Roy Ward Baker (Roy Horace Baker); Marilyn Monroe on the set of 'Don't Bother to Knock'
© reserved; collection National Portrait Gallery, London
Roy Ward Baker (Roy Horace Baker); Marilyn Monroe on the set of 'Don't Bother to Knock'
by Unknown photographer
modern publicity photograph, 1952
Given by Nicholas Baker, 2012
Photographs Collection
NPG x137339
Sittersback to top
- Roy Ward Baker (Roy Horace Baker) (1916-2010), Film director. Sitter in 2 portraits.
- Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), Actress. Sitter in 49 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Unknown photographer, Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 6583 portraits.
This portraitback to top
British director Roy Ward Baker, made his American debut directing Monroe on her first starring role in this thriller, based on the book Mischief (1951) by Charlotte Armstrong. Co-starring with Richard Widmark, Monroe played Nell Forbes, an emotionally disturbed babysitter. Baker recalled, 'There seems to have been a continual craving for reassurance which I tried my damnedest to supply...Certainly she had one over-riding ambition beside which nothing else mattered. That was to be a great big international star.' Despite mostly unfavourable reviews, the film helped to launch Monroe's career as a serious actress.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1952back to top
Current affairs
King George VI is found dead in his bed in Sandringham; he had been suffering from lung cancer. His daughter Elizabeth, who was in Kenya at the time, became Queen, the only monarch not to know the precise moment of her accession as her father was alone when he died. Elizabeth was crowned the following year.Art and science
Samuel Beckett's play, Waiting for Godot is performed for the first time in Paris. The play belongs to the Theatre of the Absurd style, which influenced playwrights such as Harold Pinter and Tom Stoppard.Agatha Christie's play The Mousetrap opens in London. It is still going.
International
Mau Mau rebels in Kenya rise up against the British colonial administration. The rebellion was sparked by the growing poverty of the native farmers under the rule of white settlers and called for Kenyan independence. The violence of the rebels, who often murdered settlers and loyalists, was met by the indiscriminate suppression by the British Military, who executed hundreds of suspects.Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.