• Release year: 1953
• Director: Henry Hathaway.
• Producer: Charles Brackett.
• Screenplay by: Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch, and Richard L. Breen.
• Cinematography by: Joseph MacDonald.
• Music by: Sol Kaplan.

Shotgun Commentary: simple thriller with great acting.

Review

Niagara is a pretty straightforward thriller, with a quick and simple introduction and an unstoppable chain reaction of events that leads to mayhem. This film will be screened as part of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival to kickstart their “GFF Marilyn Monroe 100” programme, created to celebrate the 100th year of her birthday. More info after the review!

Riveting narrative

The feature follows Polly Cutler (Jean Peters), a woman celebrating her belated honeymoon in the Niagara Falls. Upon arrival, she meets the Loomis couple. A woman and her veteran husband, both of whom are staying in the cabin the Cutlers rented. Rose Loomis (Marilyn Monroe) explains to the retreat manager that her husband is not feeling well. She pleads with him to stay a bit longer in the cabin until he heals. Polly, understanding the situation, has no problem allowing them to stay and taking another cabin with her husband instead. However, this is but one of many strange and unnerving encounters that the Cutlers have with the odd couple.

The pace is paused but unstoppable, mimicking the flow of the water as it inches towards the waterfalls. This movement is described in the film as very calm waters that slowly but steadily approach the edge, gaining speed until they unavoidably precipitate down, forming the waterfall. So too does the film tell its story. Beginning with a calm story that hints at a subtle current of tragedy, it gains tension as the danger makes itself more visible until it ends in its abrupt and inescapable fate.

Brilliant writing

It is no wonder that this film has been chosen to open the Marilyn Monroe-themed programme at GFF this year. Her character Rose allowed Marilyn to utilise her status as a bombshell and her naturally magnetic personality in a role that is far from the ones she is commonly known for.

Here, you see a character with depth and complexity, one that proves to be a lot more than just looks from the very beginning. Rose is fascinating. The secrets she keeps make her a constant surprise. Even after her plan is clear, she still manages to keep you guessing which will be her next move. Monroe showcases her talent as an actress in this demanding part that keeps her switching emotions even during the same shot and makes her nuanced expressions the main character of every scene she is in.

Nevertheless, the true main character, despite what the posters of the film might suggest, is not Rose. That would be Polly, played beautifully by Jean Peters. Polly is likeable on so many levels. She will immediately steal your heart with her kind personality and brave spirit. For a female character in the 50s, she is wildly independent, which is so satisfying to watch as a member of the audience in 2026. Polly’s beauty is clearly muted next to Rose’s, not so much because of the actresses that play them but because of their makeup and wardrobe. Rose is full of vibrant, bold colours and shapes, while Polly is more conservative with calmer blues and whites and more natural makeup tones.

Refreshing take

Still, this is not a source of discomfort for Polly in the very least. She is comfortable with who she is and feels no need to trash Rose to make herself feel better, nor does she go full Rebecca (1940) on the matter. She is what is now called “a girl’s girl”, which is oddly refreshing to watch in a society that tends to pit women against each other rather than bringing them together.

Additionally, she is a complete hero on an intellectual level as well. All too often does one encounter the “What do we do now?” character, especially in films of this decade and earlier, when women were there to be saved and told what to do and feel. Instead, Polly completely disregards her husband’s dismissal of her worries and chooses to pursue them. No matter how many times her husband politely calls her a hysteric, she follows her gut and acts accordingly, which is among the most gratifying things any member of the female audience can watch in a film.

All in all, Niagara is a wonderful time. It is a well-made movie with flawless acting and a story that has no interest in overstaying its welcome. If anything, this film showcases that a person can be both empathetic and intelligent, kind and resourceful, warm and independent. Yes, even women.

Niagara will be screened for free at the Glasgow Film Theatre on the 26th of February at 13:30 as part of the 2026 Glasgow Film Festival. More information on this screening here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• Some men are more obsessed about the outfits women wear than those women themselves. That does not mean one has to listen to a word they say.
• If you want to kill your husband, do it yourself.
• Your husband might dismiss your concerns at one point or another. That does not mean he is right.

What’s your take? Have you watched Niagara? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀