In 1952 I had started my Mech’Eng’Dip’ and late September I had a most welcome visit from that great abbey actor Dennis O’Dea. Dennis and his wife actress Siobhan McKenna lived near us in Richmond Street and he had an outboard motor for repair.

I agreed and upon opening the box I almost fainted. It was the most beautiful sight to behold. This American motor with its outer shell painted yellow with red stripes was, to my eyes, a work of art.

Note to younger readers: in 1952 Ireland and Europe were a glum and dark place, no colour. It was only eight years since World War Two, the Cold War was in full swing, doom and gloom abounded. Even new cars were black or dark green.

Small wonder I was besotted by this colourful piece of Americana. I repaired the crossed plug threads and we tested in Portobello Harbour and up to Harold’s Cross Bridge. On returning the engine to Dennis O’Dea, he told me how he had acquired this beauty. “I had just come back from Canada and USA,” said Dennis “we were shooting a film called ‘Niagara’ with Joseph Cotton, Jean Peters and Marilyn Monroe.”

“Now hold on Dennis,” I said, “I know of Joseph Cotton, I have seen most of his films in the Stella and Princess cinemas in Rathmines but who the heck is Marilyn Monroe?”

“‘Niagara’ will be released next year [1953], and I am sure Marilyn will be a big star. It’s her first big role and the camera likes her. Indeed, we all liked her, she is a very nice, decent and kind person. Siobhan and I believe she will go far.”

Little did we know then that she was to become perhaps the most famous female movie star of all. Dennis then told me that at the end of filming she had bought everybody a gift– everybody, sound, lighting, cameramen.
“Every chance I got,” said Denis, “I was out fishing on the great lakes. Marilyn saw this and bought me this motor.” He said she must have spent her entire fee on gifts– she was generous to a fault.

Over the years since then I have read many stories about Marilyn Monroe, most of them nasty, always looking for scandal. I prefer to believe the honest, kind and warm tribute by Dennis O’Dea so many years ago,

The film ‘Niagara’ was reissued in 2006 on DVD. I warmly recommend this movie. It is still a powerful piece of cinema from the golden age of mid-20th century Hollywood.

Above: Marilyn with Joseph Cotton in ‘Niagara’.