Laura (Fox Film Noir) (1944)
One of the great classic Hollywood movies, Laura (1944) is a stylish film noir with an exceptional cast that includes Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, and Judith Anderson and elegantly directed by Otto Preminger.
Nominated for five Academy Awards, this stylish mystery thriller twists and turns with new suspects, new evidence and unexpected revelations.
Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the murder of a beautiful advertising director named Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). He interviews acerbic newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), who relates how he met Laura. Lydecker became her mentor and used his considerable influence and fame to advance her career. McPherson also questions Laura’s fiancé, Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), her wealthy aunt, Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson), and Laura’s loyal housekeeper, Bessie Clary (Dorothy Adams).
Through the testimony of her friends and the reading of her letters, McPherson comes to know Laura and slowly falls in love with the dead woman, particularly through her portrait. He becomes obsessed — using the excuse of trying to solve the murder, he hangs around her apartment and is at one point accused by Lydecker of falling in love with a dead woman.
One night, he falls asleep under her portrait. He is awakened by the sound of someone entering the apartment. Laura appears, like a dream or a ghost. After recovering from the shock, McPherson determines that the murder victim was actually Diane Redfern, an advertising agency model accused by Lydecker of having an affair with Shelby. So if you are up on some suspense/detective story, Laura is a definitely a sure ball!