Cover Story
320 THE THINGS SHE LEFT BEHIND
After Marilyn Monroe’s tragic overdose, in 1962, her possessions were scattered. Sam Kashner explores the revelations of two long-kept but never disturbed filing cabinets—along with jewels, furs, and other items—and new questions surrounding Monroe’s legacy. Cover photograph by Bert Stern.
Features
336 DEAD SOUL
The Russian oligarchs who put Vladimir Putin in
the Kremlin thought he would continue on their path
of reform.
Instead, the former K.G.B. spy seized power with
an audacity not seen since the czars. As Russian
forces display their might in Georgia, Masha Gessen
shows just how dangerous Putin is.
340 LETTING HERSELF GO
Norman Jean Roy and Jim Windolf spotlight Selma
Blair, whose new comedy gets the Thursday-night nod
from NBC.
342 THE BATTLE FOR MRS. ASTOR
The alleged abuse of philanthropist Brooke Astor by her
son, Anthony Marshall, is still making headlines even
after her death, last August, at age 105. As Marshall
heads to trial on charges of fraud and conspiracy,
John Richardson reports on Astor’s final years. Plus:
A collection of V.F. articles by, and about, Mrs. Astor.
350 ANNIE GETS HER SHOT
In an excerpt from her upcoming book, Annie Leibovitz
at Work, the photographer shares the stories behind
some of her iconic images, from Demi Moore’s nake
candor to Queen Elizabeth II’s unyielding etiquette.
356 THE FOLLIERI CHARADE
With little but a link to the Vatican and a talent for hype,
Raffaello Follieri charmed his way into movie star Anne
Hathaway’s heart, billionaire Ron Burkle’s deep pockets,
and Bill Clinton’s good graces. Now that the young Italian
has landed in jail, Michael Shnayerson gets to the bottom
of the jet-setting schemes.
362 IF YOU LIKED NIXON …
Nigel Parry and Todd S. Purdum spotlight the cast of W.,
director Oliver Stone’s take on the Bush presidency.
364 THE MAN WHO WAS TEXAS
Glenn McCarthy, who defined the swaggering Texas
oilman for 1940s America, could build a derrick faster
than you can say “petroleum.” But when he decided to
construct the world’s grandest hotel, in Houston, he got
in over his hea.
In an excerpt from his new book, Bryan Burrough
examines how the quintessential self-made tycoon also
self-destructed.
FANFAIR
159 31 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE
Billy Elliot leaps onto Broadway
160 The Cultural Divide
164 Elissa Schappell’s Hot Type
166 A. M. Homes on Billy Elliot’s moves; Jonathan Kelly on
Ed Sorel
168 Edward Helmore flies with the Rocket Racing League
172 Matthew Rolston’s images bound for print; Mark Seliger’s
music photography; Daren Simkin’s young time traveler;
Peter Beard’s safari story for Pirelli; Sarah Moon’s
fashion-forward photos.
176 Edith Head prescribes style antidotes; My Stuff—Stacey
Bendet Eisner
178 Bruce McCall’s Hot Wheels
180 Krista Smith studies up on Wesleyan graduates
182 Lisa Robinson’s Hot Tracks
184 Bruce Handy tips his hat to The Duchess; Graham Fuller
believes in Bill Maher’s Religulous; Night-Table Reading
186 SunHee Grinnell is bedazzled by Boucheron; Jessica Flint
dabs on Lisa Hoffman’s Variations; Hot Looks
Columns
194 LITTLE BIG SCREEN
Going to the movies used to be a sanctified rite—the
hushed sense of wonder, the hypnotic flicker,
the provocative visions.
Now, James Wolcott argues, a golden age of TV has made
the couch the place to be. Photo illustration by Jacques del
Conte.
208 TUESDAYS WITH RUPERT
Could the ruthless, gossip-mongering Rupert Murdoch be
turning respectable, even—gasp!—liberal, under the
influenceof his third wife, Wendi Deng? Yes and no, reports
Michael Wolff, who spent many hours talking business,
politics, and family with the tycoon. Photograph by Annie
Leibovitz.
218 WHAT A SWELL PARTY HE WROTE
After a quarter-century as V.F.’s special correspondent
extraordinaire, Dominick Dunne looks back at high points
(meeting with Princess Diana), poignant moments (visiting
Sunny von Bülow’s bedroom), and comic outtakes (being
serenaded by Imelda Marcos).
226 RETURN TO THE VALLEY OF DEATH
For his third dispatch from the front lines of Afghanistan,
Sebastian Junger rejoins an exhausted Battle Company,
amid muzzle flashes, sneak attacks, and one all-too-close
I.E.D. blast, to learn the changing shape of this war.
Photographs by Tim Hetherington. Web special: More of
Hetherington’s images.
236 ELIZABETHAN DRAMA
In an excerpt from his memoir, actor and bon vivant George
Hamilton recalls a 1987 confrontation between his squeeze
of the day, Elizabeth Taylor, and an impudent paparazzo.
242 HALL OF FAME
Brad Pitt nominates Kenneth Roth, for making Human
Rights Watch the scourge of tyrants everywhere.
Portrait by James Nachtwey.
286 THE V.F. CENTURY
Launched in 1913, Vanity Fair helped put the “jazz” in the
Jazz Age. Its second incarnation, born in 1983, has been
held to even higher standards. As a book and traveling
exhibition highlight legendary portraits from the magazine,
ChristopherHitchens rings in its 25th—and 95th—
anniversary.Web special: More images from the exhibit.
Special Sections
I’LL TAKE MANHATTAN: VANITY FAIR’S FALL
CULTURE GUIDE 2008
In a whirlwind New York City tour, Punch Hutton hits
the A-number-one, top-of-the-heap places to eat, drink,
shop, and sleep.
245 THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT 2008
The economy may be in shambles, but the moguls of
the V.F. 100 are still moving, shaking, merging, and
acquiring. Plus: the Next Establishment, the Hall of Fame,
and Five Degrees of Jean Pigozzi.
Vanities
309 MY, MY, MILA
312 Dave Itzkoff plays Rock Journalist Hero; That Was Then and
This Is Now; Howard Schatz captures David Schwimmer
315 V.F. publisher Edward Menicheschi engages Ed Coaster
316 Andrew Hearst unveils Rupert Murdoch’s home page on
the world’s most exclusive social network
Et Cetera
104 EDITOR’S LETTER
114 CONTRIBUTORS
132 LETTERS
A Question of Torture; Postscript; Web special: more letters
189 FAIRGROUND
319 FRONTISPIECE O, October
402 CREDITS
404 PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE