There is the well-honed Marilyn Monroe screen persona — the breathy, girlish voice, the

There is the well-honed Marilyn Monroe screen persona — the breathy, girlish voice, the glamorous curves and the flirty sex appeal — and then there are the films that allowed her to stretch, or at least allowed her to try. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of her death, here’s a look at five of her most memorable film performances:

v “Some Like It Hot” (1959): The role of Sugar Kane Kowalczyk is just so quintessentially “her.” Monroe is totally magnetic, with innocence and sexuality in equal measure.

v “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953): Describing her performance as gold-digging Lorelei Lee as iconic would not be hyperbole. Her rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” remains so enduring, it inspired Madonna’s “Material Girl” video, down to the blonde waves, candy-colored pink dress, admiring backup dancers and tightly structured choreography.

v “The Seven Year Itch” (1955): Here’s Monroe again at the center of one of film’s most famous images: standing over a New York City subway grate, letting the wind from a passing train send her ivory, pleated halter dress billowing all around her. But the whole performance is a great example of her screen presence in a nutshell: naive, sweet, beguiling and irresistible.

v “Bus Stop” (1956): A rare opportunity for Monroe to show some dramatic ability.

v “The Misfits” (1961): A poignant pop-culture time capsule: This is not just Monroe’s final film, but Clark Gable’s, too. Given that her newly divorced character is drunk most of the time, along with the lost souls with whom she seeks solace in the Nevada desert, it’s hard to tell where the performance ends and real life begins.

“the science of doctor who” (9 p.m., bbc america): “The Science of Doctor Who” sounds like a way-cool special. It’s an examination of the lofty concepts and iconic ideas in the vast universe of the beloved time-traveler.

for complete listings, see tv week magazine in today’s paper.

LOCAL topics on tv

“Increase the Peace” (6:30 p.m. Saturday on MyYTV): Host Andrea Mahone’s guests will be Denis Robinson, Daryl Curry, Charles Moss and Dan Martins. They will discuss the car and bike show at New Seasonings.

“Sunday Morning with Dee” (8 a.m. Sunday on WKBN): Host Dee Crawford’s guests will be Phil Sidot and Carol Ficeti of the Warren Italian American Heritage Festival Committee.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Photo journey to Tanzania

YOUNGSTOWN

Local photographer and naturalist Ralph Malmer will talk and show slides about his recent trip to Tanzania at 7 p.m. Monday at Universal Cafe at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, 1105 Elm St.

The presentation will include photos of the country’s tribal people and its magnificent animals.

Light foods will be available for purchase before the program. The suggested donation is $3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.