The 80th Anniversary of Laura (1944)

It was on this day in 1944 that Laura, directed by Otto Preminger, premiered in New York City. Upon its release Laura received positive reviews and was was nominated or won several awards. The film also did well at the box office. It has since become regarded as one of the most iconic film noirs. Few are as well-respected or as well-known.

In Laura New York City police detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the murder of young, beautiful Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). As he does so, he becomes fascinated by the late, beautiful woman. Even more so than many film noirs that followed it, much of Laura was told in flashback.

The origins of the movie can ultimately be traced back to a play titled Ring Twice for Laura by Vera Caspary. Vera Caspary's agent offered Ring Twice for Laura to Otto Preminger, who not only directed and produced movies, but theatrical productions as well. Otto Preminger and Vera Caspary had disagreements over the play, and in the end, it would not be produced. Vera Caspary then adapted her own script as a novel. The novel was serialized in Colliers under the title Ring Twice for Laura in 1942. It was later published as a book, simply titled Laura, by Houghton  Mifflin.

With the novel a success, Vera Caspary was able to sell the film rights two 20th Century Fox. William Goetz was then in charge of the studio while Darryl F. Zanuck was serving in the military. He assigned  the project adaptation Laura as a film to Otto Preminger. Given his prior experience with Vera Caspary regarding the play Ring Twice for Laura, he did not include her in writing the first draught fo the screenplay, instead working with writers Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt.

When Darryl F. Zanuck returned to 20th Century Fox, he upon discovering William Goetz had assigned Otto Preminger to the project. Darryl F. Zanuck and Otto Preminger had not gotten along since clashing over Kidnapped in 1938. While Mr. Zanuck allowed Mr. Preminger to produce Laura, he would not allow Otto Preminger to direct the movie. Laura was offered to various directors, including Walter Lang and Lewis Milestone, who all turned it down. Eventually Rouben Mamoulian agreed to direct Laura. From the beginning Otto Preminger's relationship with Otto Preminger was difficult. Mr. Mamoulian changed costume and sets without asking Otto Preminger. He also began re-writing the script.

Perhaps making matters worse, both Darryl F. Zannuck and Rouben Mamoulian wanted Laird Creger for the role of newspaper columnist Walter Lydecker. Otto Preminger disagreed as he thought Mr. Cregar was too well known for playing villainous roles and audiences would be suspicious of the character from the beginning. According to an aritcle in the August 3 1942 issue of The Los Angeles Times, George Sanders, John Sutton, and Monty Woolley were all in the running for the role of Lydecker. As to Otto Preminger, he wanted Clifton Webb for the role. Both Darryl F. Zanuck and Rufus Lemaire, objecting to the casting of Clifton Webb as they felt his mannerisms were effeminate. To prove Clifton Webb could play the role, Otto Preminger then filmed Clifton Webb delivering a monologue from a Noel Coward play. Darryl F. Zanuck then relented and Clifton Webb was cast as Waldo Lydecker.

As to detective Mark McPherson, according to Otto Preminger in his autobiography, Darryl F. Zanuck originally wanted John Hodiak for the role. An item in the October 28 1943 issue of The Hollywood Reporter claimed that 20th Century Fox was negotiating with George Raft to play the role. Darryl Zanuck wanted Reginald Gardiner for the role of Laura's fiancé Shelby Carpenter. Otto Preminger ultimately hired Vincent Price for the role, having worked with the actor on the Broadway play Outward Bound in 1938.

As to the all important role of Laura, Jennifer Jones was initially cast in the role. As it turned out, she did not show up for work on April 24 1944. As a result, 20th Century Fox threatened legal action against her. It was then that Daniel T. O'Shea, executive director of the Selznick Studio (to whom Jennifer Jones was under contract) claimed the Selznick Studio's contract with 20th Century Fox had the stipulation that the films to which she was assigned be "consistent with her standing" as an Academy Award winner. He went onto claim that Laura was not worthy of Miss Jones. Ultimately, the lawsuit would be settled and Jennifer Jones would not play Laura Hunt, although she did play the title role in 20th Century Fox's Cluny Brown (1946). Hedy Lamar also turned down the role before Gene Tierney was cast as Laura.

Director Rouben Mamoulian would not last long on the set of Laura. Darryl F. Zanuck was not pleased with the dailies he saw, and after about two weeks Rouben Mamoulian was fired. Mr. Zanuck then relented and allowed Otto Preminger to direct Laura. He started entirely form scratch. He hired both a new cinematographer, and even scrapped the sets. Among other things he scrapped was the all-important portrait of Laura. Otto Preminger had an entirely new one done. Even the footage that Rouben Mamoulian had shot was scrapped.

Laura received positive reviews from critics. The October 12 1944 review of the film in The New York Times concluded with, "Anyway, the picture on the whole is close to being a top drawer mystery." Variety also gave the film good marks, their brief review stating among other things, "The film's deceptively leisurely pace at the start, and its light, careless air, only heighten the suspense without the audience being conscious of the buildup." Not only did Laura receive critical acclaim, but it was also a success at the box office. The film turned both Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews into stars. It also established Otto Preminger as a top-rank director.

Laura was nominated for the Oscars for Best Actor in Supporting Role for Clifton Webb; Best Director for Otto Preminger; Best Writing, Screenplay for Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt; and Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black and White for Lyle R. Wheeler, Leland Fuller, and Thomas Little. It won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White for Joseph LaShelle.

Laura would be adapted as a radioplay twice on Lux Radio Theatre. The first time, on February 5 1946, featured Gene Tierney, Dan Andrews, and Vincent Price, reprising their roles from the film. The second time was on February 1 1954 with Gene Tierney, Victor Mature, Joe Kearns, and Carleton Young. It would also be adapted for television. The October 19 1955 episode of The 20th Century Fox, "a Portrait of Murder," was an hour-long adaptation of Laura, starring Dana Wynter, George Sanders, and Robert Stack. It was later adapted as a TV movie by David Susskind. This adaptation was written by Truman Capote.

Laura  has had a lasting influence on films and television.  The 1956 Western Frontier Gambler, starring Jim Davis and Coleen Gray, was essentially an unauthorized remake of Laura. The TV show Twin Peaks borrowed a good deal from the movie. Other television shows would borrow from Laura for individual episodes. The first season Magnum P.I. episode "Skin Deep"owed a good deal to the film. The 1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Aquiel" was obviously inspired by Laura. The 2005 Bollywood movie Rog is a remake of Laura. The flim has been spoofed on everything from The Carol Burnett Show to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Laura is one of the earliest film noirs, and it is also quintessential film noirs. Much of the movie is told in flashback and it contains several plot twists (including one rather big one). Some might argue that the movie is contrived and much of it improbable, and yet somehow Laura still works. There can be no doubt that much of this is due to the performances. The role of Shelby Carpenter was one of Vincent Price's favourite roles had ever played, and he gives a great performance. Clifton Webb deserved to win the Oscar for playing Lydecker, who still ranks as one of the best characters in a film noir. Dana Andrews gives a convincing performance as McPherson, the detective who falls in love with the image of Laura. As to Gene Tierney, she brings to Laura much more than a beautiful face. It was certainly a star-making performance. The script is also superior.  It pace is deliberate and no twist seems out of place.

Released early in the film noir era, Laura has had a lasting impact. It would prove influential and it is still regarded as one of the greatest film noirs ever made. Indeed, the American Film Institute ranked it no. 4 in their Top 10 Mystery Films from 2008. Eighty years after its premiere, it remains one of the most beloved films of all time.