Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Subway Grate Scene: A Glimpse into 1950s New York City

Marilyn Monroe’s white dress billowing above a windy subway grate became one of the most legendary images in movie history.

Filming “The Seven Year Itch” in 1954, the production shot between Lexington Avenue and East 52nd Street in New York City,  with a frenzy of publicity surrounding Marilyn’s appearances there.

In the screwball comedy directed by Billy Wilder, the 29-year-old Marilyn was timeless in every frame.   Studio press said “Marilyn makes your mind race, your heart thump and your youth return”.

The story goes, during the summertime in Manhattan, when his family goes away on vacation,  a hitherto faithful husband with an overactive imagination,  is tempted by a beautiful neighbor.

The film succeeds mainly because of Marilyn’s obvious charisma and appeal – she really shines in this as the dizzy, curvy blonde upstairs.

Joe DiMaggio was not too happy watching his wife exposing her legs in front of dozens of cameramen and then for her to have a wild expression on her face,  was not what he expected in a wife.

Marilyn had bruises on her arms the day after filming the scene, which led to speculation that DiMaggio had been violent.

He finally saw that her fame as an actress was bigger than his as a baseball player and opted out of the marriage.

The scene actually had to be reshot in LA because the crowds roaring reaction made the original footage unusable.

Decades later, it’s impact remains unmatched, with her dress selling for $5.6 million dollars at a 2011 auction.