Two for the Road: Summer Noir

How did July get here so quickly? It will come and go before we know it, so I am holding onto summer for dear life by watching and reading things that remind me of sticky summer nights, neon lights, iced-cold martinis, regrets, and a bit of darkness and intrigue. Of course, this means that I am consuming all things noir. I believe that noir works year-round—Noirvember during the fall, winter noir (Criterion Channel taught me that it is indeed a thing!), and who says spring can’t incorporate some Technicolor noir. I am going to share a film and a book, selected for when you’re in the mood for femme fatales, lighting cigarettes, shadowy scenes, and men who say “Dame” too much. Some of these stories can get a bit convoluted, but isn’t that the fun of a good old noir tale?

I have to mention a Marilyn Monroe film that I’m sure many of you are familiar with, which features the longest continuous walk in cinema history (116 feet, to be exact)!
Niagara (1953) starring Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, and Max Showalter. This film is a gorgeous Technicolor noir thriller filmed primarily on location in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The plot is simple: newlyweds Jean Peters (as Polly Cutler) and Max Showalter (Ray Cutler) are on a late honeymoon, arriving at a little cabin in Niagara Falls, where they meet a married couple, Marilyn Monroe (as Rose Loomis) and Joseph Cotten (George Loomis). As the Cutlers get to know the husband and wife, they realize that the Loomis couple is in a troubled marriage. George (Cotten) is a recently discharged war veteran who spent a stint in a mental hospital and comes across as a bitter, disgruntled husband who lashes out for no reason. Things are not what they appear on the surface, and Rose (brilliantly portrayed by Monroe) has secrets and a trick or two up her sleeves.

I wish this film included more Marilyn scenes, since she thrives in the film noir genre (also, check out the film Don’t Bother to Knock from 1952). Thrillers were not typical in Marilyn’s career; after this film, Twentieth Century Fox moved her into more comedic roles. Her filmography consists mostly of light-hearted romantic comedies. In this particular film, she gets to play equal parts seductive and outright cruel, fabulously styled in gorgeous pieces crafted by costume designer Dorothy Jeakins. Jeakins was best known for designing vibrant period pieces in films such as The Ten Commandments (1956) and The Music Man (1962). Despite her success with period pieces, she also had a flair for modern, fashion-forward 1950s films, such as Three Coins in the Fountain (1954) and South Pacific (1958).

Niagara showcases Marilyn in the iconic fuchsia, off-the-shoulder, wiggle dress with a strategic cutout under the bust. This is the outfit she wears when she sensually sings “Kiss.” There was a red version of the dress that you can find in the costume test shots taken of Marilyn Monroe for the film. Other notable costumes include an impeccably tailored pale blue two-piece suit that curves to her body (even the collar curves; there are no harsh angles), with large matching buttons and white ankle-strapped heels. During the scene featuring Marilyn’s infamous long walk, Dorothy Jeankins styles her in a red fitted jacket with 3/4-length sleeves, a wide, rounded, notched collar, and a large contrasting button at the waist. Under the jacket, she wears a white button-down shirt, a fitted, black pencil skirt, and black ankle-strapped heels. Marilyn Monroe’s later iconic costumes with Travilla have become her most popular pieces, mostly consisting of form-fitting dresses. Costume-wise, Niagara takes a different approach, showcasing Marilyn in soft, classic, feminine silhouettes popular in 1950s separates and tailored suits. I highly recommend this film if you are in the mood for a gorgeous Technicolor thriller with fantastic performances by Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten.

Now onto a book recommendation that matches the vibe of a good film noir. I highly recommend reading The Moving Target by Ross MacDonald (1949), the first book in the Lew Archer series. He is a private eye living in Los Angeles, likes a good drink or two, and has witty comebacks no matter the situation. Archer is hired by millionaire Ralph Sampson’s paralyzed wife, Elaine Sampson, to find her missing husband, who was last seen at the Burbank Airport. Lew Archer begins his investigation by interviewing and getting to know the other residents of the Sampson home, Sampson’s young, flirty daughter, Miranda, and his smug pilot, Alan Taggert. On Archer’s quest to get answers, he works closely with Bert Graves, an old friend of his before WWII, who is the family lawyer of the Sampsons and is madly in love with Miranda.

Lew Archer is swept into Ralph Sampson’s world of a religious cult, illegal smuggling, and mistreatment of immigrants, and a seedy nightlife in the underbelly of Los Angeles. He is desperately trying to find Ralph Sampson before he is potentially killed, but nothing is as it seems, and everyone is a suspect. Like many detective novels of this era, The Moving Target can get a bit convoluted, and I’d be lying if I did not say that there were times during the reading when I zoned out. Yet, this detective story was such an enjoyable read for me, particularly on nice, warm, summer nights. I could picture the scenes of late 1940s Hollywood bars, unfriendly saloon singers, hushed bartenders, car chases across rugged South Californian canyons, and swimming pools under palm trees. You can find the book online here if you are interested!

Fun fact: I came across a film adaptation of this novel on TCM titled Harper (1966), starring Paul Newman as Lew Archer and featuring an all-star cast, Lauren Bacall, Robert Wagner, Shelley Winters, and Janet Leigh. I will definitely need to check it out!

I highly recommend watching Niagara and reading The Moving Target before the summer is out, with a cool beverage of your choice. My choice lately has been Recess’s Margarita mocktail in a big wine glass with a fresh squeeze of lime. But, for classic cocktails, I’d suggest a daiquiri on the rocks, whiskey or bourbon with a splash of water and a huge ice cube, or a chilled glass of prosecco.

See you next week, darlings!

DISCLAIMER: Aside from the first photograph (taken by me at the vintage shop, Paradise Galleria), I do not own any of the photographs featured in this blog.