Review: 'The Mystery Of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes' Glimpses Into a Hollywood Legend's Life

There's never been a star in Hollywood that burned as bright as Marilyn Monroe. A cinematic icon that has continued to inspire pop culture to this day, her image leaves an indelible impression, and her beauty continues to mesmerize.

In "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes," a new Netflix documentary feature premiering exclusively on the streamer on April 27, many of the icon's friends and colleagues pull back the curtain on the last days leading up to Monroe's passing.

Filmmaker Emma Cooper, was inspired after reading the biographical book "Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe" by Anthony Summers. The two spoke, and Cooper became even more intrigued when she learned that Summers had recorded all of his phone conversations and interviews. Many of these recordings with Monroe's friends and colleagues have never been heard by the public, and paint an interesting picture of the woman who won hearts as she ascended to Tinseltown's highest highs, only to find herself wrapped in controversies and political drama that could have changed the face of historical events.

The documentary examines Marilyn Monroe from her first foray onto the celebrity scene. She grew up fascinated with cinema; her mother largely abandoned her and her father was non-existent, leading the self-described "waif" on a path of largely empty relationships with men that took advantage of her. Many equated Monroe with unique intelligence and an almost animal guile that put her on the track to celebrity, but once her star exploded there was no containing it, and the fragility of Marilyn began to take a grip.

Summers has conversations with the family of Monroe's therapist during the height of her career, who took it upon himself to treat her in an unorthodox manner. He brought her into his home and into the midst of his family, believing that he could stabilize her by surrounding her with a sense of family. Many of her colleagues indicate that Monroe was focused on one thing, and one thing alone: Becoming an actor, the best that she could. Although she had developed a "reputation" for herself, she had a talent that, when it was turned on, was undeniable. Everyone agreed that she always poured herself into her roles and was present, a truthful actor that leaned on her own experiences.

The image of Marilyn Monroe attracted all sorts, and she had turbulent relationships that were heavily chronicled; the press hounded her. Her marriage to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio dissolved in only nine months; her celebrity too much for Joe, who didn't want to share Marilyn with the world. Her marriage to celebrated playwright Arthur Miller was catastrophic on a whole other emotional level. These experiences left Monroe vulnerable, especially when the Kennedys – Jack and Bobby – came into the picture.

The rumors that circulated about Monroe's entanglements with the political brothers are tackled in conversations that Summers had with many insiders that were "in the room." Emma Cooper expertly moves from cultivated real-life footage and photos into creatively crafted dramatizations of Summers' conversations with directors, actors, and professionals who worked closely with Marilyn Monroe, and even crafts a timeline leading up to the legend's final moments, and the cryptic details around the discovery of Monroe's body.

Was she dead when they found her, having succumbed to the sleeping pills, or did she die on the way to the hospital? These are just some of the shocking details that have always had fans and Hollywood gossip enthusiasts wondering. Other longstanding questions: What was going on between Marilyn and the Kennedys? Did their political ambitions force their hands? Did they have to break all their ties to the actress? Why couldn't Marilyn let go? "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes" doesn't reveal every detail, but it does give us a glimpse into the life and death of Marilyn Monroe and reminds us of how tragic a figure she was.

"The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes" premieres on Netflix April 27.