On a conceptual level there isn’t really anything that makes Laura all that special. It’s a classic whodunnit that doesn’t stray too far from the established mold. We’ve got a dead girl (the title character), a series of suspects, and a hard boiled detective who has been assigned to the case. What’s great is that every aspect of the movie is just a little bit better than what you usually get, so it becomes a really satisfying watch. The story is typical, but it has enough surprising twists to keep you engaged and it builds enough tension that the climax is a real nail biter.
The performances are all great. Dana Andrews is gruff but likable as the detective. He’s got this bit where he plays with one of those handheld ball bearing games while he’s interrogating people, and somehow Andrews makes it seem really detached and cool. Clifton Webb is delightfully spidery and droll as a snarky writer who has fallen for Laura and uses his powers of manipulation to keep her away from other men. He gets some great one-liners in that reminded me quite a bit of Woody Allen dialogue, and he delivers them with aplomb. And Gene Tierney as Laura... wow, is she radiant. The thrust of this plot calls for pretty much every male character we meet to fall in love with Laura at some point in the film, and with Tierney in the role there is no stretch of imagination necessary to believe they would make that leap. This girl has star power and then some.
There’s a little bit of controversy about who should have been credited for shooting this thing, but the film won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, and whoever did the bulk of the work definitely deserved the award. The camera moves swiftly and confidently, always knowing exactly where it needs to be to manipulate your reaction to what you’re watching. I especially loved the way it seems to creep around the walls of the rooms and behind furniture when it’s got Tierney in danger. This isn’t an epic sort of story like Casablanca or a visual stunner like The Third Man, but it’s got enough going for it to be one of my favorite films I’ve seen from the 40s.
