The Misfits (1961 film)

The Misfits
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Huston
Screenplay byArthur Miller
Based on"The Misfits"
by Arthur Miller
Produced byFrank E. Taylor
StarringClark Gable
Marilyn Monroe
Montgomery Clift
Thelma Ritter
Eli Wallach
CinematographyRussell Metty
Edited byGeorge Tomasini
Music byAlex North
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • February 1, 1961 (1961-02-01)
Running time
125 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4 million
Box office$4.1 million (domestic)[2][3]

The Misfits is a 1961 American contemporary Western film directed by John Huston and written by Arthur Miller, who adapted his own 1957 short story. It stars Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and Montgomery Clift, alongside Thelma Ritter and Eli Wallach. The plot centers on a newly divorced woman (Monroe), and her relationships with a friendly landlady (Ritter), an old-school cowboy (Gable), his tow-truck driving and plane-flying best friend (Wallach), and their rodeo-riding, bronc-busting friend (Clift). The Misfits was the last completed film for both Gable (who died three months before the premiere) and Monroe (who died a year after its release).

The Misfits was released by United Artists on February 1, 1961. It was a commercial failure, but received critical acclaim for its script and performances. Its reputation has enhanced over the years, and many critics now consider it to be a masterpiece and one of the best films of the 1960s. The film also gave name to the punk band Misfits formed in 1977.

  1. ^ "THE MISFITS (A)". United Artists. British Board of Film Classification. February 9, 1961. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  2. ^ Guider, Elizabeth (December 18, 2005). "Conspiracy theories grew with icon's legacy". Variety. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ^ "All-Time Top Grossers". Variety. 8 January 1964. p. 69.