Niagara
Starring Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten
Directed by Henry Hathaway
Starring Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten
Directed by Henry Hathaway
This is only the second Marilyn Monroe movie I've seen (Some Like It Hot being the first), and I must say she's one sexy lady...and she knew it (as did her director who told her to sashay every single time she walked). She exudes such an alluring quality that the viewer can't help but be fixated on her. Fortunately, that fixation doesn't detract from this film noir.
Monroe plays Rose Loomis who is married to the older George (Joseph Cotten) and they both realize that they are in a completely loveless relationship. A trip to a motel overlooking Niagara Falls doesn't do a thing except cause Rose to fall in love with another man whom she meets on the side. Instead of rekindling things, Rose plots to kill George with the assistance of her lover. As is the case in many noirs, things don't go according to plan.
There's really two storylines going on here -- one involving Monroe and Cotton and another involving another married couple that befriend Rose. Unfortunately, this other couple take up the bulk of the story, becoming the "detectives" in the tale and, truth be told, they're just not very exciting. The flick is fairly short (under 90 minutes), but it feels much longer because of this "other couple" -- it felt like it could've ended much before it actually did.
Whenever Monroe's on the screen, however, it's absolutely entrancing. I've heard criticism that Monroe wasn't a great actress, just a great sex symbol. Maybe that's true (as I've said, I haven't seen nearly enough of her films to make a judgment), but she was really pretty darn good in this. And as far as the story goes, it's a decent noir...just not a great one.
Monroe plays Rose Loomis who is married to the older George (Joseph Cotten) and they both realize that they are in a completely loveless relationship. A trip to a motel overlooking Niagara Falls doesn't do a thing except cause Rose to fall in love with another man whom she meets on the side. Instead of rekindling things, Rose plots to kill George with the assistance of her lover. As is the case in many noirs, things don't go according to plan.
There's really two storylines going on here -- one involving Monroe and Cotton and another involving another married couple that befriend Rose. Unfortunately, this other couple take up the bulk of the story, becoming the "detectives" in the tale and, truth be told, they're just not very exciting. The flick is fairly short (under 90 minutes), but it feels much longer because of this "other couple" -- it felt like it could've ended much before it actually did.
Whenever Monroe's on the screen, however, it's absolutely entrancing. I've heard criticism that Monroe wasn't a great actress, just a great sex symbol. Maybe that's true (as I've said, I haven't seen nearly enough of her films to make a judgment), but she was really pretty darn good in this. And as far as the story goes, it's a decent noir...just not a great one.
The RyMickey Rating: C
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