Trivia / Niagara

• Billing Displacement: Marilyn Monroe gets top billing, but Jean Peters as Polly is the actual female lead.
• Fake Nationality: Along with some Americans as people who live and work on the Ontario side of the Falls, two Irish actors (Denis O'Dea as Inspector Starkey, Neil Fitzgerald as the customs agent) portray characters who are supposed to be Canadian, leading to some What the Hell Is That Accent? issues.
• He Also Did: A rare acting role for Don Wilson outside of his announcing duties on The Jack Benny Program, as Nabisco Shredded Wheat bigwig Kettering.
• Playing Against Type: Marilyn Monroe as a scheming villain (though this film came out before her image as a kind-hearted Dumb Blonde was fully established).
• Star-Making Role: Marilyn Monroe's first leading role.
• What Could Have Been:
  • This was originally just a bit part for Marilyn Monroe, but as her career started gaining buzz, the role of Rose was expanded considerably. But as she was still under contract as a 'stock actor', she made less money than the make-up people.
  • Anne Baxter was supposed to play Polly but was replaced by Jean Peters.
  • Henry Hathaway originally wanted James Mason for the role of George, but his daughter was getting tired of seeing him play villain roles.

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