Laura, a 1955 american television film for the 20th centuryfox hour. The maltese falcon introduces elements that later became hallmarks of film noir in particular the alienated and amoral hero, thefemme fatale, and the dark and disturbed urban environment in which they live but it stops short of a purely noir outlook and visual representation. He favored clifton webb, a noted broadway actor who had not appeared before the cameras since 1930, and who at that time was performing in the. Laura by otto preminger gene tierney, dana andrews. In investigating a crime, a police officer often gets close to the victim, maybe a little too close in this famous film noir by director otto preminger.
Finally there was clifton webb, a broadway actor and dancer who preminger had to force zanuck to hire. Scholars can agree on different conventions that tie the films together, and much has been discussed about the role of the female in their plots. This is one of the few instances where the film outshines the book, but only because i adore gene tierney and much prefer the ending rewritten for the. When movies such as double indemnity, laura and murder, my sweet all 1944 saw delayed release in paris after the end of the second world war, critics likened them to the romans noirs of 1930s crime novelists such as raymond chandler, james m. With the classic elements of film noir cinematography darkness, shadows of blinds, etc. The primary literary influence on film noir was the hardboiled school of american detective and crime fiction, led in its early years by such writers as dashiell hammett whose first novel, red harvest, was published in 1929 and james m. Laura, a cool and collected lady, keeps her wits about her even with a shotgun pointing in her face. Laura, american film noir, released in 1944, that is considered a classic of the genre. Cain whose the postman always rings twice appeared five years later, and popularized in pulp magazines such as black mask. Produced in 1944, laura is one of the first film noir films and possibly one of the best. Fritz langs sad and nightmarish film noir the woman in the window 1944. Film noir, a classic film style of the 40s and 50s, is noted for its dark themes, stark camera angles and highcontrast lighting. The famous at least among noir fans alternate ending of laura 1944 has been a matter of confusion for many years.
Gene tierney as laura hunt is perfect, the role of your life. Laura full frame, dubbed, subtitled, digital theater. Today we look at otto premingers film of vera casparys laura. Best supporting actor clifton webb, best art direction and best screenplay. Otto premingers laura 1944 is one of the most beloved film noirs, not. Hear classic music from laura, 1944, directed by otto preminger, with gene tierney, dana andrews, clifton webb, at tcm. Go to movies old movies house paint interior interior design laura movie classic.
Coincidentally, 1944 was a good year for early noirbilly wilders double indemnity was also from that. Films released after 1959 should generally only be listed in the list of neo noir titles. Whether works since then can be accurately classed as noir is a subject of much debate among film critics. Mar 23, 2020 the art of film holds endless fascination.
The first film we looked at billy wilders adaptation of james m. Film noir is known for its convoluted plots and arbitrary twists, but even in a genre that gave us the maltese falcon, this takes some kind of prize. Its hard to say if its is a genre or style, and the elements of noir listed below do not all have to be present for the film to be considered noir. Where the wilder film revels in sunlit socal treachery, laura is all urbane east coast, and the tongues are, if anything, even sharper particularly where the waspish. Well, dropping the psychobit, it is quite a thriller in its way. Title screens are the initial titles, usually projected at the beginning of a film, and following the logos of the film studio. A definitive film noir classic, laura tells the shocking story of a park avenue society beauty murdered in her apartment, which. Nov 29, 20 even if you cant go along with that, there can be no disputing that it is the finest film noir of all time, though it was made in 1944, before the term film noir was even coined. Laura 1944 is one of the most stylish, elegant, moody, and witty classic film noirs. The original starred gene tierney, dana andwers, clifton. Early examples of the noir style include dark, stylized detective films such as john hustons the maltese falcon 1941, frank tuttles this gun for hire 1942, otto premingers laura 1944, and edward dmytryks murder, my sweet 1944.
The story makes little practical sense, even for a movie made in the 1940s, when the depiction of accurate police procedures wasnt allowed to get in the way of a cracking good yarn and a movie detectives breaking of the rules usually painted him as a bad guy rather than a maverick. See more ideas about laura 1944, gene tierney, laura. I kind of wish theyd made his falling in love with her a little bit more gradual, and that they. Laura, otto preminger film analysis senses of cinema. In the world of film noir, one standard character is the femme fatale, the manipulative seductress whose machinations lead to the hero s destruction. Gene tierney, dana andrews, clifton webb, vincent price, judith anderson. The script is wellwritten, and contains all of the suspense dialogue and plot twists typical of the genre. It stars gene tierney, dana andrews and clifton webb along with vincent price and judith anderson.
Directors used this to great effect, putting angular actors in sharp shafts of light. Laura, an american film noir directed by otto preminger and starring gene tierney. With gene tierney, dana andrews, clifton webb, vincent price. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. American film noir went through a relatively fallow period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, when the first wave of neonoirs began cropping up in theaters. Waldo maintains a calm, if suppressed, air even while pointing a. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Laura 1944 is one of the most stylish, elegant, moody, and witty classic film noirs ever made with an ensemble cast of characters. A police detective falls in love with the woman whose murder he is investigating. Laura, 1944 film noir for mod movie monday tiki lounge. The us release of laura followed a month on from double indemnity, in the autumn of 1944 gathering momentum, this delicious new taste in film thriller was here to stay. Double indemnity, laura, murder my sweet, phantom lady, when strangers marry, and the woman in the window.
Lauraboth the 1944 film and the immortal david raksin score that supports and, in the opinion of some, lends it classic statusis the ultimate in noirish hollywood glamour. Laura 1944 has a detective who never goes to the station. Film noiralthough the extensive literary origins of film noir have been traced to the gothic novel of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This page was last edited on 9 december 2014, at 00.
Preminger fought to cast the diminutive actor in the role, for reasons that soon become obvious. Otto premingers film noir laura 1944 is one of those movies that really shouldnt be as good as it is. Comprising many of hollywoods finest films, film noir tells realistic stories about crime, mystery, femme fatales and moral conflict. I love everything about this film, from cast to costume to set design to music i was introduced to laura in one of my film classes in college. This paper argues that otto premingers film laura 1944 is an excellent example of film noir and shares many of the attributes of genre, especially in regards to its characters, cinematography, moodatmosphere, narrative devices, and music. The whole is expertly directed by otto preminger at his creative best. 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. Robinson who gets caught up in a murderblackmail plot with alice reed joan bennett, whose portrait is on display next door to his social club. Producer otto preminger ultimately ended up directing the film, after filming was begun by rouben mamoulian and his cinematographer lucien ballard. Film noir, and the literature from which it is drawn, is clearly the progenitor of later genres, particularly cyberpunk. Written by ginger ingenue her website is must read. The final shooting script for laura, dated april 18, 1944, with additions as late as july 1944. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of film noirs landmark year, were looking at the six key films of 1944. Murder, my sweet helped dick powell known as a song and dance man in film up to this point change his screen persona to a toughtalking film noir hero in many movies and television shows afterward.
In turn based on the 1942 crime serial collected as a novel in 1943 by vera caspary, the original film stars dana andrews as a. Several years ago, i even managed to track down a copy of the novel. A week later, daily variety reported that ring lardner jr. Although that matter was beautifully cleared for its biggest part in the september 1978 special preminger issue of the french magazine lavantscene in an article written by jacques lourcelles, based on the translation and meticulous study of laura. Otto premingers laura, the film noir classic, and the. Mar 15, 2010 laura holds the top spot on my list of favorite movies. They are often an ignored aspect of films, although they reflect the time period or era of the film, the mood or design of the film, and much more. American actor, a handsome leading man who appeared in such films of the 1940s. Film noir was created by french film critics who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes of many american crime and detective films released in france were following the war such as the titles of.
Several years ago, i even managed to track down a copy of the novel by vera caspary which is a great read, by the way. Otto premingers laura turns the film noir on its ear while still weaving. On one hand, its stylistic features are easily codifieda morally ambiguous hero caught in a bind, a femme fatale, labyrinthine flashbacks, and highcontrast black. Like no other film, laura is the perfect proof that cinema can be the purest form of art. Film noir is a style or genre of film from the 1940s50s marked by a mood of pessimism,fatalism and menace. With its collection of decadent new yorkers embroiled in a murder mystery, otto premingers hit laura 1944 stands as an early, elegantly crafted film noir. Both films discussed in this post, as well as other film noir classics, are available at the unt media library collection. Laura was the first movie with gene tierney laura that i saw when i was a child. As he tries to get inside the head of the victim, laura hunt gene tierney, he also questions the men in her life the acerbic critic waldo lydecker clifton webb and. With rich, involving characters and a plot that features terrific twists and turns, it becomes a lively little murder mystery. Laura 1944 is an excellent murder mysteryfilm noir. Gene tierneys apartment in laura, 1944 one of my favorite movie homes. But there are a series of superb films in the noir style that aim for different portrayals of female characters, and well be exploring some of them in this online meetup.
Aug 29, 2019 film noir literally translates to black cinema and french critics used it to describe hollywood movies that were saturated with darkness and pessimism not seen before. Laura 1944 is an excellent murder mystery film noir. The golden age of film noir the cinema of the disenchanted. The movie was adapted from the successful novel of the same name by american author vera caspary. Every line thats being said in laura is a highlight, every facial expression made is a stunning one. I enjoyed the second viewing better than the first.
The cinematography of film noir embraces the black and white outcome. L overs of 1940s hollywood and of course movielovers in general should savour every last drop of this rerelease, directed by otto preminger, made in. A sterling example of a film noir, laura continues to sparkle 60 years after its creation. Feb 05, 20 the woman in the window 1944 is a tale about a mildmannered professor, richard wanley edward g. Banned in occupied countries during the war, these films became available throughout. Otto premingers laura, the film noir classic, and the analogies. Aug 24, 2010 colossus and the headhunters 1963 kirk morris, laura brown, demeter bitenc feature action, adventure, romance. Film noir literally translates to black cinema and french critics used it to describe hollywood movies that were saturated with darkness and pessimism not seen before. Even our point of access to the narrative remains fluid and ambiguous. It is trite but true to note that men and women love the movies because, for a brief time, they get to experience the largerthanlife existence of the hero or the heroine on screen as if it were their own. The heroes of noir generally share certain qualities, such as moral ambiguity, a fatalistic outlook, and alienation from society.
Laura 1944 gene tierney, dana andrews and clifton webb laura is a classic and classy film noir, a highly entertaining murder mystery with a witty script and first class cast. Film noir is known for its convoluted plots and arbitrary twists, but even in a genre. Movie title screens classic film noir the 1940s and 1950s. One of thirteen children, including fellow actor steve forrest, he was a son of annis speed and charles forrest andrews, a baptist minister. Some might be more familiar with the otto preminger film noir by the same name. Laura 1944 unt media library dvd 9636 click image for laura tcm trailer page femme fatales and cynics are common characters in film noir.
The maltese falcon 1944, double indemnity 1944, the. In the world of film noir, one standard character is the femme fatale, the manipulative seductress whose machinations lead to the heros destruction. Premingers laura is a fabulous film noir with a level of perversity not typically. Its beyond dispute otto premingers 1944 film noir laura is a stone cold classic, so of course its going to be remade.
She had a tiny head, delicate for even that thin body, and the tilt of it along with the bright shyness of her slightly oblique dark eyes further contributed to the sense that bambi or bambis doe had escaped from the forest and galloped up the eighteen flights to this apartment. I have watched the movie laura 1944 so many times that even my absentminded mother has begun to object. Passed 1h 28min drama, filmnoir, mystery november 1944 usa. Ray milland proves a wonderful lead in this thriller as he is the antithesis of a hardboiled noir hero, getting caught up in a murder plot where he is simultaneously being chased and looking for the real culprit. But i dont think laura truly enters film noir territory until waldo relinquishes the film s narration. Laura is a 1944 american film noir produced and directed by otto preminger. A perfect film with better music david raksin that movies ever made. Charade no pretender, and laura a top example of film noir. Because the 1940s and 1950s are universally regarded as the classic period of american film noir, films released prior to 1940 are listed under the caption precursors early noir like films. But in the debates over the years following the era, many ideas about film noir have been discussed in great detail. Its hard to say if its is a genre or style, and the elements of noir listed below. The mystery of lauras first ending preminger films noirs. This movie contains many of the elements of a classic film noira femme fatale, murder, intrigue.
The film reacts against the dominant ideology of society. The painting of laura watches over mark as he drowns his sorrows. Overview a definitive film noir classic, laura tells the shocking story of a park avenue society beauty murdered in her apartment, which brings detective mark mcpherson dana andrews to new yorks most elegant neighborhood. Early film noirs double indemnity, laur a and murder, my sweet were all released near the end of 44 and all were box office hits.
What was even more surprising is the lack of academic papers written on this particular noirs important undertones, as it seems that most articles concerned with homosexual content tend to focus on laura 1944, farewell, my lovely 1940 and the maltese falcon 1941. The movie, which was directed by otto preminger, is notable as both a. Laura full frame, dubbed, subtitled, digital theater system. The hero and heroine, on the other hand, are cardboard. Dana andrews embodies the most cynical and romantic detective of the movies. Interestingly, the film of laura, despite its tale of murder and the neuroses displayed by several characters, maintains a civilized air. I was introduced to laura in one of my film classes in college. But i dont think laura truly enters film noir territory until waldo relinquishes the film s narration, allowing mark to become the official viewpoint character.
Film noir is a genre of stylish crime dramas, difficult to define, but the 1940s and 50s were the classic period. Laura 1944 is elegance incarnate in a genre known for its hard edge, the sleekest, silkiest noir of all. The slinky, slippery woman who traps the male hero with her wily ways is the fatal female. How did the maltese falcon help craft the noir film genre. Laura, by miss vera caspary, is a psychothriller, the wrapper tells me. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world war ii, such as the maltese falcon 1941, murder, my sweet 1944, double indemnity 1944, the. Although the hardboiled detective is the stereotypical noir hero, the central male characters in film. Zanuck issued his stinging critique of jay dratlers draft of laura. Premingers lowkey approach to a story of lethal obsession allows the suggestions of sexual deviance emanating from clifton webbs epicene critic lydecker, dana andrewss cynical yet besotted necrophiliac cop, and the pragmatic vincent.
But i dont think laura truly enters film noir territory until waldo relinquishes the films narration, allowing mark to become the official viewpoint character. God save the seventh art and protect copies of laura for eternity. Laura is one of the quintessential examples of film noir that has endured as a classic for over 70 years. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world war ii, such as the maltese falcon 1941. While it started out as a bpicture, its polish came about as the result of a series of happy accidents, second choices and great talent that helped elevate its status on all levels. Laura, preminger, 1944 interrogation scene youtube. Detective falls for a picture of a girl that was allegedly murdered but, turns up alive. Jan 14, 2019 even our point of access to the narrative remains fluid and ambiguous. Film noir as a genre is still debated by film scholars to this day. How did the maltese falcon help craft the noir film. Jan 20, 2002 film noir is known for its convoluted plots and arbitrary twists, but even in a genre that gave us the maltese falcon, this takes some kind of prize.
Laura, 1944 film noir for mod movie monday tiki lounge talk. American leading man of the 1940s and 1950s, dana andrews was born carver dana andrews on new years day 1909 on a farmstead outside collins, covington county, mississippi. They also exhibit an existential acceptance of random, arbitrary occurrences as being the determining factors in life. Oct 31, 2017 in investigating a crime, a police officer often gets close to the victim, maybe a little too close in this famous film noir by director otto preminger.