Product Details

• Actors: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Prince, Judith Anderson
• Directors: Otto Preminger
• Producers: Otto Preminger
• Format: Black & White
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00280BVDU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,950 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A classic noirish mystery with a consummate ensemble of actors. Dana Andrews adroitly plays the detective who delves into the murder of the stunningly beautiful Laura, with whom it seems everyone, including the detective himself, is in love. But Webb steals the show as the titular ingenue's creepily elegant social mentor, Waldo Lydecker. Based on the novel by Vera Caspary. Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Director. Academy Awards: Best (Black-and-White) Cinematography.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Film Noir Must-See, August 2, 2009

By	SJW "Wood Widow" (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This is a lovely film, with a young Vincent Price in an atypical role as a spineless social climber, Clifton Webb as a cynical, slimy society columnist, Dana Andrews as the tough, no-nonsense cop with good instincts and looks to match, and Gene Tierney as the beautiful, mysterious Laura. Anyone who loves classic films or film noir should see it. I am surprised that no on has reviewed the film before this, because it really is good. Otto Preminger directed this stylish film. In true film noir style, it uses light and shadows to good effect. The set design and costumes are sumptuous, and the theme song is a lush, beautiful piece that suites the film well, and has since become something of a jazz standard.

In the story, Laura is loved by three men, but each of them have their own distinct reasons for loving her, and for each of them that love is self-serving. To them, Laura isn't just a woman, but is a symbol of something each of them wants. This movie is a mystery with romance, but the romance is less than pure. Just as film noir uses light and darkness to convey an atmosphere, the movie shows the light and the dark sides of love to show human nature. But mainly it is good entertainment, and fun to watch Clifton Webb's being catty, and Vincent Price in something that is not a horror film.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Classic Film Noir, September 1, 2009

By	L. K Reyes (Warrenton, Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a classic and very realistic seeming film noir featuring a very convincing Dana Andrews as a thorough detective and Gene Tierney has a very pretty career woman. The plot centers around discovering who murdered Gene Tierney's character of Laura, however, the twist comes in when it turns out she wasn't the one killed after all. A very classic murder mystery, The acting all throughout the movie was very well done and the plot outcome very believable. Five out of five!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Always Amazed If A Film Fanatic Hasn't Seen Laura, September 23, 2009

By	carol irvin "c.k. irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Years ago we used to go to an old theater that was an art and nostalgia theater. The owner was a professor and he gave lectures about the movies preceding them which were wonderful. We spent at least ten years there catching up on cinema. One of our earliest film fanatic discoveries was LAURA. He told us our film ouvre was sadly deficient lacking this film.

Otto Preminger was a first rate film director. There isn't a wasted second on his picture. There is the absolutely gorgeous Gene Tierney who plays Laura. She was also a very good actress. Not too far into the movie, Laura is murdered . The detective assigned to the case is the handsome, magnetic Dana Andrews. He begins by sifting through Laura's apartment. There is a big portrait of her looking down at him almost everywhere he turns. He starts mourning the loss of such a woman as he tries to find clues to the suspect. Then the movie takes a 180 degree twist.

I've watched it several times since, even knowing the twist and the resolution, and surprisingly, it holds up each time.