This adaptation of Vera Caspary's suspense novel was begun by director Rouben Mamoulien and cinematographer Lucien Ballard, but thanks to a complex series of backstage intrigues and hostilities, the film was ultimately credited to director Otto Preminger and cameraman Joseph LaShelle (who won an Oscar for his efforts). At the outset of the film, it is established that the title character, Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney), has been murdered. Tough New York detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the killing, ...
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This adaptation of Vera Caspary's suspense novel was begun by director Rouben Mamoulien and cinematographer Lucien Ballard, but thanks to a complex series of backstage intrigues and hostilities, the film was ultimately credited to director Otto Preminger and cameraman Joseph LaShelle (who won an Oscar for his efforts). At the outset of the film, it is established that the title character, Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney), has been murdered. Tough New York detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the killing, methodically questioning the chief suspects: Waspish columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), wastrel socialite Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), and Carpenter's wealthy "patroness" Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson). The deeper he gets into the case, the more fascinated he becomes by the enigmatic Laura, literally falling in love with the girl's painted portrait. As he sits in Laura's apartment, ruminating over the case and his own obsessions, the door opens, the lights switch on, and in walks Laura Hunt, very much alive! To tell any more would rob the reader of the sheer enjoyment of watching this stylish film noir unfold on screen. Everything clicks in Laura, from the superbly bitchy peformance of Clifton Webb (a veteran Broadway star who became an overnight movie favorite with this film) to the haunting musical score by David Raskin. Long available only in the 85-minute TV version Laura has since been restored to its original 88-minute running time. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of Laura to cart. $2.98, good condition, Sold by Goodwill Southern California rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by 20th Century Fox.
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Disk is in good condition with minor to no wear. All disks are refinished to improve condition as needed. Case and artwork are in good condition with no tears or cracks. Thank you for shopping Goodwill Southern California. Your purchase helps create jobs and transforms lives through the power of work.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $3.37, good condition, Sold by GW Spokane Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Spokane, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by 20th Century Fox.
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Condition: GOOD-Disc(s) used with some wear from use. May include minor surface scratches on disc(s), wear to case which could include cracks, scratches, or stickers. Hub and case locks may be broken. Digital codes NOT guaranteed/may be redeemed. All orders ship via UPS Mail Innovations-can take up to 14 business days from first scan to be delivered.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $3.39, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by 20th Century Fox.
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Good. Disc(s) and case show moderate signs of wear and tear. If applicable, digital code may not be useable/ included. May be missing booklet/inserts. If applicable, cardboard slipcover may not be included.
Add this copy of Laura (Fox Film Noir) to cart. $3.40, like new condition, Sold by Central Valley Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fresno, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by 20th Century Fox.
Add this copy of Laura (Fox Film Noir) to cart. $3.40, good condition, Sold by Open Books Ltd rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by 20th Century Fox.
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Dorothy Adams, Lane Chandler, Grant Mitchell, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney. Good. 1944 Run time: 87. Previous owner's name taped on front. Otherwise fine. Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that provides literacy experiences for thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and creative capitalization of books.
Add this copy of Laura (Fox Film Noir) to cart. $3.41, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by 20th Century Fox.
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Dorothy Adams, Lane Chandler, Grant Mitchell, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney. Very good. 2005 Run time: 87. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $3.46, fair condition, Sold by Seattle Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by 20th Century Fox.
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Add this copy of Laura (Fox Film Noir) to cart. $3.50, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by 20th Century Fox.
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Dorothy Adams, Lane Chandler, Grant Mitchell, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney. Very good. 2005 Run time: 87. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Laura (Fox Film Noir) to cart. $3.74, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by 20th Century Fox.
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Dorothy Adams, Lane Chandler, Grant Mitchell, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney. Very good. 2005 Run time: 87. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $3.74, good condition, Sold by Goodwill Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hillsboro, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by 20th Century Fox.
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Good. May have very light or no surface scratches. Case and cover artwork are included but may show minimal signs of wear. If applicable: Digital copy or ultraviolet codes may be expired or not included. Slipcover may not be included.
Very Caspary's 1943 book "Laura" became a classic mystery novel. Caspary's "Laura"was included as the first book in a two-volume collection of women's crime fiction from the 1940s and 1950s published in 2015 by the Library of America in an outstanding anthology edited by Sarah Weinman.. "Women Crime Writers: Eight Suspense Novels of the 1940s & 50s: A Library of America Boxed Set." The LOA anthology gave me my first opportunity to get to know Laura and inspired me to look further,
In 1944, Otto Preminger directed this famous film based on Caspary's novel. The film included music composed by David Raksin, including a melody called "Laura's Theme" played when the heroine was at the center of attention . Johnny Mercer wrote lyrics for the music after the film's success and the resulting song "Laura" became even more famous than Caspary's book or Preminger's film. Laura and her story in their three-fold interpretations have become part of American culture.
"Laura" is a detective story and who-done-it, but it is also much more. It quickly becomes transformed into a romance and a character study. Laura is a beautiful, ambitious young career woman in New York City who has attained hard-won success in advertising but who is lonely and searching for love. The hard-boiled detective assigned to investigate her apparent murder falls in love with what her learns of Laura during the course of his investigation. If is difficult not to do the same. Laura's independence, beauty, and need for love all remain part of many Americans' vision of themselves.
In Preminger's movie, Gene Tierney plays the title character while Dana Andrews plays the detective, Mark McPherson. Suspects for the crime include Waldo Lydecker played by Clifton Webb, an older, crusty columnist and Shelby Carpenter, played by Vincent Price, a playboy to whom the lonely Laura has become engaged. Laura's maid Bessie (Dorothy Adams) and Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson) another love interest of Carpenter. also play important roles in the film.
The film follows the course of McPherson's investigation and gradually builds in intensity. In a famous moment in the film, McPherson who has taken to coming to Laura's apartment in the evenings, sits beneath her radiant portrait painted by a former suitor when the taken for dead Laura walks in. The task of identifying the killer and the dead woman become more pressing as does the budding love between Laura and McPherson.
The film has become an American classic in its own right through its acting, music, and portrayal of Laura and McPherson. The film is a romance which shows love in a tarnished, materialistic world. Vera Caspary, the author of the book, was politically a radical but her story captures something that spoke to many people and became an ideal.. Each interpretation of Laura, novel, film, and song captures something of her and of American art. I was moved by Preminger's film both for itself, and in thinking about Laura in the related contexts of Caspary's novel and the Raskin/Mercer popular song.