Book Review — Niagara
From the movies I have watched Marilyn Monroe in, this was a rare drama/thriller role for her. It is definitely not one of her strongest acting roles. Nor is this one of the best movies of the 1950’s, although I liked it. I thought the acting was still good, and ultimately it is a film to keep you entertained, and on the edge of your seat, which for me at least, was able to do.
Ray and Polly Cutler arrive in Niagara Falls on a delayed honeymoon, only to find their reserved cabin with a scenic view of the Falls is still occupied by George and Rose Loomis. George has been having issues, only recently been released form a mental hospital after his service in Korea. The Cutlers were good enough to take another cabin for the time being. George and Rose have a troubled marriage, as Rose is beautiful and George often gets jealous and violent. The next day, Polly while on a tour of the falls see’s Rose passionately kissing another man, her new lover. The Cutlers that same evening witness George’s rage at a outside party at the hotel, as he sees Rose singing to a song, whereupon he walks up and smashes the record. Yet Rose and her lover have a plan to murder her husband, then flee to start a new life together. She was going to lure George into following her, into a dark tunnel underneath the falls where her lover Patrick is waiting there to kill him. But it will end up the other way around, it is George who kills Patrick and disposes his body into the falls. Rose would discover this when she views the body, and finds out it is not her husband but Patrick, the shock, sends her to hospital, heavily sedated.
This I hope would be more than enough to those who are interested enough to go and watch the movie. Looking into the Catholic perspective and ever being married myself, it is a hard vocation whether you believe in God or not. Having God at the centre of a marriage can help but I assume doesn’t always make it any easier. Rose wanting to have someone who would truly want and love her I can understand. Especially when she is trapped in a toxic marriage. Yet to make a pact with her lover, plan a murder, the murder of her husband is of course wrong. You will find out she will pay for it in this life and the next.
Setting this murder, thriller using Niagara Falls as the backdrop, is the strongest part of to this movie. I don’t know too much about Henry Hathaway who I quickly checked and has directed many Westerns, and worked with Gary Cooper many times may have not have been the best director. I am not sure. Yet, this movie while showing its time, as with many movies is still good to watch. But Marilyn is more in her element and comfort zone playing comedies, as the girl next door or the young woman or singing and playing a showgirl from humble beginnings, with the ambition of becoming a star.
Directed: Henry Hathaway Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton, Jean Peters & Max Showalter Genre: Drama/Thriller Rating: 12+ Year: 1953
Note: This movie review is from Carl Strehlow, a valued member of Coffin Nation. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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