Highlights

• Marilyn Monroe's intelligence was often overlooked as she pursued her own production company despite industry norms.
• The iconic scene of Monroe's white dress flying up led to tensions in her marriage with Joe DiMaggio.
• DiMaggio struggled to accept Monroe's fame and chose not to re-marry, showing his lasting devotion to her.

Marilyn Monroe has remained one of Hollywood's most iconic stars. Monroe concealed an intelligence few were aware of, did the unthinkable by going against FOX's Studios, and stunned many by forming her own production company (Marilyn Monroe Productions).

Monroe married three times. Her second marriage was to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. After their divorce, the two remained in each other's lives until Monroe's death.

Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio married in January 1954, divorcing less than a year later. Several close to the couple mentioned DiMaggio's jealousy of Monroe, even before Monroe's flying dress scene in The Seven Year Itch. When she filmed one of her most iconic scenes, an angry DiMaggio left the set. Did Marilyn Monroe's famous scene lead to the couple's divorce?

Did One Of Marilyn Monroe's Most Iconic Scenes Lead To Her Divorce With Joe DiMaggio?

Marilyn Monroe was already well-known while filming The Seven Year Itch, and when audiences watched the scene in which her white dress flew up, she earned even greater fame. The simple dress she wore for the scene became one of her most iconic dresses; many wear it when imitating the Hollywood legend.

Still an icon today, her famous "flying dress scene" is one film lovers and Monroe's fans are familiar with. However, some might not be aware of the consequences the scene had on her private life.

Throughout the Niagara actor's marriage to Joe DiMaggio, he reportedly struggled with Monroe's fame, wanting to control her and her career.

According to some, a crowd of thousands showed up to watch Monroe film the iconic white halter dress scene. But watching as onlookers cheered, and yelled, "Higher! Higher!" as the paparazzi took photos, it apparently became too much for DiMaggio, who was also there. The baseball star was clearly upset, and according to Showbiz CheatSheet, "DiMaggio's face, rigid with tension, had gone white."

When Monroe shot the scene walking over the vent, in which air from the subway causes her white dress to fly up, the crowd which had gathered went wild. Plenty of fans and paparazzi were thrilled to watch the star film the scene, but not her husband. "He was left irate as she reshot the scene over and over in front of the crowd that was cat-calling her".

Monroe recalled that the legendary shot had been the end to her marriage with DiMaggio, "he said '....exposing my legs and thighs, even my crotch - that was the last straw.'" Billy Wilder wrote in his biography, "He didn't like what he saw, or what everyone else was seeing," per Nicki Swift.

The couple reportedly fought violently after Monroe shot the scene, and the morning after she had filmed one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history, Monroe was said by some to have bruises on her. She filed for divorce from DiMaggio shortly afterward, claiming "mental abuse". In tears, the star announced their separation to the press.

While filming the scene, DiMaggio grew so angry he left. Even before Monroe filmed one of the most iconic scenes on film, she and DiMaggio had struggles in their marriage.

It Was Said That Joe DiMaggio Misunderstood Marilyn Monroe

When Monroe ended up working on their honeymoon to entertain the troops, DiMaggio remarked he and Monroe hadn't been around each other very much during their trip.

"Everything has been fine, and we've enjoyed our trip, the only thing I have to complain about is that I haven't seen very much of Marilyn," he remarked, per Nicki Swift.

According to one source close to the family, Robert Solotaire explained that the baseball great wanted a wife who stayed home and didn't understand that the Bus Stop actor wanted both a family and a career.

"Joe misunderstood Monroe," he said, "Like here's this young, beautiful woman on the verge of becoming one of the successful and famous actresses in the world, and she's going to give it all up to make lasagna for Joe and spend her days changing diapers?", per The New York Post.

The Gentlemen Prefer Blondes actor called her friend Brad Dexter at one point and spoke with him about the marital problems she had experienced. Dexter recalled her words.

"I'm extremely unhappy, she (Monroe) says, 'I've discovered that the man is absolutely obsessed with jealousy and possessiveness... He doesn't want to know about my work as an actress. He doesn't want me to associate with any of my friends. He wants to cut me off completely from my whole world of motion pictures, friends, and creative people that I know.'"

The couple had significant troubles within their marriage, and it seems DiMaggio was unable to handle Marilyn's fame, especially as she skyrocketed to fame with iconic scenes that showcased her talent and beauty.

Joe DiMaggio's Last Words Were About Marilyn Monroe

After Marilyn Monroe announced her and Joe DiMaggio's divorce, he wrote to her, saying, "I love you and want to be with you... There is nothing I would like better than to restore your confidence in me... My heart split even wider seeing you cry in front of all those people," per Biography. After some time passed, the two eventually reconnected as friends.

In Dinner With DiMaggio, the baseball legend stated, "I'll go to my grave regretting and blaming myself for what happened to her. Sinatra told me later that, 'Marilyn loved me anyway, to the end.'"

After Monroe's tragic death, DiMaggio remembered his ex-wife, and was reportedly thinking of her in his last moments. "Every week, until his death in 1999, DiMaggio had fresh roses delivered to Monroe's crypt. He never remarried, and on his deathbed, his last words were, "I'll finally get to see Marilyn again."