Laura (1944)

Director:

Otto Preminger
(more)

Writers:

Vera Caspary (novel)
Jay Dratler (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

November 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The story of a love that became the most fearful thing that ever happened to a woman!

Plot:

A police detective falls in love with the woman whose murder he's investigating.

Plot Keywords:

Investigation | Apartment | Detective | Murder | Shotgun

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Gene Tierney	...	Laura Hunt
Dana Andrews	...	Det. Lt. Mark McPherson
Clifton Webb	...	Waldo Lydecker
Vincent Price	...	Shelby Carpenter
Judith Anderson	...	Mrs. Ann Treadwell
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grant Mitchell	...	Lancaster Corey (scenes deleted)
Dorothy Adams	...	Bessie Clary, Laura's Maid (uncredited)
Terry Adams	...	Woman (uncredited)
Harry Carter	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Lane Chandler	...	Detective (uncredited)
Dorothy Christy	...	Woman (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Kay Connors	...	Woman (uncredited)
John Dexter	...	Jacoby, the Artist (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Det. Fred Callahan (uncredited)
Nestor Eristoff	...	Man (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick	...	Woman (uncredited)
Clyde Fillmore	...	Bullitt (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Det. McEveety (uncredited)
Lee Tung Foo	...	Waldo's Servant (uncredited)
William Forrest	...	Important Client (uncredited)
Frances Gladwin	...	Woman (uncredited)
Beatrice Gray	...	Woman (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Kathleen Howard	...	Louise, Ann's Cook (uncredited)
Yolanda Lacca	...	Woman (uncredited)
Frank LaRue	...	Hairdresser (uncredited)
Kay Linaker	...	Woman (uncredited)
Gloria Marlen	...	Woman (uncredited)
Thomas Martin	...	Butler at Party (uncredited)
Buster Miles	...	Office Boy (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Man (uncredited)
Jane Nigh	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Aileen Pringle	...	Woman (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Alexander Sascha	...	Man (uncredited)
Harold Schlickenmayer	...	Detective (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Man Dining with Laura (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Detective (uncredited)
Cara Williams	...	Secretary in Laura's Office (uncredited)
Eric Wilton	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Otto Preminger
Rouben Mamoulian		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Vera Caspary		(novel)
Jay Dratler		(screenplay) and
Samuel Hoffenstein		(screenplay) and
Elizabeth Reinhardt		(screenplay) (as Betty Reinhardt)
Ring Lardner Jr.		uncredited

Produced by
Otto Preminger	....	producer

Original Music by
David Raksin

Cinematography by
Joseph LaShelle
Lucien Ballard		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Louis R. Loeffler		(as Louis Loeffler)

Art Direction by
Leland Fuller
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little

Costume Design by
Bonnie Cashin

Makeup Department
Guy Pearce	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Dudley	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Robert Saunders	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Paul S. Fox	....	associate set decorator

Sound Department
Harry M. Leonard	....	sound
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects
Edwin Hammeras	....	transparency projection shots (uncredited)
Edward Snyder	....	transparency projection shots (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lloyd Ahern	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Frank Polony	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Emil Newman	....	musical director
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Murray Spivack	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Vinton Vernon	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Ruth Fox	....	research assistant (uncredited)
Frances C. Richardson	....	research director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1944) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1946) (France) (theatrical) (as Fox-Europa)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 (2004) | Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video re-rating) (2005) | UK:U (video rating) (1988) | USA:Approved (PCA #10088)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The character of Waldo Lydecker appears to be based on the columnist, broadcaster, and "New Yorker" theater critic Alexander Woollcott, a famous wit who, like Waldo, was fascinated by murder. Woollcott always dined at the Algonquin Hotel, where Laura first approaches Waldo.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Lydecker gets out of his tub and puts on his robe, the seat of the robe is already wet, suggesting that this was not the first take of this scene.

Quotes:

Waldo Lydecker: I don't use a pen. I write with a goose quill dipped in venom.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in About Adam (2000)

Soundtrack:

You Go to My Head

Classic Mystery With Wit & Style

"Laura" is a classic murder mystery and more. The main characters make for a fascinating psychological study, and the movie is also filled with wit and style, in addition to a murder mystery that holds plenty of interest in its own right.

The story opens with a detective (Dana Andrews) questioning suspects in the murder of popular, beautiful, and successful Laura Hunt. As he does, we learn not only about the suspects but about Laura herself, through flashbacks. We see Laura (Gene Tierney) develop the career and relationships that eventually led to danger, and we also learn that Laura meant something very different to each of the suspects: the snobbish, venomous writer who launched her career (Clifton Webb), the worthless playboy whom Laura was going to marry (Vincent Price, in a role quite different for him) and her rather desperate aunt (Judith Anderson). Even the detective quickly becomes obsessed with Laura's memory. The psychological overtones of all this add considerably to the mystery plot.

The mystery story itself is quite good, with interesting details and at least one major surprise along the way. The climax is tense and exciting, a fitting conclusion to both the mystery plot and the complex relationships among the characters. The acting and direction are all very good, and make the most of the story's possibilities.

"Laura" is a must-see not only for those who like mysteries, but for anyone who likes classic cinema made with style.