NIAGARA

US, 1953, 92 minutes, Colour.
Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.

Advertised in 1953 as featuring Marilyn Monroe and Niagara Falls, the two most electrifying sights in the world. The film launched Marilyn Monroe much more as a sex symbol of the early fifties and into a more serious career. She was to be very successful in a number of films but most especially her comedies such as How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop and Some Like it Hot.

This film is a routine murder melodrama with strong performances by Joseph Cotton and Jean Peters who were to appear that year in A Blueprint for Murder. Marilyn Monroe is projected most obviously an a sex symbol in the film. Niagara Falls is used to great advantage although there in a lot of studio work in the climax sequences. The film in an entertaining curiosity piece thriller.

1. The impact of the film an a thriller, interest and entertainment?

2. The presentation of Marilyn Monroe in 1953, now? Presenting her as a sex symbol, the visual presentation, costumes, make-up? The photographing of her, her presence, walk, dresses? Exploitive? Utilizing her talent? The type of unsympathetic role she was given?

3. The importance of Niagara Falls, their beauty, power, destructive possibilities? The beauty of their scope, water falling, colour? The tourist aspects of the film, how well were they combined with the melodrama? Location colour photography, studio work?

4. How authentic was the atmosphere? The use of the locations of the falls and their tourist attractions as well as the cities on both sides of the Rainbow Bridge? Bus stations, carillon towers?

5. The presentation of the Loomis's? the hints of madness, deceit? George and his five o'clock walk at the base of the falls, Rose and her sleeping deceit? The arrival of the Cutlers and "who's putting them off'? The various lies and Rose's going out, her meeting her boy friend? The clash with her playing her favourite record? The deceit of her phone call and luring George to his death? The popular ingredients of melodrama?

6. The character of George? war background, psychological disturbance? The odd behaviour at the foot of the falls, the various scenes he created especially with the record, arguments? His love for Rose? The film suggesting that he was dead and the impact of his reappearance? The confrontations with Polly, his pleading for her to let him live? The confrontation with Rose and the build-up to her murder? (and the effect of the silent carillon?), his attempts to escape, Polly being on the boat, his saving her and his dying? How good a sketch of a psychotic person, tormented killer? Could the audience identify with his torment?

7. Marilyn Monroe’s character sketch of Rose? Sensuality, the initial appearance in bed and her deceit? Her meeting her boyfriend? Her playing the record and the focus on her singing the song and her style of singing? Her planning her husband's death? Painting when she saw her boyfriend's body and her experience in the hospital? The effect of hearing her song on the carillon? Her trying to get away on the bus, on the bridge? The build-up to her death?

8. Entering the story with the Cutlers and identifying with them as ordinary people? Cutler's jovial and loud American style, Polly's plain American niceness? Their second honeymoon, the meeting with Rose and taking the alternate cabin? Their reason for being there and their enjoying the tourist attractions? The impact of the deaths and the funerals? Polly being scared by Loomis, being chased by him on the falls steps? The decision to go and their friends turning up? Her being on the boat, saved? The contrast of Polly with Rose in appearance, manner, fidelity?

9. The contribution of the minor characters? the Police Chief and his investigation, the motel keeper and his observing what was going on, the boat hire man? The importance of the American couple who were hosting the Cutlers and their joviality?

10. Audience enjoyment of melodrama? the details of the plot, the establishing of the setting of atmosphere, death plans, violence, climax?

11. Why do audiences enjoy such basic plots? Like the Cutlers - ordinary people involved in melodrama and murder?