The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) - Olivier

Plot:  Based on the Terence Rattigan play. In 1911 London, an American Showgirl becomes involved with a Balkan Prince Regent
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Marilyn Monroe

One of Monroe's lesser known movies, its an amusing bit of fluff, the chief draw being the actors. Based on a romantic, old-fashioned three act play, I enjoyed it, it has some witty lines and good romance. But its a little dull at times. There's too much political intrigue and its 20 minutes too long.. Supposedly, Olivier and Monroe didn't get along but it doesn't show onscreen. The two leads have good chemistry together. Monroe is very expressive and natural.  Much better than Bus Stop, no doubt because the dialog is less dramatic. Olivier fares less well since his character is a "cold fish" and he's encased in a stiff uniform & monocle.

Monroe and Olivier
It seems that Marilyn and Larry were both excited to do the film and thought the other was the greatest thing ever. Unfortunately, the mutual admiration didn't last long.  Olivier become annoyed at Monroe's acting coach, temper tantrums, lateness, and reliance on "the method".

He was in a difficult position, since while he was the director, Monroe was in fact his boss, since her company was producing the movie. At one point, the acting coach contradicted Olivier's direction and instructed Monroe to "Think of Frank Sinatra and Coca-cola" which eventually lead to Arthur Miller and the Producer being called in to adjudicate.   Olivier would later say Monroe was a natural born model and light-comedian made pretentious and over-ambitious by "the method" and her acting coaches.