Niagara Falls (1941)
Director:
Gordon Douglas
Writers:
Paul Girard Smith (original screenplay), Hal Yates (original screenplay)
Stars:
Marjorie Woodworth, Tom Brown, Zasu Pitts
The second of Hal Roach's "streamliners" (feature films running 45 minutes or so), Niagara Falls serves as a showcase for Roach protegee Marjorie Woodworth. The action takes place at a honeymoon hotel in-where else?--Niagara Falls. Gangly Sam Sawyer (Slim Summerville), newly married to matronly Emmy Sawyer (ZaSu Pitts), is constitutionally incapable of minding his own business. As a result, he decides to play cupid for young singles Margie Blake (Woodworth) and Tom Wilson (Tom Drake), contriving to force the couple to share a single room for a single night. It's all very innocent, in the "Imagine my embarrassment" fashion of Hal Roach's old Charley Chase 2-reelers. Roach's daughter Margaret, who later pursued an acting career as Diana Rochelle, plays a minor role.