When Marilyn Monroe sauntered on stage to sing John F. Kennedy the sultriest version of “Happy Birthday” ever performed, she sparked decades’ worth of gossip about what their relationship must have been like. Never mind that, per Woman’s Day, there were very few times that the two actually crossed paths — no one could resist speculating about their sex life.
And “Blonde,” of course, contains some of the wildest — and yet, most obvious — speculation of all. In the film, Marilyn goes to visit a man referred to only as “the President,” but who is obviously JFK. After all, he’s played by Caspar Phillipson, who memorably played Kennedy opposite Natalie Portman in Pablo LarraÃn’s “Jackie.” When Marilyn walks into the room, the President is on the phone with an unnamed man who chides him about his extramarital affairs, warning him about all of the damage they do to the country.
The President goes on to force Marilyn to perform oral sex on him, during which she dissociates, imagining herself in a softcore porn film. When he climaxes, the droning television shows sequences from the 1956 film “Earth vs. The Flying Saucers” that depict UFOs crashing into DC landmarks like the Washington Monument. Just in case that’s too subtle, the voice on the telephone keeps going: “These women, Mr. President. These allegations … they inflict irreparable harm on America.” Okay, Andrew Dominik, we get it. Really, we do.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).