Laura (1944)

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

Laura movie storyline. Based on the novel by Vera Caspary. A great murder-mystery film noir, about the supposed murder of the beautiful title heroine, ad executive femme fatale Laura Hunt, with a shotgun blast to the face. The film opens with voice-over narration by acidic, cynical newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker (Webb), Laura’s patron / mentor: “I shall never forget the weekend Laura died…”

New York City Police Department detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is investigating the murder of a beautiful and highly successful advertising executive, Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). Laura has apparently been killed by a shotgun blast to the face, just inside the doorway of her apartment.

He first interviews charismatic newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), an imperious, effete dandy, who relates how he met Laura and became her mentor. She had become his platonic friend and steady companion and he used his considerable fame, influence, and connections to advance her career.

McPherson also questions Laura’s parasitic playboy fiancé, Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), a “kept man” and companion of her wealthy socialite aunt, Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson). Treadwell is tolerant of her niece’s infatuation with Shelby, which appears to be out of her practical acceptance of Shelby’s need for the affection of a woman who is his own age. All the while, Treadwell is carrying on with Carpenter and giving him money. Detective McPherson finally questions Laura’s loyal housekeeper, Bessie Clary (Dorothy Adams).

Through the testimony of her friends, and the reading of her letters and diary, McPherson becomes obsessed with Laura, so much so that Lydecker finally accuses him of falling in love with the dead woman. He also learns that Lydecker was jealous of Laura’s suitors, using his newspaper column and influence to keep them at bay.

Laura is a 1944 American film noir produced and directed by Otto Preminger. It stars Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb along with Vincent Price and Judith Anderson. The screenplay by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein and Betty Reinhardt is based on the 1943 novel Laura by Vera Caspary.

In 1999, Laura was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. AFI named it one of the 10 best mystery films of all time, and it also appears on Roger Ebert’s “Great Movies” series.

Directed by: Otto Preminger
Starring: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson, Grant Mitchell, Dorothy Adams, Terry Adams, Wally Albright, Bobby Barber, Gary Breckner, Lane Chandler, Dorothy Christy
Screenplay by: Jay Dratler
Cinematography by: Joseph LaShelle, Lucien Ballard
Film Editing by: Louis R. Loeffler
Costume Design by: Bonnie Cashin
Set Decoration by: Thomas Little
Art Direction by: Leland Fuller, Lyle R. Wheeler
Music by: David Raksin
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 11, 1944