That's definitely the feeling I take away from the film. I understand Kael's complaint ("...it's such a lurid, evil place that the director seems grotesquely straight"), but I'm more apt to put that down to a) Preminger loving controversy, and b) the simple fact that it's 1962, and what else would you expect from a big-budget Hollywood film. But it's much more complex than that--Anderson's wife apologizing for what may be (child notwithstanding) a sexless marriage, the eloquence of Anderson's letter, the seeming decency of Ray Shaff.
Found the background to Drury's conception of Anderson interesting (didn't know about any of this):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_C._Hunt#Son.27s_arrest_and_Hunt.27s_suicide
― clemenza, Friday, 23 May 2014 23:06 (nine years ago) link
That's what I mean though: even after watching it the first time ten years ago that bar did not look not lurid or evil.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 23 May 2014 23:08 (nine years ago) link
The way that Harley Hudson is shut out of everything and self-deprecatingly jokes about is excellent--every VP should see the film. Anderson, at his lowest moment, telling Hudson that he may be the most underappreciated man in Washington is another nice moment.
― clemenza, Friday, 23 May 2014 23:10 (nine years ago) link
"about it"
― clemenza, Friday, 23 May 2014 23:11 (nine years ago) link
The conception of Hudson is the most dated element actually, but not to the film's detriment. It's impossible after 1980 to imagine an impotent vice president (even Quayle got invited to Cabinet meetings).
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 23 May 2014 23:17 (nine years ago) link
Just watched Laura for the first time since I was a kid, I think it must have been the 2012 release cos I recall from a Bradshaw review that this cut has the original credits restored with the war bond advert "Buy Yours In This Theatre". I don't think I could express anything that hasn't already been expressed how good this movie is. I was shocked at how well preserved the source cut must be for a movie from '44. It is in more pristine condition than many 60's/70's movies I have seen recently. Tierney, Webb and Andrews are all perfect and Price's against type dim lothario is brilliant as well.
― xelab, Thursday, 5 June 2014 19:59 (nine years ago) link
i think that was Price's type at that point.
― images of war violence and historical smoking (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 5 June 2014 20:03 (nine years ago) link
Sorry, yeah it probably was. I just meant against my narrow perception of his type.
― xelab, Thursday, 5 June 2014 20:38 (nine years ago) link
Not seen too many of his early roles.
― xelab, Thursday, 5 June 2014 20:40 (nine years ago) link
watched it for the first time this week, was also startled by Price
― rage against martin sheen (sic), Thursday, 5 June 2014 22:16 (nine years ago) link
The way in which Preminger, the writers, and Webb depict Lydecker's sexuality is bizarre to say the least; I don't think it's supposed to make sense.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 5 June 2014 22:18 (nine years ago) link
I hadn't noticed before that Laura walks back into her apartment almost exactly halfway through the running time
― Brad C., Thursday, 5 June 2014 22:23 (nine years ago) link
I'd avoided In Harm's Way because I've found better things to do than watch Kirk Douglas and John Wayne as Navy officers for three hours. Turns out it's a solid movie, in his second tier, with his usual long takes and cool performances. Patricia Neal sets her eyes on Wayne and doesn't quit until she beds him: his best screen partner since Angie Dickinson.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 August 2014 23:16 (nine years ago) link
Whirlpool is a bananas noir followup to Laura, and in its way almost as good. Gene Tierney as an unhappy klepto married to a prosperous shrink, and Jose Ferrer is the villainous quack hypnotist who's supplied with some phenomenally acid lines by Ben Hecht.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 28 September 2014 04:08 (nine years ago) link
I only listened to a little of Richard Schickel's disc commentary, but he called Tierney "Fox's resident somnambulist."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huqyli8aE_g
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 28 September 2014 15:58 (nine years ago) link
that trailer's kinda spoilerrific, sorry
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 28 September 2014 16:03 (nine years ago) link
I've almost checked Whirlpool out several times. Thanks for the push.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 September 2014 16:44 (nine years ago) link
Gene Tierney's hair though...
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 September 2014 16:45 (nine years ago) link
what of it? i really can't tell if women's hair is good or bad, esp retro
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Monday, 29 September 2014 03:35 (nine years ago) link
I just watched Whirlpool last night (actually over the course of three nights, which I almost never do.) Found myself wishing it was a bit MORE bananas tbh, although most of the plot twists are pretty ludicrous, and Jose Ferrer is wonderfully oily in it.
― Deliciously hard yet very accessible (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 18 November 2014 18:12 (nine years ago) link
heh how COULD it be nuttier? w/out being bad?
Let's hope this Laura remake never happens given, to quote Film Comment, the adapter's "feather-light touch":
http://www.avclub.com/article/james-ellroy-write-fox-2000s-remake-1944-noir-clas-208587
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 20 November 2014 16:41 (nine years ago) link
Nuttiness in plot contrivances, yeah, but Tierney is glacial and Conte is wooden, I dunno, I just found it slow (hence why three nights to finish it; I kept falling asleep.)
― Deliciously hard yet very accessible (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 20 November 2014 17:39 (nine years ago) link
Confession: I don't quite get what's so great about Laura. At least when Clifton Webb isn't on screen.
― That shit right there is precedented. (cryptosicko), Saturday, 28 March 2015 17:01 (nine years ago) link
Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney's instant chemistry on first meeting. He's been hearing about Laura for days and here she is!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 March 2015 17:02 (nine years ago) link
I love the scene where they're drinking Shelby's cheap whiskey.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 March 2015 17:03 (nine years ago) link
Another confession: when she first appeared in the apartment, I assumed it was a dream sequence. Maybe the way Preminger shot everything prior to her arrival was meant to throw the audience off in such a way?
― That shit right there is precedented. (cryptosicko), Saturday, 28 March 2015 17:05 (nine years ago) link
yep
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 March 2015 17:06 (nine years ago) link
I didn't particularly pick up on or respond to the chemistry between Tierney and Andrews, which is probably why the middle section of the film felt so saggy to me. Awesome first 30-45 minutes, though, and it certainly picks up again when Webb re-enters the picture towards the end.
― That shit right there is precedented. (cryptosicko), Saturday, 28 March 2015 17:36 (nine years ago) link
I've seen it two or three times, not for a few years. I think I'm basically with you; I like it, but not nearly as much as Double Indemnity or The Big Sleep (which I mention because of historical proximity--I realize all three are very different), not to mention Advise and Consent. My mom would always name either Laura or All About Eve as her favourite movie.
― clemenza, Sunday, 29 March 2015 13:30 (nine years ago) link
Who's gayer -- Shelby or Walter?
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 29 March 2015 13:35 (nine years ago) link
What might make the film odd viewing in 2015 is accepting Waldo and Shelby as Laura's suitors.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 29 March 2015 13:46 (nine years ago) link
when men had CLASS
(yeah, vs Neil Patrick Harris in Gone Girl, gimme a break)
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 29 March 2015 13:59 (nine years ago) link
what's that got to do with this thread, gramps?
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 29 March 2015 14:47 (nine years ago) link
seems kinda obvious
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 29 March 2015 15:41 (nine years ago) link
keyboard dipped in olive water
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 29 March 2015 17:13 (nine years ago) link
Haven't you heard of science's latest triumph, the Flag Post?
― Big Iron Shirt Wearer (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 March 2015 17:15 (nine years ago) link
more otto acid anecdotes:
Nick's thirteen-year-old boy, Griffin, had heard Janis Joplin was going to make an appearance at the party, so he talked Lenny into letting him go. At some point in the evening, a bald German man who seemed to be experiencing a bad acid trip latched onto the boy, asking his help getting settled somewhere. "I thought it was Colonel Klink" from the television show Hogan's Heroes, Griffin said. It was the film director, Otto Preminger.
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 19 November 2015 17:44 (eight years ago) link
Laura is wonderful
Is twin peaks an extended homage?
― The difficult earlier reichs (darraghmac), Saturday, 9 January 2016 22:37 (eight years ago) link
if you haven't yet, watch Where the Sidewalk Ends next dmac.
― calzino, Saturday, 9 January 2016 22:44 (eight years ago) link
Thanks but just launched into 1944 The Lodger. Will put on list.
― The difficult earlier reichs (darraghmac), Saturday, 9 January 2016 22:49 (eight years ago) link
among many other things, yeah
― German dictators and their loving coombes (wins), Saturday, 9 January 2016 23:00 (eight years ago) link
I have said this before, but Vincent Price as the dim lothario in Laura is an odd sight when you have grown up with the old creepy one.
― calzino, Saturday, 9 January 2016 23:01 (eight years ago) link
otm
― The difficult earlier reichs (darraghmac), Saturday, 9 January 2016 23:56 (eight years ago) link
Watch Daisy Kenyon.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 10 January 2016 00:43 (eight years ago) link
I can't think of another movie with two homos as putative love interests.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 10 January 2016 00:44 (eight years ago) link
re Laura.
Ach ye lads claim everyone
― The difficult earlier reichs (darraghmac), Sunday, 10 January 2016 00:55 (eight years ago) link
Such Good Friends has some bright lines (written by Elaine May, mostly) that are in the later Mazursky/Woody skewering-Manhattan-neurotics mode, and Dyan Cannon has her moments, but God what a 'hip' mess.
Here's the Glenn Kenny piece at the time of the Olive DVD/BR release, if you want to see Burgess Meredith's nude bit w/out watching it:
http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2011/06/preminger-and-the-new-freedoms-such-good-friends-1971.html
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 30 January 2016 16:58 (eight years ago) link
Dave Kehr: "The expansive use of widescreen and the carefully choreographed camera movements are gone... replaced by crowded, shallow images of claustrophobic spaces. Packed with some of the most garishly tasteless 1970s décor imaginable, the film’s Park Avenue apartments start to resemble the hamster cage owned by Julie’s two quarrelsome sons. (It’s unclear whom the hamster is supposed to represent, but he remains the film’s most empathetically observed figure.)"
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 30 January 2016 18:32 (eight years ago) link
i just read the novel Laura, v much worth it. The Clifton Webb character is tall, obese and even gayer if that's possible; the Vincent Price character is just a desperate Southern 'aristocratic' horndog. Narrator changes with every "part," which i was meh about. Many nice NYC references from the early '40s that will be pleasurable for local history buffs, like Jefferson Market being a women's prison.
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Friday, 15 April 2016 02:45 (eight years ago) link