Here We Go Again - Dead Stars in Super Bowl Ads
Fred Astaire dancing with a vacuum cleaner. James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Louis Armstrong shilling for Diet Coke from beyond the grave. And now, Marilyn Monroe appearing on behalf of a hair care product.
The tradition of using dead stars to sell stuff continues at this year's Super Bowl, where will this ad combining Marilyn, Shakira and Madonna will run.
As technologies improve, the questions of how, when and whether to use the images of celebrities who have shuffled off this mortal coil - and who controls the significant money to be made - will continue to rage.
I feel kind of old-fashioned about this. I don't mind the use of these images in "art" (you know it when see it), yet I do find it somewhat distasteful in ads. With a 30-second Super Bowl ad going for a record $2.7 million, I guess these folks have enough money to buy whatever images they want to use.
Marilyn memorabilia/by Stephen Sugerman, Getty Images
Comments
It is absolutely fascinating that Marilyn Monroe still sells and is still around in the public view — her name and image is continually in the media, almost every week !!! I just read that an architect designed a curved condo high rise as a piece of artwork that represented MM’s physical presence — called the Marilyn Monroe building — units are selling like hot cakes ??
The test of time has been proven with MM, she is unique — her story continues to be passed on and new generations are attracted to her, why ??? — she has risen above and surpassed so many H-wood folks that used her and will be forgotten in time.
It is a shame she did not get to enjoy this fame and great wealth when she was alive — this happens to great artists.
Jeez…Hollywood — give her a Oscar for her screen work – most are classic films ! Some of the current actors & films that get nominated and win are ridiculous !!!!