In 1953, a single photograph froze in time three of the most iconic women in Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable. Taken on the set of How to Marry a Millionaire, the image has since become a symbol of vintage glamour—three powerhouse stars, side by side, radiating charm, beauty, and the unmistakable glow of 1950s fame.
At first glance, the image feels like a celebration of an era when movie stars were godlike, perfectly lit and always smiling. But behind those smiles was a far more complex tapestry of ambition, vulnerability, and shifting power dynamics. The story behind this photograph—and the film it represents—is as layered and compelling as any script the women ever brought to life.
A Snapshot of Stardom
How to Marry a Millionaire was a major cinematic event. Released by 20th Century Fox in 1953, it was one of the first films to be shot in CinemaScope, the studio’s revolutionary widescreen format. The movie was meant to dazzle, and what better way to ensure that than to cast three of the era’s most magnetic actresses?
Each woman represented a different chapter of Hollywood’s evolving image of femininity. Betty Grable, with her famous million-dollar legs and status as a World War II pin-up, was the veteran. Marilyn Monroe, still rising but already a sensation, represented the modern sex symbol—vulnerable, breathy, yet utterly irresistible. Lauren Bacall, with her smoky voice and sharp intelligence, offered a more sophisticated, self-assured allure. Together, they were box office gold.
Three Women, Three Paths
By the time filming began, Betty Grable’s career was nearing its twilight. Once the highest-paid actress in Hollywood and a household name during the war years, she was aware that the studio was grooming Monroe to take her place. There were whispers of tension—was Grable resentful of the younger star’s ascent?
Surprisingly, quite the opposite.
Grable reportedly told Monroe on set:
“Honey, I’ve had it. Go get yours. It’s your turn now.”
It was a passing of the torch, not a battle. Grable, seasoned and grounded, understood the cyclical nature of stardom better than most. She had no illusions about Hollywood’s fleeting affections, and she held no grudges.
Monroe, meanwhile, was still navigating the unstable terrain between being a studio product and becoming her own woman. Though she dazzled audiences with her comedic timing and sensuality, she struggled behind the scenes. Anxiety plagued her. Lines had to be retaken. Her fear of not being taken seriously, especially in a film that played off her “dumb blonde” persona, was very real. She was aware that many underestimated her, and even more acutely aware that her value in the industry was tied to youth and desirability.
Lauren Bacall, known for her cerebral cool and classic pairing with Humphrey Bogart, was the most skeptical about the film’s premise. She took the role for practical reasons—it was a high-paying gig during a slow period in her career. But she was honest about the fact that How to Marry a Millionaire wasn’t exactly her idea of art.
“I never expected the film to be any good,” she later admitted. “I just figured it would make money.”
Still, Bacall brought gravitas to the set. She was often the calming, commanding presence—a contrast to Monroe’s fragility and Grable’s breezy optimism.
Glamour and Its Discontents
The photograph captures the women mid-laugh, seemingly carefree. Monroe’s platinum hair gleams under the lights. Grable beams with confidence. Bacall smirks knowingly at the camera, eyes as sharp as ever. But off-camera, the atmosphere was more nuanced.
Monroe, ever sensitive to being judged, often retreated to her dressing room. Bacall, in her memoir, recalled Monroe’s struggle with insecurity and the sense that she didn’t feel truly supported by the studio. The camaraderie we see on screen—and in that famous photo—wasn’t fake, but it was layered with real human complexity.
And yet, they managed to channel all of it—fear, strength, defiance, ambition—into their performances.
The film’s plot might seem dated today: three women scheming to marry rich men. But in the hands of these three actresses, the story became something more—a playful subversion of expectations. Each character was more than a gold-digger. They were dreamers, survivors, and women trying to navigate a world that offered limited options but endless judgment.
Legacy and Lasting Power
How to Marry a Millionaire became a hit, both critically and commercially. It reinforced Monroe’s star status, gave Bacall a financial cushion, and gave Grable a triumphant final bow. But the real story isn’t just about a film’s success.
It’s about a rare moment in which three major female stars were allowed to share the screen as equals. No one was playing the “sidekick.” No one was reduced to a mere prop. In a male-dominated industry, this was a quiet rebellion. And the public loved it.
That 1953 photograph—just one frame among many—isn’t just a pretty picture. It’s a cultural artifact. It reminds us of an era when female stars had to smile through their struggles, when glamour was often a shield, and when camaraderie between women in Hollywood was both rare and deeply meaningful.
Epilogue: Beyond the Frame
All three actresses would go on to face personal and professional challenges.
Betty Grable retired from film a few years later, finding peace away from the limelight. She died in 1973, remembered fondly as a symbol of wartime hope.
Lauren Bacall continued acting for decades, evolving into a revered elder stateswoman of film and stage. Her autobiography By Myself won a National Book Award and revealed her introspective, often skeptical view of fame.
Marilyn Monroe’s story remains the most tragic and mythologized. Her death in 1962 only cemented her as an eternal icon—forever young, forever enigmatic. But images like this remind us that she was not alone, and not merely an image. She was part of a generation of women carving out space for themselves in a system that too often tried to control them.
Conclusion
So what really went on behind the smiles in that iconic 1953 photograph?
A little magic. A little melancholy. A lot of reality.
Three women, at different points in their careers, brought together not just for a film, but for a moment that would outlast them all. The photo is a portrait of Hollywood at its most luminous—and most layered. It tells a story that’s still unfolding, as new generations look back and find inspiration not just in the beauty, but in the strength, subtlety, and humanity behind the glamour.