Monroe, in the early days

Before she was a screen legend, Marilyn Monroe was a contract player at 20th Century Fox, appearing in a variety of small parts in films before she landed her first big starring role in 1952’s “Don’t Bother to Knock,” in which she played a deranged baby-sitter.

This Tuesday, Fox is unveiling four films ($15 each) that feature the icon in her salad days.

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“Love Nest”

Stars: Monroe, William Lundigan, June Haver

The plot: Monroe is va-va-voom sexy in this paper-thin comedy from 1951. She plays a former service buddy of star Lundigan -- they were both stationed in Paris -- who rents an apartment in his building. Of course, Lundigan’s wife (Haver) is instantly jealous.

La Monroe: Though MM gets to demonstrate some of her comedic prowess, she seems to think they only way to act sophisticated is to lower her voice to Marlene Dietrich’s register. She’s far better than another Fox contract player, Jack Paar, who seems ill at ease as the wolfish friend of Lundigan and Haver.

Extras: Historically interesting commentary from director Joseph M. Newman, who was born in 1909 and began working in Hollywood as an office boy in 1925.

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“As Young as You Feel”

Stars: Monroe, Monty Woolley

The plot: Monroe plays the haughty, glamour-gal secretary of the president of a printing factory in this 1951 comedy. Woolley plays a 66-year-old worker at the factory who is forced to retire but decides he’s not going without a fight.

La Monroe: You can’t keep your eyes off her, but that deep, affected voice, making a reappearance here, renders her character unlikable.

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“Let’s Make It Legal”

Stars: Monroe, Claudette Colbert, Macdonald Carey

The plot: Monroe plays a gold digger in this lackluster comedy from 1951. Colbert and Carey are a long-married couple who are about to divorce; Robert Wagner is their son-in-law.

La Monroe: Here she displays the breezy vitality and vulnerability she would hone to perfection in her later films.

Extras: Wagner talks about his early years at Fox and his experiences working with Monroe.

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“We’re Not Married”

Stars: Monroe, David Wayne, Victor Moore

The plot: In this enjoyably cynical 1952 ensemble comedy, Moore plays a befuddled justice of the peace who discovers he married six couples before he was legally allowed to perform weddings. Monroe, who has star billing, plays a married beauty pageant contestant with a baby; Wayne is her househusband.

La Monroe: Monroe is believable and charming as the contestant who is torn between her pageant ambitions and her duties as a wife and mom.

-- Susan King