Niagara DVD – DVD, May 30, 2006

Marilyn Monroe is fantastic!

Niagara is an excellent film in many ways and would always have a place in film history even if Gloria Grahame had played the role of the femme fatale. But that role was played by Marilyn Monroe, and it's for her that it is most remembered and viewed today. to her credit she played the role well. More than that, this is the film that really brought her to the attention of the American public. Until Niagara, though she had appeared in numerous films, they were relatively small films or small roles in important films like All About Eve or The Asphalt Jungle. Niagara also cemented Marilyn's image as a sex symbol even though the rather shocking nature of its blatant sexuality doesn't register now as it did in 1953. Her specific look, including the glossy lips and beauty mark first came together here. After Niagara Marilyn was a star.Much talk goes on over whether Niagara is truly Film Noir, often hinging on the fact that it was shot by director Henry Hathaway in Technicolor. Although the term translates directly as "black film" and most of the films of the genre were indeed shot in black and white, Niagara certainly is a film noir containing almost a definitive list of its elements: murder, untrustworthy or double-dealing people, danger, striking photography, at least one ultra-dramatic location and a femme fatale. Early noirs were made in black and white because they were generally small budgeted films considered lesser works because of their seamy subject matter, much as detective novels were in comparison to literature. This is erroneous but this was the 40's and early 50's. The black and white of the standard noir film worked beautifully to accentuate the generally poor underside of the city environments in which they were set. But the use of color with the same themes in play made perfect sense in films where much of the action took place in beautiful outdoor scenery; Leave her To Heaven comes to mind as another example of a color noir. Besides, the studio wasn't going to all the trouble to film on location at Niagara Falls and shoot it in black and white. The Falls are practically a character here.The acting is good throughout, though Max Showalter as the newlywed husband, Ray Cutler, seems a bit too over the top; but perhaps he was just supposed to be that kind of a guy, so eager to meet the president of a shredded wheat company. Jean Peters kept a perfect balance between sexiness and wholesomeness required by the script. She's actually really good looking and would have gotten more notice had her co-star been anyone other than Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn plays her role well showing her vulnerability despite her conniving nature. Two of her most famous appearances occur in this film: her long, hip-swinging walk down the sidewalk and her appearance in the famous magenta dress.Niagara is a terrific thriller and it has Marilyn to boot. You won't be disappointed.EXTRA NOTE: I don't know why Amazon labels this film "(Colorized)" It was shot in Technicolor and this is it. The trailer was shot in black & white for an unknown reason. Maybe someone looked at the trailer and thought this must be colorized. It's not.

A classic Marilyn film 10/10

Fox Home Entertainment has done it again with this beautiful Technicolor Blu-ray of "Niagara" just in time for it's 60th Anniversary. If you already own the standard DVD and are a fan of Marilyn Monroe then you seriously need to think about upgrading to this new Blu-ray presentation. Once you put the Blu-ray on and start watching you'll feel like Marilyn is in the room with you. I'm not kidding, this Blu-ray is that good. Forget the story, just sit back and enjoy the scenery. Joseph MacDonald's beautiful cinematography is eye popping on this latest Blu-ray gem from Fox(Bitrate: 32.50). The detail is exceptional. There are lots of shots of Niagara Falls(in 1953) that make you feel like you're watching a Ken Burns documentary instead of a movie. But it all comes back to Marilyn and she is simply stunning. The detail in this new Blu-ray had my head spinning, from the bright red lipstick on Marilyn's lips to her colorful costumes(very tight). You can even see her blood facial hairs underneath her makeup that's how good this Blu-ray is. Like I said the story wants to be a film noir tale but it was hard for me to believe that Joseph Cotton, who plays Monroe's husband, could be that frustrated with something like her waiting for him in their honeymoon cabin. You get the picture. Fox has been doing a great job in getting most of Monroe's films out on Blu-ray lately and along with "Niagara" they also released "Bus Stop"(1956) last week in memory of her untimely passing(she died 61 years ago today in 1962). Although I was too young to remember the impact she must have had on the Fifties(along with Elvis, Brando and James Dean) I can certainly see what all the fuss was about when I watched this beautiful looking Blu-ray. The restorers at Fox have been on a role lately with not only this title but previous Blu-rays of "Blood and Sand" and "Cleopatra"(one of the best Blu-ray restorations of the year). "Niagara" is 89 minutes(Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1) and contains the following subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German, Italian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish and Turkish. Audio are as follows: English DTS-DH Master Audio 5.1(also in Mono), French, German, Japanese in DTS 5.1. Italian & Spanish in DTS 2.0 and Spanish Dolby Digital Mono. As with previous Fox Blu-ray releases, "Niagara" is housed in one of those awful Eco-cases so you might want to switch to a sturdier HD case. In summary, fans of Marilyn Monroe would be wise to add this stunning Blu-ray to their collection. Even if you're not a fan, just sit back and enjoy the scenery. And I don't just mean Niagara Falls.

If you have relationship problems this may be triggering. For me i needed medication and several YEARS to back off of old flames. This is a cool flick any way it goes but spooky and sadly this one is dark… fun fact: andy warhol knew this flick and created art based off it

A splendid transfer of a tight little Hitchcock-like thriller which still works well. The town of Niagara is as much a "character" as the rest of the cast in Henry Hathaway's impressively directed tale of betrayal and revenge. Joseph Cotton gives a typically first rate performance as a husband more sinned against than sinning while Monroe - all tight dresses, scarlet lips and pouting looks - is sensational, iconic (and in terms of the 21st Century faintly ludicrous) as the embodiment of female treachery and sensuality. It's a great little movie, filled with nice details and the "travelogue" element is fascinating too. The blu ray transfer is outstanding - great contrast - eye popping colours - terrific detail - and the audio is even more impressive with the 5.1 immersive dub than the previous DVD too. Because the original poster had Marilyn stretched out over the falls ( "two forces of nature") one almost expects CinemaScope - but no - the film was shot in a 4x3 Academy ratio which had thankfully been retained for this transfer. Still it all looks very spectacular and on big screen video projection rather thrilling as the FX and blu-screen work are surprisingly good for 1954. The only extra is however the black and white trailer for the film - and this omission is a little disappointing as more extras would have been gratefully received. The film itself is definitely a treat for a wet Sunday afternoon though and this edition is highly recommended!

This review is for the DVD from Fox Home Entertainment 2012. I found the Transfer to be mostly excellent. Wonderful bright colours, crystal clear picture and good sound, plus Optional Subtitles. There are very brief slight variations in picture quality, but not enough to spoil the overall picture. Talk about a tourist promo for Niagara Falls! Seldom could it have been so lovingly covered together with all the attractions that make it a wondrous experience. Of course, the other wondrous experience is Monroe. Miscast in this film noir (in Technicolour) she manages to force you to watch her and marvel....From front and back! Holding her own is one of my favourite actresses of the period - Jean Peters. Featured in a bikini (not exactly brief) and getting VERY wet, she ably hold her own. It's the men who can't compete. Poor Cotten looks ill (yes, well his character is ill AW), and Casey Adams stands no chance. Treachery, suspense, and the aforesaid magnificent locations make this a must for noir/Monroe fans. Highly recomended. (If the DVD is good colour, wonder what the BLURAY is like - both at good prices here on Amazon.)

NIAGARA [1953] [Blu-ray] Marilyn Monroe and ‘NIAGARA’ a Raging Torrent of Emotion That Even Nature Can’t Control!Marilyn Monroe sizzles in this tense, masterful thriller. While the seductive Rose Loomis [Marilyn Monroe] and her husband George Loomis [Joseph Cotton] vacation in a charming guest cabin at spectacular Niagara Falls, Rose Loomis and her lover plot to kill George Loomis. But things go terribly wrong, and soon, an innocent honeymooning couple find themselves swept up in the crime. Narrated by Joseph Cotton.FILM FACT: Marilyn Monroe was given first billing in ‘NIAGARA’ which elevated her to star status. Her following two films of that year, ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,’ with Jane Russell, and ‘How to Marry a Millionaire,’ with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall, were even bigger successes. Unlike other film noir thrillers of the time, ‘NIAGARA’ was filmed in "Three-Strip" Technicolor, one of the last films to be made at Twentieth Century-Fox in this format, as Twentieth Century-Fox was in the process of converting to CinemaScope, and which is mutually-exclusive with "Three-Strip," but not with Eastmancolor, and was one of Twentieth Century-Fox's biggest box office hits of the year.Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton (narrator), Jean Peters, Max Showalter, Denis O'Dea, Richard Allan, Don Wilson, Lurene Tuttle, Russell Collins, Will Wright, Henry Beckman (uncredited), Harry Carey Jr. (uncredited), Bill Coontz (uncredited), Robert Ellis (uncredited), Howard Engel (uncredited), Neil Fitzgerald (uncredited), Gloria Gordon (uncredited), Patricia Henderson (uncredited), Winifield Hoeny (uncredited), George Ives (uncredited), Arch Johnson (uncredited), Lester Matthews (uncredited), Sean McClory (uncredited), Norman McKay (uncredited), Audre Monture (uncredited), Patrick O'Moore (uncredited), Tom Reynolds (uncredited), Willard Sage (uncredited), Bert Stevens (uncredited), Minerva Urecal (uncredited), Nina Varela (uncredited) and Gene Wesson (uncredited)Director: Henry HathawayProducer: Charles BrackettScreenplay: Charles Brackett, Richard L. Breen and Walter ReischComposer: Sol KaplanCinematography: Joseph MacDonaldVideo Resolution: 1080p [Technicolor]Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English: 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, Spanish: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono, French: 5.1 DTS-HD, Castellano: 2.0 DTS-HD, German: 5.1 DTS-HD and Italian: 2.0 DTS-HDSubtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish and TurkishRunning Time: 84 minutesRegion: All RegionsNumber of discs: 1Studio: 20th Century Fox Home EntertainmentAndrew's Blu-ray Review: 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' made her a star, but 'Niagara,' a nifty little Technicolor film noir released earlier the same year, put Marilyn Monroe on the cinematic map. Though she previously spiced up such A-level productions as 'All About Eve,' 'The Asphalt Jungle,' and 'Monkey Business' in notable supporting parts, Marilyn Monroe made a splash as monumental as the film's eponymous falls in this Henry Hathaway thriller, which allowed her for the first and only time in her storied career the opportunity to play a duplicitous bad girl. Sexier than Lana Turner in 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' and more sympathetic than Barbara Stanwyck in 'Double Indemnity,' Marilyn Monroe accents the femme in femme fatale, crafting a fatally glamorous portrait of a conniving four-alarm siren whose incendiary allure transcends that of any other Hollywood actress. If given the chance, men would line up by the thousands to be manipulated, teased, and even spurned by such a sensual seductress. And that's all due to a single, extended close-up and a sultry song called "Kiss."The iconic shot occurs about 17 minutes into the film when Marilyn Monroe emerges from a rustic cabin wearing a tight-fitting, low-cut, off-the-shoulder magenta dress with a thin white chiffon wrap casually draped around her back. She hands a party boy a phonograph record and sullenly asks, "Would you mind playing this?" He dutifully complies, and after a few bars she begins to sing along. The lyrics and arrangement are syrupy, but her vocal delivery is anything but. With a light breeze blowing her wavy blonde hair, her painted lips glistening in the moonlight, her eyes half shut in a romantic reverie, she oozes sex appeal and projects a mesmerizing magnetism. The camera and always Marilyn Monroe's closest ally, lingers on this sizzling image for a long time...not long enough for my taste, but long enough to forever embed Marilyn Monroe in our collective consciousness and earn her well-deserved stardom and eventual immortality. Yes, the picture is that powerful, and it's worth far more than a thousand words.'NIAGARA' is not a great film, but it's a brisk, seductive, absorbing piece of popcorn entertainment, distinguished by solid performances, a couple of interesting twists that perk up the tired premise, and the powerful backdrop of Niagara Falls which is one of the world's most breath-taking natural wonders. The location shooting adds an authentic accent, with the omnipresent rushing torrents of cascading water heightening suspense and playing a starring role in the films over the top and over the edge climax.Though 'NIAGARA' starts innocently enough, focusing on cheery young marrieds Polly and Ray Cutler [Jean Peters and Casey Adams] and their arrival at the falls on a delayed honeymoon, it quickly takes a melodramatic turn as we get to know another, less happy couple, Rose Loomis [Marilyn Monroe] and George Loomis [Joseph Cotton], who are staying at the same inn overlooking the falls. George Loomis is a troubled, insecure man, possibly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a tour of duty in Korea, and the curvaceous Rose, we soon learn, is shamelessly two-timing him with a beefy hunk Patrick [Richard Allan]. The Cutlers try to ease the tension between the volatile pair, and soon become unwitting enablers in a deadly game that doesn't go as planned, and ends up spiralling out of control.Though shot in brilliant Technicolor, this film noir possesses many of the same enticing elements that distinguish the genre's black-and-white classics. 'NIAGARA' may not be as hard-boiled as movies based on novels by Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, but it occasionally brandishes a well-honed edge that makes its many trite moments bearable. Part travelogue and the film seems to hit all the Niagara Falls tourist highlights, and part mystery, the picture somehow gels into a cohesive whole and has held up darn well over the past six decades.Credit to Marilyn Monroe for the durability of 'NIAGRA.' While her acting is, for the most part, strong, she's still a little rough around the edges in some scenes, enunciating too precisely here and emoting too heavily there. Yet her captivating presence and charisma elevate the story, and when she unleashes her inner vamp, it's a sight to behold. Joseph Cotten portrays her tortured, insanely jealous husband well, generating a surprising amount of sympathy despite his questionable deeds, while the fresh-faced Jean Peters, who three years later would become the wife of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, conveys an attractive girl-next-door quality that nicely balances Marilyn Monroe's unvarnished sex appeal.'NIAGRA' can't compete for top noir honours, but it remains a satisfying genre entry and puts a potent exclamation point on Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood apprenticeship. Hereafter, the iconic star would dominate almost every movie in which she appeared, but never again would she play such a hard-nosed, deceitful character. Yet when all is said and done, 'NIAGARA' isn't about an adulterous couple plotting to bump off an inconvenient husband; it's about how a sultry song and especially a monumental close-up gave birth to a cinema legend. End of story.Blu-ray Video Quality – Lush, beautiful photography has always set 'NIAGARA' apart from similar thrillers, and the film's previous home video incarnations have all looked great. That said, I still wasn't prepared for the flat-out dazzling appearance of this high-definition rendering. Crystal clarity, exceptional contrast, and a gloriously saturated colour palette distinguish this vibrant, vivid 1080p encounter image transfer that's a treat to watch from start to finish. Never has Marilyn Marilyn's magnetism and allure seemed so potent or her connection with the camera so intimate. Time after time images pop up that demand freeze framing, and I don't just mean those of Monroe; Niagara Falls in all its unspoiled grandeur is captured from a variety of stunning angles, along with the rainbows it so often generates. The spotless source material keeps the spell unbroken, with not a single speck, mark, or errant scratch distracting us from the sublime images on display. Colours are bright, bold, and sumptuous. Marilyn Monroe's glossy lipstick, her red jacket, the yellow slickers the sightseers wear as they tour the falls, the blue hues of the river water, and green foliage lining the streets and riverbanks all make a statement. Not to be outdone, black levels are deliciously inky and intense, just look at Marilyn Monroe's jacket and hat as she enters the morgue, the white foam and mist of the raging falls are always crisp and distinct, and flesh tones, from Marilyn Monroe's creamy complexion to Joseph Cotten's olive skin, remain natural and stable throughout. Close-ups, especially those of Marilyn Monroe, are devastatingly glamorous and I could watch her sing 'Kiss' till the cows come home, background elements are easy to discern, shadow detail is quite good, and no crush, noise, banding, or other annoyances rear their ugly heads. The one caveat to this magnificent effort is the sparing use of digital noise reduction, which seems to have erased the film's natural grain structure. A movie of this vintage usually doesn't exude such a smooth, dimensional look, but the razor sharp, high gloss appearance of this transfer nicely complements the story's cold nature. Though I'm usually a stickler for grain and revel in the texture it lends the image, I honestly don't miss it much here. I believe the 20th Century Fox technicians have employed DNR [Digital Noise Reduction] intelligently in this instance and in other Marilyn Monroe Blu-ray titles, allowing it to subtly enhance the picture without the waxy and smeary look that's usually a by-product of the process. To these eyes, this is the best 'NIAGRA' has ever looked on home video, and those who own the previous Diamond Collection DVD should upgrade as soon as possible. You won't be sorry you did.Blu-ray Audio Quality – 'NIAGARA' comes equipped with two lossless tracks, both newly re-mastered. There's the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio option and the more traditional 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio choice for those seeking to replicate the movie's original soundscape. Both provide clean, clear, well-modulated audio with a wide dynamic scale and no incidents of distortion, and any age-related defects, such as pops, crackles, and hiss, have been erased. The newly engineered 5.1 track does its best to widen the audio's scope, but the sound remains front-based. The music scoring and thunderous roar of the falls fill the room nicely, but there's no distinct action from any of the channels. Dialogue is always well prioritized and easy to comprehend, the church bells possess fine resonance, and solid bass undertones add punch and nuance to the falls sequences, offering that extra bit of ambience to immerse us in the setting. The 1.0 track is equally well balanced, yet sounds slightly harsher, especially with regard to the falls. Atmospherics are weaker, too, but subtleties remain distinct and certain scenes sound almost identical to their 5.1 counterparts. Either option is solid, but the 5.1 track provides a more full-bodied, robust experience, as one might expect.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: 'NIAGARA' was shot in glorious Technicolor, but for some reason this trailer, which compares Monroe to the breath-taking falls that frame the story, is in black-and-white. Surely there must be a colour print of this preview lying around the vaults somewhere!More Monroe Movie Trailers [1080p] [16:00] Previews for six more Monroe films from Fox are included, five of which are included here which includes: ‘Bus Stop,’ ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,’ ‘How To Marry A Millionaire,’ ‘River Of No Return,’ ‘The Seven year Itch’ and Irvin Berlin's ‘There's No Business Like Showbusiness.’Finally, while not as widely acclaimed as some of her subsequent films, `NIAGARA' put Marilyn Monroe on the pop-culture map, establishing her platinum blonde screen siren image. The film feels a little quaint today and suggestive more than explicit, with twists that come precisely as expected, but the combination of Marilyn Monroe's steamy presence and Joseph MacDonald's gorgeous "Three-Strip" Technicolor cinematography makes ‘NIAGARA’ a trip worth taking. Further, 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release is a real stunner; what it lacks it special features and you'll only find some trailers here and it makes up in a nigh-perfect high definition transfer. Marilyn Monroe fans will definitely want to add this one to their collections, and even more general golden-age-of-Hollywood enthusiasts will probably want to check it out. In my review of ‘BUS STOP,' I felt the characters did not quite gel with me, but with this film, and all the actors, even Marilyn Monroe, pull out all the stops and produce a cracking film and keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the bitter end and I felt Marilyn Monroe put her best effort to make this a worth addition to my ever expanding Marilyn Monroe Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

My reason for writing this review is to let those potential buyers know that this is a poor transfer of an excellent film. This review is for the 20th Century 'Studio Classics' version. Many may not pick up on it as it's a minor problem but on this particular film print the RGB appears to be shattered - not registered correctly or out of sync if you like. Thus showing a green outline around the figures on most scenes. I was very disappointed, hence I bought the 20th Century Fox 'Blue Ray' version not soon after and it is a glorious transfer (the problem had gone). So pleased be warned as it did spoil my enjoyment of a terrific film. Transfer 2/10, Film 9/10.

Niagra Falls, so often a place of honeymoon love is the setting for this engrossing thriller directed as tight as a ducks bottom by the brilliant Henry Hathaway. With fabulous performances by Joseph Cotton, Marilyn Monroe and the classic beauty that is Jean Peters; the plot may be a simple one of an unfaithful wife scheming against her husband, thus garnering peril ire from the jealously unstable man, but it reaches high peaks regardless.Hathaway and cinematographer Joseph MacDonald breathtakingly weave the splendid location into the unfolding story. Something that simultaneously brings out the sensual beauty of the two lovely ladies whilst also keeping the sense of danger a constant factor. Now that the film has a had a restoration done to it, the Technicolour photography has a broody sheen to it, thus enhancing the mood, and Monroe's sensuality, within the piece. Peters, in what is the tougher part, doesn't let her character become secondary to Monroe's {even more impressive given Monroe's fine work and Hathaway's lingering usage of her}, so much so that when the edge of the seat finale arrives we the audience are fully involved. While Cotten as the tortured husband to Monroe's adulterous wife nails the duality of the character with maximum impact.Nature's power and raw human emotion comes crashing together in this early 50s little gem. 8/10