Macdonald Carey and Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make it Legal

Early in Marilyn Monroe's career she was either a gold digger or a flirt willing to sleep her way to the top.  Her character's most common profession being a model.  Here she plays all of the above.  However, she is only in about four scenes.   This movie belongs to Claudette Colbert in the autumn of her movie career.   She would go on to make many television appearances but only a few more films.

Miriam and Hugh Halsworth's divorce is about to be final.  Miriam still lives in their home with their grown daughter Barbara, Barbara's husband Jerry and their baby girl.   Hugh is staying in the hotel he manages and Jerry works for him.   Hugh stops by the house often to take care of his rose bushes, but the truth is he is still in love with Miriam.

Victor, an old friend of Hugh's and Miriam's, arrives back in town.  The three went to high-school together and Victor had an eye for Miriam, but she ended up marrying Hugh.  Victor is a former athlete turned millionaire senator, with a reputation of being a lady killer.   He is happy to find out about the divorce and quickly makes his move on Miriam.

Monroe is a model whose first scene has her flirting with Hugh by the hotel pool.  She is in a bathing suit of course.  Victor will be staying at the hotel and Hugh asks Monroe if she would like to meet him.  She smiles, "Who wouldn't want to meet a man who has millions, who isn't even bald?"

Let's Make it Legal is a fairly obscure little film only remembered because of Monroe, but it does have some funny lines.  After Monroe sees Miriam, she remarks to Hugh, "I hope I look half as good when I'm a grandmother."  Without missing a beat, Hugh says, "Oh, I'm sure you will."   Miriam divorced Hugh because of his gambling.  During an arguement Miriam says, "What's the use? You'll never stop gambling."  and Hugh responds, "Do you want to bet?"

At only 77 minutes, Let's Make it Legal develops its characters in ways some movies twice as long never do.  Jerry and Barbara are supporting characters, yet they are very three dimensional.  Barbara is a lazy wife, enjoying her mother being around to take care of the baby.  It drives Jerry crazy and he eagerly encourages Miriam to date Victor in hopes it will get Barbara to move away with him.   He already works for her dad and the guy needs to get Barbara away from her parents.  The movie even hints that their sex life is not acitve.  In one scene Barbara says from her bed that she wonders what her mother and Victor are doing out so late.  Jerry responds from his bed, "She's probably necking somewhere with Victor."  That's not nice."   Barbara scolds, but Jerry continues, "Maybe not, but it sure use to be fun, remember?"  

Three writers are credited here. One of them is I.A.L. Diamond. He worked on the story, or screenplays of many great comedies, including Some Like it Hot, Irma La Duce and Cactus Flower.  Let's Make it Legal deserves to be remembered for more than just being an early Marilyn Monroe film.  It is a witty little romantic comedy and a nice slice of 1950s middle class America. 

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