A home movie of Marilyn Monroe smoking marijuana has surfaced, retrieved from an attic some 50 years after it was filmed.
The reel-to-reel silent, color film was recently purchased by collector Keya Morgan for $275,000 (USD) from the person who took the film, who has asked to remain anonymous.
Morgan and the person who shot the film gave Reuters permission to use a minute of footage from the four minutes of Monroe on camera. The copyright of the image will be put up for sale on eBay later this week, Morgan said.
Morgan, a collector of historical photos, manuscripts, autographs and documents, is working on a documentary on the death of Monroe in August 1962.
He learned of the film clip during his research and tracked down the owner, who kept the Monroe film as part of a large archive that has been moved to various homes over the years. The Monroe film had been stored in an attic for three years before Morgan tracked it down.
Monroe appears happy and relaxed at a small gathering of friends that Morgan dates to 1958 or 1959, based on her appearance.
According to Morgan, the footage shows a personal side of the tragic actress, rarely seen by the public after she achieved stardom.
At one point she is passed a cigarette and takes a puff but does not appear to inhale deeply. Later she points her nose toward her armpit and laughs.
The photographer confirmed that the cigarette contained marijuana.
"I got it. It was mine," said the photographer, who spoke only on condition of anonymity.
"It was not a party. It was just a get-together. You know, come over and hang out."
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