Marilyn Monroe's scene from the movie 'Seven Year Itch,' where she stood on a subway grate in New York City wearing a little white dress and fought an upward breeze, became one of the most iconic moments in movie history.
Designer William Travilla, who created the white dress for the 20th Century Fox movie 60 years ago, later dismissed it as 'that silly little dress,' however the dress became a hit and it was sold at a 2011 auction for 4.6 million dollars, the Guardian reported.
The scene, shot on 15 September, 1954, also allegedly played a role in Monroe's divorce from Joe DiMaggio. Despite the roar of applause from fans, DiMaggio was less than pleased with what he felt was an "exhibitionist" scene.
Monroe stood atop a subway grate and the scene took "14 takes" to capture the magical moments at 1am in the morning, while 100 male photographers and between 2,000 and 5,000 spectators looked on.
However, despite 14 takes, the crew still couldn't get it right, due in part to the never-ending noise created by the fans on set, so later in 1954, the scene was re-shot on the Fox lot in California though the original location shots were used for ads and promos.
While 'Some Like It Hot' actress caught the dress before it blew up over her head, she still took precautions to make sure anyone watching didn't see too much; so she wore two pairs of white underwear, so that once the fan blew upwards, nobody got an actual glimpse.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
