“At the cynical heart of Otto Preminger's Laura is a murder, yet labeling this elegant 1944 noir classic a whodunit is to ignore its masterfully complex—and frequently campy—portrait of all-consuming romantic self-delusion.” - Nick Schager, Slant
“Preminger's strategically ornate mise-en-scène allows for the film to slip easily between memory and the present, setting the model for all subsequent mysteries devoted to the haunting influence of the past. Resplendent and assured, LAURA endures through its recalcitrant aesthetic distance as one of the standout noirs from the form's golden period” - Eric Barroso, Brooklyn Magazine
One of the greatest American films of the 1940s, Otto Preminger's perverse, elegant, tightly scripted mystery-thriller-romance looks better than ever. After a glamorous Manhattan career woman gets a shotgun makeover, the police detective investigating the murder finds himself falling in love with the deceased. Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney make one of the most appealing noir couples, but they are nearly eclipsed by another duo: Andrews and his unexpected alter ego Clifton Webb, the latter in a legendary performance as acid-tongued Broadway columnist Waldo Lydecker. (MR) Screened in 2008 as part of Dark Corners: Film Noir from the Fox Archive.
25 For 25
To celebrate 25 years on State Street, the 25 For 25 series revisits standout titles from our State Street history, spotlighting films that have lit up our screens since 2001 and reflecting on the Siskel Film Center’s programming legacy. Each selection connects to a past Siskel program, highlighting the Siskel Film Center’s long-standing commitment to diverse and innovative curation.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu