The life of a legend: Newly-released footage charts Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe's rise to fame, failed marriages and tragic death

• The Associated Press and British Movietone, a newsreel archive, shared the videos on its YouTube channels, which feature archived news footage
• The clips include footage from Marilyn's wedding to Joe DiMaggio, her appearance at numerous events, and the announcement of her death 
• Earlier this week, it was announced that never-before-seen color separations of the star's iconic nude calendar shoot are going on display 
• The then-22-year-old actress agreed to the $50 shoot in 1949 when she was out of work and struggling to make ends meet
• In 1951, when Marliyn was becoming famous, the picture appeared in a Golden Dreams calendar - and she was identified by the press

By Carly Stern For Dailymail.com and Erica Tempesta For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:35 EST, 31 July 2015 | Updated: 16:44 EST, 31 July 2015

Rare archive footage documenting much of Marilyn Monroe’s life in the spotlight, from her rise to fame in the early 1950s to her untimely death in 1962, has be re-released, offering added perspective into the Hollywood legend's personal life and her iconic career.  

The Associated Press and British Movietone, a newsreel archive that ran from 1895 to 1986, teamed up to create two respective YouTube channels featuring videos of Marilyn, as well as half a million other news clips covering poignant historical footage, including everything from the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

Clips from throughout Marilyn’s career give a rare glimpse into the actress’ personal life, including her 1954 wedding to Joe DiMaggio, with footage showing the newlywed couple kissing at San Francisco City Hall shortly after the ceremony, while cameramen can be seen snapping their picture. 

Marilyn Monroe weds Joe Di Maggio in romantic 1954 footage

Lost footage: Rarely seen news clips documenting Marilyn Monroe's life, including her court house wedding to baseball hero Joe DiMaggio (pictured), have been re-released by the Associated Press and British Movietone

Marilyn wore a simple brown wool suit featuring a white mink collar and rhinestone buttons for their nuptials, and the iconic suit would later be sold for $33,350 at a Sotheby's auction house in 1999. 

The actress and the baseball hero, who was her second husband following her failed marriage to James Dougherty, were also filmed leaving the courthouse before embarking on their honeymoon.

In another clip, filmed during the previous years, Marilyn can be seen with her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes co-star Jane Russell as they sign their names and print their hands and feet in concrete outside of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, in celebration of the success of the hit film.

The blonde beauty looks stunning in a curve-hugging halter dress as she playfully poses with her concrete-covered hands in the air. 

Happy moment: The actress and the Yankees star can be seen kissing in San Francisco City Hall where they said 'I do' in 1854

No-so-white wedding: Marilyn bucked tradition for her nuptials and wore a simple brown wool suit featuring a white mink collar and rhinestone buttons

Famous newlyweds: The couple smiled for the cameras and their fans as they drove off before embarking on their honeymoon 

Other clips include footage of the star receiving her Look magazine Achievement Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1952, her surprise appearance at a Barnum & Bailey charity event in 1955, and her arrival in London in 1956 with her third and last husband, playwright Arthur Miller.

The collection of videos ends with the announcement of Marilyn's tragic death, an apparent suicide, in August 1962. 

'One of the most famous stars in Hollywood history is dead at 36,' the newscaster explained. 'Marilyn Monroe was found dead in bed under circumstances that were in tragic contrast to her glamorous career of a comic talent. On the surface she seemed to have such a zest for life.' 

The report features highlights from her career while outlying her unseen personal problems, including her three failed marriages. 

Marilyn, who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson, had 12 sets of foster parents, and according to the newscast, she was quoted as saying in her last interview that she was 'never used to being happy, so it wasn't something she ever took for granted last'. 

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell honored in 1953

Feeling playful: In 1953, Marilyn and Jane Russell as they signed their names and printed their hands and feet in concrete outside of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood 

Blonde meets brunette: Marilyn and Jane (right), were being honored for their film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The beloved actress had roles in 23 films, which grossed a combined total of $200 million since her debut in 1950. 

'The golden girl received 5,000 fan letters a week and to those fans she never let any of her personal problems dim her screen glamour,' the news report added. 

Earlier this week never-before-seen negatives and color separations from Marilyn's iconic nude photo, in which shed poses nude, her legs curled and arm raised up on a red velvet sheet, were released. 

The 21 different takes - once thought to have been lost - will appear in a traveling exhibition by LimitedRuns this summer, which will also include several other photos of the stunning blonde bombshell.  

Archive newsreel announces the death of Marilyn Monroe in '62

Unforgettable smile: A newscast announcing her death in 1962 showed footage of the star throughout her career, including this image of her waving out of a window 

Gone too soon: Marilyn, who can be seen singing for members of the US Army, was found dead in bed at the age of 36 after acute barbiturate poisoning

In 1949, Marilyn was not yet the icon she later became. In fact, the then-22-year-old was having trouble finding work and desperately needed money. She had been released from contracts with both 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures, and turned back to modeling to make ends meet.

That's how she was convinced by photographer Tom Kelley to pose nude. With Mr. Kelley's wife, Natalie, present to calm her nerves, Marilyn laid against a red velvet backdrop while nearly naked, staring sensuously into the camera.

For the shoot, Marilyn made a paltry $50 - and signed the release as 'Mona Monroe' to protect herself - and also because she was embarrassed and ashamed.

In the book Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words, Marilyn herself explained that she only agreed to Mr. Kelley's request out of 'desperation', as she believed 'nice girls did not pose in the nude'. 

Iconic: Marilyn Monroe posed nude when she was out of work in 1949, at the age of 22 - and the original color separations have only recently been released

Pre-Photoshop: The 'touch plates' used in the color separation can amplify color - like the red of Marilyn's lips or the golden hue of her hair - or add additional layers of clothing

'You must promise to never tell anyone about my posing for you in the nude,' she reportedly told him. 'I want you to promise me that you will take the pictures so that I wouldn't be recognizable in them.'

Mr. Kelly sold the pictures to the Western Lithograph Company for $900, which printed a shot of Marilyn in its Golden Dreams calendar in 1951. The printer even had to create additional versions of the picture, as at the time it was illegal to send a nude photo in the mail - which explains why there are nearly identical shots in which Marilyn is seen in a bra and a lace teddy.

However, by that time, Marilyn was beginning to get more work as an actress again. She had appeared in the hit film All About Eve alongside Bette Davis, as well as a number of other motion pictures. Her face was becoming more and more recognizable. 

Creative cover-up: Other photos of Marilyn wearing a bit more clothing were produced for versions of the 1951 Golden Dreams calendar because it was illegal to send nude photos through the mail

See the star: Other photos of Marilyn will also appear in the LimitedRuns exhibition

So, in 1952 when the media came across the nude photo, they quickly began speculating that it was Marilyn. With scandal brewing, Marilyn - who had recently signed a new seven-year contract with 20th Century - was urged by the company to deny that the photos were of her and told they would ruin her career.

Instead, though, the actress decided to tell the truth, explaining in an interview that she had been poor and struggling at the time. And instead of turning on her, the public sympathized.

In fact, her star rose even higher. In December of 1953, Hugh Hefner licensed the photo for $500 to appear on the cover of the first ever issue of Playboy, which sold 50,000 copies.

But while the sultry photograph has become iconic, the original color separations were long thought to be lost. Color separations are used to ensure that the precise hues that are present in a photograph are represented in the final print.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend: The other pictures are not from her nude shoot; some of from her film sets, like this one from Gentleman Prefer Blondes

Superstar stunner: Marilyn continued to grow more famous after the nude scandal, and the picture eventually appeared on the first cover of Playboy

Pay day: While Marilyn made just $50 for the nude photos, the photographer sold them for $900

In the case of this particular photo, 'touch plates' were used to add additional layers, including clothes and pasties that were laid over the original photograph. 

Touch plates were also used to achieve the exact shade of red on Marilyn's lips and the correct shade of golden hair.

But it wasn't until 2009 that these color separations were found again, still in the files of the printing company that produced the Golden Dreams calendar.

Now they will be touring the country with LimitedRuns, along with other photos of the star, and will also be available to buy. The originals are expected to fetch millions of dollars.  

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