Classic Film Noir - Laura (1944)

 Laura is a classic film noir from 1944 and was directed by Otto Preminger. It portrays the story of a detective who is working on a case of the murder of an attractive and successful advertising Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). As the film develops the detective, Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) finds out all about Laura experiences from various sources and grows increasingly infatuated with her, gradually the infatuation becomes more of an obsession.

 Then one night McPherson falls asleep and is woken up by the sound of someone entering the apartment, which turns out to be the previously presumed murdered Laura Hunt, at the point of discovering Laura is indeed alive McPherson makes the analysis that it must have been Diane Redfern who was a model brought in by Laura’s fiancé while she was out of town mistakenly thought to be Laura. It becomes evident that the killer must be found quickly as now Laura is still alive she is in danger. McPherson determines it must be Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb) who is a newspaper columnist who knew Laura well and claimed to have mentored her. McPherson tells Laura not to let anyone in the apartment while he is gone but Lydecker gets in and is ready to shoot Laura when just in time McPherson appears to shoot and kill Lydecker. After he is shot it becomes clear the Lydecker admired Laura as he utters his final words “Goodbye, Laura. Goodbye, my love”.

 The film is known to be one of the classic film noirs and like many noirs in centred on a police officer. Also a suspicious death is the focal point of the story which is common for noirs. The killer is unknown until the end and the storyline brings twist to viewers when it is found that Laura is still alive.

 Laura reflected in many ways the uncertainty around during the war and this was shown in the way in which everyone was a suspect to the apparent death of Laura.

 Finally the use of shadows in particularly evident at the end of Laura, when Lydecker creeps up on Laura to try and kill her, the director cleverly uses large shadows which helps to create suspense.