Niagara

Released Jan 21, 1953

1 hr. 29 min.

Mystery & Thriller

TRAILER

for Niagara: Trailer 1

List

78%

23 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Rose Loomis (Marilyn Monroe) and her older, gloomier husband, George (Joseph Cotten), are vacationing at a cabin in Niagara Falls, N.Y. The couple befriend Polly (Jean Peters) and Ray Cutler (Casey Adams), who are honeymooning in the area. Polly begins to suspect that something is amiss between Rose and George, and her suspicions grow when she sees Rose in the arms of another man. While Ray initially thinks Polly is overreacting, things between George and Rose soon take a shockingly dark turn.

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david f

This thriller makes excellent use of its setting, Niagara falls. They are constantly in the background and occasionally in the foreground. Marilyn Monroe smolders as a femme fatale through much of the film and the film looks fantastic on Blu-ray.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

alessio w

An exciting atmosphere and a spirited performance by Marilyn Monroe ensures that Niagara does not suffer from the weak script. Monroe carries this film on her shoulders, because the other cast members bring little with them.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

michael t

Over the top melodramatic "thriller". Again, Marilyn has limited screen time. This has the feel of a B movie. The plot has some interesting twists and turns, but ultimately fails to please. Most of the characters in this show seem like they're off their rockers. The early 50's was definitely not the golden age of cinema. I'm surprised at the positive critic reviews. I'd pass on this one, in spite of some good scenes with Marilyn. The script is weak. This movie is past its expiration date.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

farah r

It's not so much about the story as it is about Marilyn Monroe's stellar performance that makes Niagara worth watching.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

matthew d

Marilyn Monroe is the quintessential femme fatale! Henry Hathaway's film noir thriller Niagara (1953) is highly entertaining with gorgeous Niagara Falls in the background on the scenic Canadian border alongside the drop dead gorgeous Marilyn Monroe. The ravishing Technicolor has never looked lovelier, especially with all the natural looking wide shots from cinematographer Joseph MacDonald. His curious perspectives, intimate close-ups, and breathtaking ultra wide shots of Niagara Falls are mesmerizing. Hathaway's direction focuses on both the tragically unhappy married couple and juxtaposes them with a strangely matched newly wedded couple vacationing at Niagara Falls to make it all sadder. Marilyn Monroe's wicked wife with murderous intentions is as riveting as Joseph Cotten's devastated husband, who wishes his wife would love only him again. Niagara is both thrilling with exciting bursts and dreamy with this natural aura brought by Niagara Falls' presence. Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch, and Richard L. Breen's writing is intriguing as you wonder what could force a wife to want to kill her husband so badly as well as how will she accomplish her nefarious goal? You end up sympathizing with both the sorrowful wife, who just wants real love in her life as well as the depressed husband sick of his wife's flirting with other men. Joseph Cotten's subtle performance as the forlorn and desperate husband George Loomis is profoundly sad and compelling. His serious role is similar to young Jean Peters as Polly Cutler, who empathetically feels sorry for the loveless married couple. Max Showalter's incredulous role as the business minded and unromantic everyman Ray Cutler is a funny contrast to the ominous Joseph Cotten. They are tragic characters really. Niagara attempts to show how you should only marry someone you truly love without ever having second thoughts about if they're the only person you want to spend the rest of your life with forever. I found Niagara quickly cut and quite emotional. Editor Barbara McLean did a splendid job of navigating all the water sequences into a coherent action sequence for this brisk 92 minute feature. Ray Kellogg's visual effects for the boat on the river and the rapids in the waterfall are amazingly realistic for 1953. Sol Kaplan's romance theme is heavenly, while the rest of the score is exciting. Costume designers Charles Le Maire, Dorothy Jeakins, and Sam Benson craft jaw dropping pink dresses, black suits, and blue suits for Marilyn Monroe that you'll not soon forget. Ben Nye's red lipstick make-up is unforgettable on Marilyn too! Niagara demonstrates how effective a dramatic actress Marilyn Monroe could be as a searing femme fatale. Monroe plays up her sex appeal with a flirty and devious lead actress role as Rose Loomis. Monroe effortlessly dazzles you with her enchanting lonesome city woman tired of her older boring husband. Monroe makes you believe she could ensnare a young man to murder her husband by pushing him over Niagara Falls. Her charming performance displays her versatile acting skills as she flirts with men to drive her husband raving mad, while portraying an inner sorrow over how distant she's become. She's the perfect film noir villainess akin to Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heaven. In all, Niagara is a fantastically enthralling and beautifully crafted film for the ages. Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten really standout as top tier actors.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really enjoyed this movie, interesting seeing a film noir in color. MM and peters played beautiful women. MM didn't play her typical ditzy, blonde role. Story was easy to follow, movie was short and sweet. It wouldn't be my first pick, and only watched to see more of MM movies. It's a must-see for a Marilyn fan. Also, found it free on roku- so that's a plus!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Henry Hathaway

Director

Marilyn Monroe

Rose Loomis

Joseph Cotten

George Loomis

Jean Peters

Polly Cutler

Max Showalter

Ray Cutler

Denis O'Dea

Inspector Starkey

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Niagara: Trailer 1

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THR Staff

Hollywood Reporter

Around the scenic splendor of Niagara Falls, Charles Brackett has produced and co-scripted a gripping murder melodrama that is loaded with sex and suspense.

Jan 23, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Niagara is a morbid, cliched expedition into lust and murder. The atmosphere throughout is strained and taxes the nerves with a feeling of impending disaster.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

A.H. Weiler

New York Times

Obviously ignoring the idea that there are Seven Wonders of the World, Twentieth Century-Fox has discovered two more and enhanced them with Technicolor in "Niagara."

Oct 31, 2006

Full Review

André Bazin

L'Obs (France)

It is quite possible that Hathaway originally took this rather conventional script seriously, because he hoped he could renew interest in it through his employment of the mise-en-scene.

Jun 13, 2023

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

As a film noir piece, Hathaway directs it with the force of a torrent to narrate its melodrama about jealousy, lust and murder, with beautiful landscapes and without losing that touch of tension. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Jul 5, 2022

Full Review

Dustin Chang

Floating World

Technicolor is stunning, so as the set design. Rose's prolonged, almost silent murder scene is as good as it gets and puts most stylish giallos to shame.

Jan 27, 2022

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Synopsis

Rose Loomis (Marilyn Monroe) and her older, gloomier husband, George (Joseph Cotten), are vacationing at a cabin in Niagara Falls, N.Y. The couple befriend Polly (Jean Peters) and Ray Cutler (Casey Adams), who are honeymooning in the area. Polly begins to suspect that something is amiss between Rose and George, and her suspicions grow when she sees Rose in the arms of another man. While Ray initially thinks Polly is overreacting, things between George and Rose soon take a shockingly dark turn.

Director: Henry Hathaway
Screenwriter: Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch, Richard L. Breen
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 1953, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013

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