Laura (1944) Film Review
Main Cast:
Gene Tierney - Laura Hunt
Dana Andrews - Mark McPherson
Clifton Webb - Waldo Lydecker
Vincent Price - Shelby Carpenter
This is a deliciously dark film from the golden era of Hollywood film Noir, the 1940s. What is a film Noir movie? Usually it is a crime drama emphasizing sexual motivations or cynicism. Laura has all of this and more.
Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is sent to investigate the murder of Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) who has been brutally gunned down in her flat. As he furthers his investigation he's confounded as to why anybody would murder Laura, a woman whom every man meets they fall in love with. Whilst interviewing suspects and hearing their stories about Laura, McPherson finds himself falling under the spell of her.
Andrews plays the part of McPherson effortlessly, kick starting his career in the process whilst Tierney oozes screen magnetism and a selfish vulnerability. However, both are outshone by Clifton Webb who steals the show as Waldo Lydecker, a venomous newspaper columnist who destroys careers and reputations of people who cross him through the newspaper. Webb is simply terrific in this role ( he was playing the same role on the theater stage before being cast in the film) and his comedic mannerisms are pure gold,particularly the opening scene where McPherson interviews Lydecker in the bath!
The supporting cast is headed by Vincent Price who plays Shelby Carpenter, who competes with Lydecker for Laura's affections. Most critics believe that Price acts the role of Carpenter a little too soft in the film but another different aspect could be that he was so in love with the stealthily manipulative Laura that she broke him. Laura's twists and turns will keep you guessing to the very end à la Hitchcock. The dialogue is fast and snappy, brilliantly acted by Andrews and Webb, innovatively directed by Otto Preminger, Laura is a treat that you shouldn't miss.
Fast facts: Originally planned to be a B movie it was upgraded to A status. 20th century fox bosses wanted Webb to audition for the part of Lydecker who he was already playing in the theater. Director Otto Preminger refused,then asked the bosses to go see Webb in the theater as his 'screen test'. Vincent Price and Gene Tierney became very good friends after this movie, starring in two other films together and keeping a friendship which lasted until the 1990s.
Main Cast:
Gene Tierney - Laura Hunt
Dana Andrews - Mark McPherson
Clifton Webb - Waldo Lydecker
Vincent Price - Shelby Carpenter
This is a deliciously dark film from the golden era of Hollywood film Noir, the 1940s. What is a film Noir movie? Usually it is a crime drama emphasizing sexual motivations or cynicism. Laura has all of this and more.
Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is sent to investigate the murder of Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) who has been brutally gunned down in her flat. As he furthers his investigation he's confounded as to why anybody would murder Laura, a woman whom every man meets they fall in love with. Whilst interviewing suspects and hearing their stories about Laura, McPherson finds himself falling under the spell of her.
Andrews plays the part of McPherson effortlessly, kick starting his career in the process whilst Tierney oozes screen magnetism and a selfish vulnerability. However, both are outshone by Clifton Webb who steals the show as Waldo Lydecker, a venomous newspaper columnist who destroys careers and reputations of people who cross him through the newspaper. Webb is simply terrific in this role ( he was playing the same role on the theater stage before being cast in the film) and his comedic mannerisms are pure gold,particularly the opening scene where McPherson interviews Lydecker in the bath!
The supporting cast is headed by Vincent Price who plays Shelby Carpenter, who competes with Lydecker for Laura's affections. Most critics believe that Price acts the role of Carpenter a little too soft in the film but another different aspect could be that he was so in love with the stealthily manipulative Laura that she broke him. Laura's twists and turns will keep you guessing to the very end à la Hitchcock. The dialogue is fast and snappy, brilliantly acted by Andrews and Webb, innovatively directed by Otto Preminger, Laura is a treat that you shouldn't miss.
Fast facts: Originally planned to be a B movie it was upgraded to A status. 20th century fox bosses wanted Webb to audition for the part of Lydecker who he was already playing in the theater. Director Otto Preminger refused,then asked the bosses to go see Webb in the theater as his 'screen test'. Vincent Price and Gene Tierney became very good friends after this movie, starring in two other films together and keeping a friendship which lasted until the 1990s.
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