Laura Overview:

Laura (1944) was a Crime - Film Noir Film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and Otto Preminger and produced by Otto Preminger.

The film was based on the novel of the same name from & Colliers Serial "Ring Twice for Laura" written by Vera Caspary published in 1943 (novel); Oct - Nov 1942 (magazine).

Laura (1944)

SYNOPSIS

A classic noirish mystery with a consummate ensemble of actors. Andrews adroitly plays the detective who delves into the murder of the stunningly beautiful Laura (Tierney, in her signature role), with whom it seems everyone, including the detective himself, is understandably in love. But Webb steals the show as Laura's creepily elegant mentor, society columnist Waldo Lydecker. Based on the novel by Caspary, Preminger took over the direction of this compelling mystery classic, which was originally in the hands of Rouben Mamoulian. The restored video includes previously excised footage.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Laura was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1999.

Academy Awards 1944 --- Ceremony Number 17 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorClifton WebbNominated
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Lyle Wheeler, Leland Fuller; Interior Decoration: Thomas LittleNominated
Best CinematographyJoseph LaShelleWon
Best DirectorOtto PremingerNominated
Best WritingJay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, Betty ReinhardtNominated
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BlogHub Articles:

You're Invited! FILM NOIR STYLE Continues 6/25 at Aero with "The War Years" and LAURA

on Jun 15, 2023 From GlamAmor

On Sunday, June 25, my 4-part Film Noir Style series continues at the Aero Theatre with The War Years. After my presentation we will screen Laura (1944) with the luminous Gene Tierney and costumes by Bonnie Cashin. Sunday, June 25The War Years 1942-1945 and Laura (1944)2 pm presentation and screenin... Read full article


Day 19 of Noirvember: Happy birthday to Laura and Waldo!

By shadowsandsatin on Nov 19, 2019 From Shadows and Satin

November 19th was quite a day in the world of noir ? it gave us two of the stars of the film noir Laura (1944) ? Gene Tierney and Clifton Webb. Today?s Noirvember post celebrates this shadowy birthday duo and their road to the well-loved noir that they gave us. Gene Tierney Gene Eliza Tierney was bo... Read full article


book: After I’m Gone (2014) by Laura Lippman

By John Grant on Oct 29, 2019 From Noirish

The last two Laura Lippman books I’ve read I enthused about. Although I enjoyed After I’m Gone a fair amount, it didn’t seem to me to hit those same heights. In 1976 Baltimore numbers crook Felix Brewer fled a hefty prison rap, leaving behind his beloved bride Bambi, their three sm... Read full article


book: Looker (2019) by Laura Sims

By John Grant on Jun 10, 2019 From Noirish

The blurb to this book describes it as a “propulsive Hitchcockian thriller,” a comment that’s both grossly misleading and in some ways justified. To take the latter first, I can see the connection with classic tales of obsession like Boileau-Narcejac’s?Vertigo, which Hitchcoc... Read full article


book: I’d Know You Anywhere (2010) by Laura Lippman

By John Grant on Dec 16, 2018 From Noirish

I’ve been pretty lucky with my reading during 2018, taking things overall, so it’s a surprise that, halfway through December, I’ve encountered what may be my book of the year. I’m normally unhappy with genre pigeonholing except as a guiltily deployed shorthand, and all the wh... Read full article


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Quotes from

Waldo Lydecker: Love is eternal. It has been the strongest motivation for human actions throughout history. Love is stronger than life. It reaches beyond the dark shadow of death.


Mark MacPherson: On Saturday when our men went to the hotel to tell you that Laura Hunt was dead you seemed sincerely shocked.
Shelby Carpenter: I was. I hadn't expected that mistake.
Mark MacPherson: But you had your alibi ready no matter who was dead.


Waldo Lydecker: In my case, self-absorption is completely justified. I have never discovered any other subject quite so worthy of my attention.


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Facts about

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.
This movie is famous for the haunting "Laura Theme". When asked why she had turned down the part of Laura, Hedy Lamarr said, "They sent me the script, not the score."
One of the film's most durable legacies was its theme song "Laura," composed over one weekend by David Raksin. Otto Preminger had originally wanted to use Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady." According to Preminger biographer Gerald Pratley, Preminger tried to get the rights to George Gershwin's "Summertime" but was unable to.
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Best Cinematography Oscar 1944

















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National Film Registry

Laura

Released 1944
Inducted 1999
(Sound)




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