New Film Explores Yves Montand's Affair with Marilyn Monroe and Its Impact on His Marriage

A new French film, "Yours, Always," directed by Diane Kurys, delves into the complex relationship between French actor and singer Yves Montand and his wife, actress Simone Signoret, focusing on the fallout from Montand's highly publicized affair with Marilyn Monroe in the late 1950s. The affair occurred while Montand and Monroe were filming "Let's Make Love" in Hollywood, and Montand and Signoret were living in an adjacent bungalow to Monroe and her then-husband, Arthur Miller.

Signoret, in her autobiography, described the affair as a "simple event" that the press had already sensationalized two years prior to Monroe's death on August 5, 1962. She recounted receiving a call from Montand about Monroe's passing while she was at dinner in Toulouse. Signoret expressed sadness but not surprise, and later thanked a hotel manager who refused to give her location to Parisian journalists, sparing her further media attention.

The film and interviews with director Kurys highlight the profound impact the affair had on Signoret, describing it as a "huge wound" that never healed. While Montand had numerous affairs throughout their marriage, the relationship with Monroe was a "breaking point" due to its global notoriety. Kurys noted that Signoret ultimately "won" because Montand stayed with her, despite the infidelity.

The article also touches upon Signoret's background, including her Jewish heritage and her experiences during the Nazi occupation of France, where she aided the Resistance. It mentions her significant career, including an Oscar win for "Room at the Top," and her later collaboration with Israeli director Moshe Mizrahi on the acclaimed film "Madame Rosa" (known internationally as "Life Ahead").

Kurys' film, which premiered at Cannes, explores the dynamics of Signoret and Montand's relationship, their intellectual and emotional bond, and how they navigated Montand's infidelity. The article notes that Montand reportedly opposed Signoret's role in "Madame Rosa," preferring to maintain her image as the young, beautiful woman he met, while Signoret bravely embraced a role that aged her significantly.