Laura (1944)

Laura
Directed by Otto Preminger
Written by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt from a novel by Vera Caspary
1944/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime Instant Video
#176 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Mark McPherson: Yeah, dames are always pulling a switch on you.[/box]

Once you suspend your disbelief, this is a atmospheric and clever film noir with Gene Tierney at her best and a wonderful Oscar-nominated turn by Clifton Webb.  If you have not seen the film, stop reading this immediately and watch it.  It is impossible to describe the plot without spoilers.

The story is told both as flashbacks and in real time.  Laura (Tierney) has been murdered in her apartment with a shotgun blast to the face.  We quickly become acquainted with two men who loved her, both of whom are prime suspects.  There is effete, acerbic columnist Waldo Lydecker (Webb) who more or less adopted Laura as his protege.  He describes her as almost an ethereal being, far superior to mere mortals but owing entirely to him for her connections and acquisition of culture.  Then there is the weak but charmingly Southern Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price) who was engaged to marry her.  He sees a different but just as glorified Laura.  The last person on the suspect list is Laura’s aunt, Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson) who is in love with Shelby herself.

Detective Mark MacPherson (Dana Andrews) becomes fascinated with Laura’s portrait and description in the course of his investigation.  One night, as he is dreaming in front of the portrait, Laura appears in the flesh.  She is nothing like what we would have imagined. Instead, she is a beautiful but no-nonsense career girl with a mind of her own.  And now she is another suspect in the murder of the woman whose body was found.  The rest of the movie follows the investigation.

This classic film noir features whip smart dialogue and a clever, if convoluted plot.  It also looks really gorgeous.  The performances, especially that of Webb, are excellent.  I can take or leave both Andrews and Tierney but they are both perfect for their parts here.  Yet somehow, while recognizing all its merits, this is not a favorite with me.  It might be that the story seems a bit too contrived or that the characters, while interesting, are not all that relatable with the exception of the living Laura.

Joseph LaShelle won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. Laura was nominated for four additional Academy Awards:  Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Webb); Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay and Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White.  How did this miss a nomination for its score?

Trailer