a similar idea in the 1940s during a photoshoot for “Friday Magazine,” in which a girl’s skirt was blown up in a wind tunnel, resulting in a famous cover photo. Shaw suggested to producer Charles Feldman that they recreate this scene as a set piece for the film, with a blast of air from a grate sending Monroe’s dress flying.
The scene was filmed twice, once for the movie and again for a publicity event in New York for the press. The original movie scene was shot outside the Trans-Lux Theatre on Lexington Avenue in the early hours of the morning. Monroe wore a light ivory cocktail dress with a plunging neckline made of two pieces of soft fabric that met at the back of her neck. A wind machine beneath the grate caused the dress to billow above her waist, revealing her legs. The noise from the crowd made the film footage unusable, so the scene was re-shot on a closed set in Los Angeles, with only photographers in attendance.
The flying skirt scene quickly became one of the most iconic moments in Monroe’s career, and it was widely reproduced in the media. The scene was seen as playful and flirtatious, and it helped to solidify Monroe’s status as a sex symbol. The photograph of the flying skirt was featured in magazines, newspapers, and advertisements all over the world.
The popularity of the flying skirt incident has endured over the years, and it is still widely remembered today. The dress worn by Monroe in the scene is considered to be one of the most famous dresses in the history of Hollywood, and it has been referenced in numerous pop culture references. The flying skirt remains one of Marilyn Monroe’s most recognizable moments, and it is a testament to her timeless beauty and charm.
