Niagara (1953)

As two couples are visiting Niagara Falls, tensions between one wife and her husband reach the level of murder.

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch

Stars:

Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marilyn Monroe	...	Rose Loomis
Joseph Cotten	...	George Loomis
Jean Peters	...	Polly Cutler
Max Showalter	...	Ray Cutler (as Casey Adams)
Denis O'Dea	...	Inspector Starkey
Richard Allan	...	Patrick
Don Wilson	...	Mr. J.C. Kettering
Lurene Tuttle	...	Mrs. Kettering
Russell Collins	...	Mr. Qua
Will Wright	...	Boatman

Storyline

George and Rose Loomis are honeymooning at a Niagara Falls motel. She plots with Ted Patrick to do him in, but all does not go smoothly. For one thing, after Loomis is reported missing Polly Cutler spies him at the motel but her husband Bud thinks she's imagining it. Marilyn sings "Kiss."

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Plot Keywords:

niagara falls | record player | wife plots to kill husband | suspicion | american canadian border | 

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Taglines:

Marilyn Monroe and Niagara the high water mark in suspense!

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Genres:

Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Torrente pasional

Filming Locations:

3620 Bridgewater St, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$1,250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marylin Monroe's first Technicolor film.

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Goofs

Polly is relaxing in a chaise lounge facing northeast when Ray comes out of the cabin casting a strong shadow pointing southwest. He stops by her feet and HER shadow falls on HIM. He then says the light is just right to photograph her and steps back a few feet -- calling our attention to the fact that he now has four shadows, the strongest ones pointing north and northeast. Seconds later, Rose enters the scene, casting onto Polly a metaphorically appropriate shadow... that points northwest.

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Quotes

George Loomis: Too bad, they can't play it for you now, Rose.

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Connections

Referenced in The Player (1992)

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Soundtracks

Kiss
(uncredited)
Music by Lionel Newman
Lyrics by Haven Gillespie
Played on the phonograph and sung in part by Marilyn Monroe

User Reviews

Works Pretty Well

This works pretty well, especially when you consider that for it to be effective, Marilyn Monroe had to do some actual acting. The story is fairly simple, without too many surprises, yet it's effective, and leads to some good suspense. The setting in Niagara Falls is worked into the story in several ways, and is used to good effect.

The film-noir type story makes an interesting contrast with the sights and sounds of the falls, with the grim story playing out against a backdrop of interesting and often beautiful scenery. The plot also makes good use of several of the distinctive features of the falls and the surrounding town. Monroe works as the bored, scheming wife, and Joseph Cotten is always effective in this kind of role. Jean Peters is really good as the innocent friend. Casey Adams's character comes off as kind of a goofus, but that's what he is supposed to be. Things move along at a good pace, and the tension is built up well. There's a lot to like for anyone who enjoys suspense/thrillers.