A Year with Marilyn Monroe: The Prince and the Actress

A fantasy romance with a comedic flair and phenomenal Marilyn Monroe. Anuok Herman will give a talk before the screening — editor, queer studies researcher, writer and poet, author of “Silesian Gothic”, “Right into pod tramway” and “You'll Never Go Alone”.

American show actress Elsie Marina (Marilyn Monroe) performing on the stage of London's West End attracts the attention of the regent of the Carpathians, Prince Charles (in this role Laurence Olivier, who was also the director of the film). The prince invites the girl to the embassy for dinner for two. When Elsie arrives, the prince ignores her, taking care of business affairs.

The only Monroe film shot outside the US. Costume comedy worth watching for the role of Marilyn, who lights up the screen with her warmth and charisma, despite many difficult moments during production.

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We invite you to the second part of the year-long retrospective — the flagship project of the Kosmos Cinema organized in 2026 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the American star. The five titles selected from 1955-1961, which we will show from August to December, are examples of Marilyn Monroe's struggles on the road to mature acting and star status. Each of the screenings will be preceded by a lecture by a specialist in the history of cinema, fashion and design, the evolution of customs, American pop culture or feminism in mass culture. Looking at the phenomenon of Marilyn Monroe from various perspectives, verified by modern research, we will try to deconstruct the fixed stereotypical image of the film “goddess of sex”, giving Norma Jeane Mortenson its rightful place in the history of world cinema and culture.

22 August 2026 | Saturday | 17.00

Half Joked, Half Serious (Some Like It Hot)

dir. Billy Wilder | USA | 1959 | 122 min | comedy

lecture: Katarzyna Czajka-Kominiarczuk (Pop Cultural Animal)

After the session, we invite you to the promotion of the book “Marilyn Monroe. All the faces of the goddess” by our speaker Katarzyna Tchaiki-Kominiarchuk.

The co-organizer of the show is Mando Publishing House, the book will be available for purchase at the cinema box office.

17 September 2026 | Thursday | 18.00

The Straw Widower (The Seven Year Itch)

dir. Billy Wilder | USA | 1955 | 104 min | comedy

screening as part of the FASHION FILM CLUB

lecture: Ania Gołkowska (fashion historian)

October 15, 2026 | Thursday | 6.30 PM

Bus Stop

dir. Joshua Logan | USA | 1956 | 94 min | comedy/drama/romance

lecture: Sara Nowicka (cultural scientist)

November 12, 2026 | Thursday | 6:00 PM

The Prince and the Showgirl

dir. Laurence Olivier | USA, United Kingdom | 1957 | 115 min | comedy

talk: Anouk Herman (writer)

December 3, 2026 | Thursday | 6:00 PM

Conflicts with Life (The Misfits)

dir. John Huston | USA | 1961 | 125 min | drama

lecture: Dorota Jędrzejewska-Szpak (film critic)