"The story of a love that became the most fearful thing that ever happened to a woman!"Alright, if you haven't seen this movie, I don't wanna know ya ;)
Beautiful career woman Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) is found murdered in her lavish apartment one Friday night - Both barrels of a shotgun in the face. Hard boiled detective Mark MacPherson (Dana Andrews) is in charge of the investigation, and interviews the key people in her life: Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), columnist and Svengali; Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), fiancé and playboy; Bessie Clary, devoted maid and police hater; and Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson), aunt and jealous woman. MacPherson quickly finds himself caught up in Laura's life, fascinated by her complex relationships, private diaries, and a portrait hung over her fireplace...
"You'd better watch out, McPherson, or you'll finish up in a psychiatric ward. I doubt they've ever had a patient who fell in love with a corpse."
MacPherson, distraught, falls asleep in Laura's apartment surrounded by her letters and gazing at her portrait. Just then, somebody walks in - Their appearance will change the whole course of the investigation.
Points of interest:
Beautiful career woman Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) is found murdered in her lavish apartment one Friday night - Both barrels of a shotgun in the face. Hard boiled detective Mark MacPherson (Dana Andrews) is in charge of the investigation, and interviews the key people in her life: Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), columnist and Svengali; Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), fiancé and playboy; Bessie Clary, devoted maid and police hater; and Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson), aunt and jealous woman. MacPherson quickly finds himself caught up in Laura's life, fascinated by her complex relationships, private diaries, and a portrait hung over her fireplace...
"You'd better watch out, McPherson, or you'll finish up in a psychiatric ward. I doubt they've ever had a patient who fell in love with a corpse."
MacPherson, distraught, falls asleep in Laura's apartment surrounded by her letters and gazing at her portrait. Just then, somebody walks in - Their appearance will change the whole course of the investigation.Points of interest:
- Won an Academy Award for best B&W cinematography, 1945. Nominations include Clifton Webb for best supporting actor; Otto Preminger for best director; best art direction and interior decoration; and best screenplay.
- The heavily figured portrait is actually an enlarged photograph: Preminger was dissatisfied with the commissioned portrait done by a popular artist, and had Tierney pose for a studio still that was done over with paint.
- Tierney originally did not want to make this film, but was obliged to by her contract.
- Webb, Price, Andrews, Anderson and Tierney all died within three years of each other.
- David Raskin's song "Laura" is a living legacy from the film. Composed over one weekend, it was originally entitled "Judy" in honour of Judy Garland.
I just watched Laura for the first time last night, really enjoyed it, though I found it highly problematic.
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts, if you're interested in the thoughts of a newbie!
http://theoncominghope.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-noir-or-mad-men-is-so.html