This movie had me watching it again and again... and again. I adore it. And, in fact, as you watch it you will realize that, indeed, everyone adores Laura.
Police detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is investigating the murder of beautiful and highly successful advertising executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). He interviews several people related to her, including a newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), her aunt (Judith Anderson) and her fiancée (Vincent Price). As the investigation progresses he becomes obsessed with Laura herself, but - what is a good movie without its fair share of surprises?
Although I wasn't particularly fond of Dana Andrews in this one (can't exactly say why, though; probably of the character itself), I loved Gene Tierney - one of the most beautiful actresses I've ever seen - and Clifton Webb was fantastic. I've already seen three or four movies in which Gene Tierney and Vincent Price act together and I've noticed that in all of them, he is always the jilted lover. Curious pattern!
There is something in this movie which just fascinated me. In fact, I felt the adoration that all characters have for Laura. Here is an intriguing information I read in wikipedia:
"Zanuck was unhappy with Preminger's first cut of the film and insisted it be given a new ending, in which it was revealed Lydecker had imagined the entire story. Following a screening of the Zanuck version, columnist Walter Winchell approached the studio head and told him, "I didn't get [the ending]. You've got to change it." Zanuck relented and allowed Preminger to reinstate his original finale, telling him, "This is your success. I concede."
I must agree - the ending is very good as it is.
The soundtrack is one of my favourite things, too: I think the theme fits perfectly in the whole ethereal ambiance of the movie. It is by David Raskin, and many other artists performed it, one of my favourites being Ella Fitzgerald singing it, which you can find on youtube.
Here is a trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6f8jRplej8
It was nominated for four oscars: Best Actor in a supporting role (Clifton Webb; absolutely agreed), Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Best Director, Best Writer; and won one: Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.
It is a film noir of 1944 by Otto Preminger. And I highly recommend it!
See you soon for more. Hope you like the blog up to now, and remember, feedback is always more than welcome :)
