Take a glance over Hollywood’s current A-list and you’ll soon agree that there’ll never be another actress quite like Marilyn Monroe. Whether it’s Meg Ryan with her single facial expression, Angelina Jolie the trailer-park skank, or Julia Roberts and her face full of teeth, no-one currently holds a torch to Marilyn; a fact I myself have only recently learned reviewing for DVDnet! As a ditzy, sexy blonde bombshell - a happy-go-lucky cocktail of hair, pout and spunk - typecast she may definitely have been. But Marilyn had that certain something, that undefinable quality that lit up the screen. Best loved for her comedic performances, the '50s studio system also provided Marilyn with opportunities at dramatic roles. All told, in a tragically short career spanning just 15 years, her luminous screen presence was added to over 30 films. And here with the first volume of their Diamond Collection series, Fox provide a broad and enticing cross-section of the comely Ms Monroe’s work.

Immediately dispelling any preconceived notions you might have harboured about Marilyn and showcasing the depth of acting talent often hidden behind her ditzy screen persona, 1952 psycho-thriller Don’t Bother to Knock sees Marilyn deliver a chilling portrayal of a delusional babysitter from hell. In 1955’s The Seven Year Itch (the definite high point of the collection), we dive headlong back into said persona, with Marilyn, at the height of her career, delivering a provocatively cheeky and wonderfully funny performance as the sexy girl upstairs. More comedy follows in the form of 1953’s How to Marry a Millionaire; a film co-starring Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable that sees Marilyn caper and prat-fall with ease as a half-blind model seeking a rich husband. The last film in the collection is Marilyn’s very last appearance on celluloid; the sombre character-piece that is 1961’s The Misfits, which fails utterly to impress (well, me at least) on any level.

All in all, Fox’s first volume of their Monroe Diamond Collection is an entertaining introduction to this enigmatic actress that leaves you craving more. Certainly the collection contains its low points and high points, but with none of these titles available individually, there’s no way to pick the eyes out of this one – it’s a case of all or none at all.

The exclusive nature of the titles on offer means that no ‘additional’ extras disc has been included above and beyond the individual titles themselves. But having said this, each of the discs does provide a few additional features, including the ubiquitous restoration comparisons that illustrate just what an astounding job Fox did to put the collection together. Yes, all four discs display crisp newly re-mastered video transfers, and where necessary digitally remixed audio.

In all the presentation is of the highest quality and Fox’s restoration work should be applauded.

There’s no doubt that this first volume Diamond Collection represents a must have for Monroe fans, but also provides a great introduction for first timers. As a relative newcomer to Marilyn myself it has most definitely left me wanting more. If nothing else, I suggest renting this collection and snuggling down in the sofa with a loved one. It’s just the thing for a rainy weekend in.