Laura

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Laura

1944,

1h 28m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

100%

60 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In one of the most celebrated 1940s film noirs, Manhattan detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the murder of Madison Avenue executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) in her fashionable apartment. On the trail of her murderer, McPherson quizzes Laura's arrogant best friend, gossip columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb) and her comparatively mild fiancé, Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price). As the detective grows obsessed with the case, he finds himself falling in love with the dead woman.

Critics Consensus

A psychologically complex portrait of obsession, Laura is also a deliciously well-crafted murder mystery.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Feb 23, 2012

5/5

Laura is still every bit as gripping in 2012.

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Matthew Thrift

Little White Lies

Feb 23, 2012

5/5

Not only one of Preminger's greatest, but one of the great noirs.

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Keith Uhlich

Time Out

Dec 20, 2011

5/5

Few movies make you feel dirtier, and so perversely grateful for the pleasure.

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Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

Aug 7, 2026

Laura doesn’t actually do anything to make the men fall apart; she just wears sleek outfits, throws parties, and, oh right, tries to pursue a career.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 22, 2025

4/4

A genuine classic -- not only of film noir but of film, period -- Laura lathers the murder-mystery with a heavy dollop of kinkiness.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Nov 18, 2023

... elegance incarnate in a genre known for its hard edge, the sleekest, silkiest noir of all.

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Rey S

Jan 31, 2019

A classic film noir about love, obsession and murder. Among everyone on screen, it's Clifton Webb's performance of Waldo Lydecker that stands out. Good murder mystery.

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Theodore P

Jan 21, 2019

A slightly above average film noir, overrated on RT. It is actually Clifton Webb who steals the show but everyone has sparkling lines of dialogue. Some great moments, but during a film noir season that I am undertaking this one is not close to the very best, but it is still an entertaining watch.

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Leia S

May 5, 2018

Good film noir, but not as good as the hype builds it up to be. Just doesn't have the hard edge you would expect. Tierney gives an ok performance, though she isn't all that - as the movie tries to build her up to be. The rest of the cast ably support Tierney, though Andrews is kind of a poor man's Bogart. Worth seeing and enjoyable, but I don't see it as rising to the effusive 4+ stars its given.

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Hagrid W

Apr 22, 2018

n the second half, Jean Tierney's forehead and half-eyed eyes and puffy lips are swayed over the story. In the interrogation room, Judith Anderson in front of the dresser, artificial light and shadow that seems to be overwhelming, even if it knows it intentioned, it gets struck. That is also good!

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George S

Jan 1, 2018

Even if I saw the twist coming, Laura is the perfect Noir film.

Rey M

Oct 22, 2017

With a well written plot and a wide variety of characters with all sorts of traits, this is a whodunit done right, keeping you guessing until the very end. It's a shame that Dana Andrews' detective - the hero, so to speak - is rather flatly written making certain aspects of the plot regarding him seem rushed and unlikely; fortunately, the others do more than enough to distract, particularly Clifton Webb's Lydecker who steals the show every time he appears with his witty and blisteringly condescending dialogue.

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Otto Preminger

Director

Gene Tierney

Laura Hunt

Dana Andrews

Det. Lt. Mark McPherson

Clifton Webb

Waldo Lydecker

Vincent Price

Shelby Carpenter

Judith Anderson

Ann Treadwell

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Synopsis

In one of the most celebrated 1940s film noirs, Manhattan detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the murder of Madison Avenue executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) in her fashionable apartment. On the trail of her murderer, McPherson quizzes Laura's arrogant best friend, gossip columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb) and her comparatively mild fiancé, Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price). As the detective grows obsessed with the case, he finds himself falling in love with the dead woman.

Director: Otto Preminger
Producer: Otto Preminger
Screenwriter: Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, Elizabeth Reinhardt
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 28m

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