To accompany the reissue this month of John Huston's The Misfits, (screening from Fri 19 - Sun 21 June) we celebrate two enduring icons of American cinema - Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

James Dean and Marilyn Monroe are fixed in the imagination as two of the most recognisable movie stars, exuding rebellious attitude and sex appeal. However the mythologising of Dean and Monroe deflects from their screen presence and huge impact they had on a buttoned-up and suited 50s America. They predated and predicted the style, cultural and sexual revolutions that were just around the corner.

We present some of the most influential American movies of the period and this is a chance to revisit the enduring charisma of two of the most iconic performers ever to grace a cinema screen.

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