Classic 40s Movie: “Laura”
September is Classic 40s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Melinda Mahaffey Icden.
Title: Laura
Year: 1944
Writers: Screenplay by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein and Betty Reinhardt, based on the novel by Vera Caspary
Lead Actors: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price
Director: Otto Preminger
IMDb Plot Summary: A police detective falls in love with the woman whose murder he is investigating.
Why I Think This Is A Classic 40s Movie
Although Laura is technically a film noir whodunit, the mystery surrounding the murder of the title character is not terribly complicated or urgent. Rather, it’s a movie more powerfully about obsession, as the three main male characters try to transform the enchanting Laura into their version of the girl of their dreams. I think the film endures because of its stylish melancholy (with the portrait of Laura that hangs over everyone, the haunting theme song by David Raskin) and the mystery that’s never actually solved — what actually happens when Detective McPherson falls asleep in Laura’s apartment halfway through the movie?
My Favorite Moment In The Movie
During Laura’s “welcome back” cocktail party, Laura and her aunt discuss Laura’s fiancé. Ann is in love with him and wants Laura to give him up to her — but despite the intimacy of the conversation, the women don’t look at each other. Laura stares off into the distance while Ann applies lipstick, as if she’s asking about something as trivial as the weather. And yet, it’s the first time anyone in this movie has been honest with themselves or another. A very interesting use of subtext.
My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie
Laura’s mentor Waldo Lydecker delivers a number of zingers in the film. This is my favorite:
WALDO: Miss Hunt, I have something to say to you.
LAURA: You’ve already said it, Mr. Lydecker.
WALDO: I wish to point out that you caught me at my most difficult moment. Ordinarily, I am not without a heart.
LAURA: Really?
WALDO: Shall I produce X-ray pictures to prove it?
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie
Spoiler alert: Pay close attention to the midpoint, when Detective McPherson falls asleep in Laura’s apartment. What actually happens there, and how does it affect the rest of the film? It’s left up in the air for the audience to interpret, but I think McPherson’s line at the end of the movie is one key as he says goodnight to Laura: “Get some sleep, forget the whole thing like a bad dream.”
I appreciate how the dialogue and action work together in the final minutes of the film. As the murderer takes the gun from its hiding spot, Waldo’s radio broadcast about the world’s greatest lovers begins to play, and he opines that love is the strongest motivation for human actions throughout centuries. He continues: “Love is stronger than life, it reaches beyond the dark shadow of death.” In a few lines of dialogue, Laura is explained, while the murderer is simultaneously revealed through action.
Thanks, Melinda! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
We already have a set of classic 50s movies, 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 40s movies. And thanks to the GITS community, we’ve got 30 movies in the works, one for each day of the month!
Those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts. If you haven’t sent yours to me, please do so as soon as you can!!!
Act of Violence — Eric Rodriguez
Arsenic and Old Lace — Katha
Bicycle Thieves — Megaen Kelly
Brief Encounter — Emily Bonkoski
Casablanca — Paul Graunke
Double Indemnity — Susan Winchell
Five Graves to Cairo — Jeff Gibson
Foreign Correspondent — Doc Kane
His Girl Friday — John Henderson
It’s a Wonderful Life — David Laudenslager
Key Largo — Will King
Laura — Melinda Mahaffey Icden
Les enfants du paradis — Brendan Howley
Mrs. Miniver — Traci Nell Peterson
Notorious — Christine Henton
Now Voyager — Melissa Privette
Out of the Past — Brantley Aufill
Rope — Lance Morgan
The Bank Dick — Bob Saenz
The Best Years of Their Lives — Shaun Parker
The Big Sleep — Ipsita Barik
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir — Annie Wood
The Long Voyage Home — Vincent Martini
The Lost Weekend — Liz Warner
The Maltese Falcon — Roy Gordon
The Ox-Bow Incident — Clay Mitchell
The Philadelphia Story — Kristen Demaline
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock — David Joyner
The Third Man — Harry Cooke
To Have and Have Not — Felicity Flesher
Thanks to everyone who steps up for this ongoing project!
For the original post explaining the series, go here.
For all of the 40s movies featured in the series, go here.
Click REPLY and see you in comments about today’s classic 40s movie!