VANITY FAIR

OCTOBER 2008 NO. 578 | VANITYFAIR.COM

FEATURES

THE THINGS SHE LEFT BEHIND 320

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.

DEAD SOUL 336

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.

LETTING HERSELF GO 340

Norman Jean Roy and Jim Windolf spotlight Selma Blair, whose new comedy gets the Thursday-night nod from NBC.

THE BATTLE FOR MRS. ASTOR 342

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.

ANNIE GETS HER SHOT 350

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 naked candor to Queen Elizabeth II's unyielding etiquette.

THE FOLLIERI CHARADE 356

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.

IF YOU LIKED NIXON... 362

Nigel Parry and Todd S. Purdum spotlight the cast of W, director Oliver Stone's take on the Bush presidency.

THE MAN WHO WAS TEXAS 364

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 head. In an excerpt from his new book, Bryan Burrough examines how the quintessential self-made tycoon also self-destructed.

OCTOBER 2008

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FANFAIR

31 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE 159

Billy Elliot leaps onto Broadway 159

The Cultural Divide 160

Elissa SchappelPs Hot Type 164

A. M. Homes on Billy Elliot's moves; Jonathan Kelly on Ed Sorel 166

Edward Helmore flies with the Rocket Racing League 168

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 fashionforward photos 172

Edith Head prescribes style antidotes; My Stuff—Stacey Bendet Eisner 176

Bruce McCall's Hot Wheels 178

Krista Smith studies up on Wesleyan graduates 180

Lisa Robinson's Hot Tracks 182

Bruce Handy tips his hat to The Duchess; Graham Fuller believes in Bill Maher's Religulous; Night-Table Reading 184

SunHee Grinnell is bedazzled by Boucheron; Jessica Flint dabs on Lisa Hoffman's Variations; Hot Looks 186

COLUMNS

LITTLE BIG SCREEN 194

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.

TUESDAYS WITH RUPERT 208

Could the ruthless, gossip-mongering Rupert Murdoch be turning respectable, even—gasp!—liberal, under the influence of 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.

WHAT A SWELL PARTY HE WROTE | 218

After a quarter-century asV.F.'s special correspondentextraordinaire, Dominick Dunne looks back at high points (meeting with Princess Diana), poignant moments (visiting Sunny von Billow's bedroom), and comic outtakes (being serenaded by Imelda Marcos).

RETURN TO THE VALLEY OF DEATH 226

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.

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ELIZABETHAN DRAMA 236

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.

HALL OF FAME 242

Brad Pitt nominates Kenneth Roth, for making Human Rights Watch the scourge of tyrants everywhere. Portrait by James Nachtwey.

THE V.F. CENTURY 286

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, Christopher Hitchens rings in its 25th—and 95th—anniversary.

SPECIAL SECTIONS

I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN: VANITY FAIR'S FALL CULTURE GUIDE 2008 | 1FOLLOWING 170

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.

THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT 2008 245

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

MY, MY, MILA 309

Dave Itzkoff plays Rock Journalist Hero; That Was Then and This Is Now; Howard Schatz captures David Schwimmer 312

V.F. publisher Edward Menicheschi engages Ed Coaster 315

Andrew Hearst unveils Rupert Murdoch's home page on the world's most exclusive social network 316

ET CETERA

EDITOR'S LETTER 104

CONTRIBUTORS 114

LETTERS A Question of Torture 132

FAIRGROUND 189

FRONTISPIECE O, October 319

CREDITS 402

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE Michael Bloomberg 404

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