Marilyn Monroe; Laurence Olivier (Press Conference at The Savoy Hotel)

1 portrait of Laurence Olivier

© Larry Burrows Collection

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Marilyn Monroe; Laurence Olivier (Press Conference at The Savoy Hotel)

by Larry Burrows
bromide fibre print, 15 July 1956
Given by Barbara Baker Burrows and Russell Burrows, 2012
Photographs Collection
NPG x137340

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  • Larry Burrows (1926-1971), Photojournalist for Life magazine. Artist or producer of 5 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

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Monroe arrived in London on 14 July 1956 with the playwright Arthur Miller, who she had recently married. Sir Laurence Olivier and his wife Vivien Leigh welcomed them with the press at Heathrow. Further press conferences followed at The Savoy Hotel on 15 and 16 July. The Daily Sketch presented Monroe and Miller with bicycles which resulted in subsequent press shots. The chair Monroe sat on was auctioned as part of the Savoy Hotel's refurbishment sale in 2007.

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Current affairs

The first supermarket opens in Britain. Inspired by the new innovation in America, Jack Cohen opened his first Tesco supermarket in Essex.
The First Clean Air Act is passed in response to the 'Pea Soup' smog over London.

Art and science

Pop Art is seen for the first time in the This is Tomorrow exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery. The exhibition included Richard Hamilton's iconic collage: What is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?
John Osborne's play Look Back in Anger opens at the Royal Court Theatre, introducing the phrase 'Angry young man' to describe the new movement of gritty, post-war realism in literature.

International

The Suez Crisis rocked Eden's premiership and marked the decline of British world power and influence in favour of America. In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez canal. Although Britain and France, who had owned the canal since the 19th century, invaded Egypt, they were soon persuaded to withdraw by US President Eisenhower who disapproved of the occupation.

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