Laura (1944)

This silky smooth film noir pits gruff police detective Dana Andrews, stiff and blunt in his street-bred manners, against a cultured columnist and acidic wit (Clifton Webb at his prissiest) in a battle of wits during a murder investigation. The cop is a romantic hiding under a hard-boiled exterior who falls in love with the beautiful victim through the portrait that hangs in her apartment. Gene Tierney, whose heart-shaped face mixes the exotic with the girl next door, brings the poise and calm of a model to her role as the object of every man's gaze and the target of a killer. Laura, handsomely shot in dreamy black and white, is the first and best of Otto Preminger's cool, controlled murder mysteries. In the gritty world of film noir it remains the most refined and elegant example of the genre, but under the tasteful decor and high-society fashions lies a world seething in jealousy, passion, blackmail, and murder. Vincent Price costars as a blithe gigolo and David Raksin's lush theme has become a wistful romantic standard. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com essential video

On the top of my list

Here's the list of my film noir favorites ordered from "fantastic" to "merely great." Note that I consider "Laura" to be the best film noir I've ever seen:

1. Laura
2. Sunset Boulevard
3. Double Indemnity
4. Sudden Fear
5. Scarlet Street
6. Out of the Past
7. Pickup on South Street
8. The Asphalt Jungle
October 16, 2008

A Classic of the Genre

The presence of Vincent Price alone is enough to make this film worth watching. The man had one of the most memorable theatrical personalities that ever graced the screen. His voice rang like a haunting tones cutting through fog. His smallest gestures expressed volumes of expression and emotion. Even when he overacted (which was much of the time) he did it with a singular type of flair that made it engaging rather than laughable. He had style. He had flair. And he had panache. That's a star. That's what makes an icon. His role in "Laura" shows yet another facet of his abilities. His characterization of Shelby Carpenter is of a man who's weak yet charming and fickle yet strangely loyal. It's a complex role and he managed it with the aplomb typical of his bearing. It's no surprise that his presence is dominant most of the times he's on the screen.

This isn't meant to downplay the contribution from others in the cast. Gene Tierney, one of the al-time great beauties of the silver screen is radiant in the title role. She manages a combination of aloofness and down home appeal that's nothing short of remarkable. The woman was as talented as she was lovely. Dana Andrews was cast perfectly as the detective who falls for the mysterious beauty as he unearths the details of her life. His portrayal of a man whose dedication becomes love and, ultimately, dangerous obsession is a gripping one. Judith Anderson gives a strong performance as the Aunt of the title character. Her turn as the slightly snobbish woman who may or may not be a rival is engaging and could have stood more screen time than it was given.

Then there's Clifton Webb. Few actors have been so adept at playing characters so loathsome there's nothing to do but hate them. His character is loathsome the moment he opens his mouth. After that he's easy to hate simply for being there. There's no redeeming the nature of the man he plays. He is vile. He is arrogant. He holds his fellow beings in contempt. The few he likes he sees as possessions. He's patronizing and/ or annoyingly condescending towards everyone. And yet it's impossible not watch him. Clifton Webb was a master of this. His personality was nearly as theatrical as Price's. Watching the two of them together is a treat that's not to be missed.

The film itself is a pleasure to watch. The story by Vera Gaspary (novel) and Jay Dratler (screenplay) is tightly written and filled with rich characterizations. The Direction, by Otto Preminger, is terse and moves the story at a brisk pace. Emotions are kept veiled but always feel close to the surface. The cinematography by Joseph LaShelle is excellent. As is the case in many of the better films from the 'Noir' genre the construction of the individual scenes allows the eye to 'read' the picture almost from one frame to the next. The lighting and photography compliment the shots perfectly. The sets are full and rich but also uncluttered. On the downside some of the costumes are fashion disasters (perfect for those "What Were They Thinking" montages) and there's one enormous gaffe near the end of the picture. That's what cost it one star here incidentally. That gaffe should have been caught before the film was ever released. More attention to the final edit could have fixed the second faux pas but some of those clothes (especially the hats that belong in a story about a white whale and a deranged captain) are beyond hope.

But those are small complaints. 'Laura' is a film that stands the test of time, and with good reason. The story it tells is a good one. The passions it deals with are timeless. And it's done well. That counts as much as anything else. The restoration and transfer to DVD is excellent. This disc comes with some strong extras as well. There are biographical features on both Price and Tierney. Both are informative, absorbing and well worth watching. There's also a deleted scene that's shown separately and an extended version of the original release.

This is a good package. Fans of older films will love it. For people who aren't familiar with older films it may be a good place to start.
[...] September 1, 2008

One of my favorites!

I've always loved this movie and it was a real treat to be able to get it on DVD given it's age. The picture quality was great and it even included a scene that was cut from the original release and I don't believe has been included in the television runs. August 22, 2008

Verry, Verry Good Film!

This is absolutely a good film - not a great film but wonderfully fun! It has a couple of good twists and turns! I would highly recomend it!
If you love Gene Tierney and Classic films watch the Ghost and Mrs. Muere! August 3, 2008

Laura a fantastic movie

This is how movies should be written today. Drama, intelligence and good acting - even in black and white. This is an older movie, but none the less one of the best made. July 31, 2008

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