Laura (1944)

 

Laura - 1944

Coming up next is 1944's film noir classic "Laura", a story that revolves around the investigation of the murder of a young woman.  The detective in charge of the case finds himself falling in love with the victim.

The film's cast includes Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson, Dorothy Adams, Kathleen Howard, and Bess Flowers.

In New York City, a beautiful young woman, Miss Laura Hunt, has been murdered (shot in the face point blank with a shotgun).  On the case is Lt. Detective Mark McPherson, who interviews several suspects.

The first is popular columnist Waldo Lydecker, a sort of mentor and beaux of Laura.  When asked about his relationship with Laura, Waldo says, "Laura considered me the wisest, the wittiest, the most interesting man she’d ever met.  I was in complete accord with her on that point."

Waldo tells of how he got Laura her start in the business world.  He advised her on fashion and how to improve herself in society.  She became immensely popular socially.  But he loved best the nights when they would stay in and he would read to her from his upcoming column.  "The way she listened was more eloquent than speech," he says dreamily.

Another suspect is Laura's fiancé, Shelby Carpenter, whom Waldo thoroughly dislikes.  Mark asks Shelby if he knows a lot about certain subjects.  Shelby replies, "I don’t know a lot about anything, but I know a little about practically everything."

We see how Shelby and Laura met.  Their courtship was like a whirlwind.  Laura can't help but succumb to Shelby's charms.

Other suspects include Laura's aunt, Ann, the inheritor of her possessions.  Mark suspects her because Ann has designs on Shelby and has transferred quite a bit of money to him.

There's also Laura's maid Bessie, who rearranged things at the crime scene before the police could get there.  She's also not very polite to the police.

As Mark gathers the suspects, he finds he's no nearer to uncovering Laura's murderer, but he doesn't let them in on that information.  He prefers that they think he's hot on the trail of the killer.

However, as Mark works through the details of the case, he becomes captivated by Laura's portrait.  He even finds himself falling in love with her.  Waldo notices this and says, "You better watch out, McPherson, or you’ll wind up in a psychiatric

ward.  I don’t think they’ve ever had a patient who fell in love with a corpse."

One evening, after thinking through some things, having a drink and falling asleep on a comfortable chair in Laura's apartment, Mark is stunned, after awakening, to find Laura walk through the door.

Confused about what's going on, Laura explains that she's been away in the country for the past few days and didn't have access to any newspaper or radio bulletins.  We also find out that the person who was murdered has been identified (the coroner calls and confirms the victim's identity).

Now, Mark and Laura must work together to uncover who the murderer is and why they want Laura dead.

Next comes the task of telling the suspects that Laura is alive.  Each reacts differently.  Shelby isn't surprised.  Bessie is scared out of her mind.  And Waldo collapses on the floor.  We aren't shown Ann's reaction.  Now comes the waiting period...waiting for the killer to make their move.

As the investigation continues, Mark finds himself falling in love with the very much alive Laura.  And the feeling is entirely mutual.

Eventually, the killer is revealed, and Laura is completely shocked.  I won't tell you who it is.  You'll have to watch for yourself.

Cast rundown:

   Gene Tierney..................................Laura Hunt

   Dana Andrews................................Det. Lt. Mark McPherson

   Clifton Webb..................................Waldo Lydecker

   Vincent Price..................................Shelby Carpenter

   Judith Anderson.............................Ann Treadwell

   Dorothy Adams...............................Bessie Clary

   Kathleen Howard............................Louise

   Bess Flowers..................................Party Guest

And that's it for Laura.  Vincent Price considered this the finest movie he ever made.  Gene Tierney did not want to make this hugely popular film.  However, contractual obligations saw that she made it anyway.  Rosalind Russell was offered the role of Laura.  She felt that the part was too small and turned it down.  In 2001, "Laura" was included on the "100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies" list put out by the American Film Institute.

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