It’s the fourth week of Pinot Noir, my film noir film club, and tonight are watching Laura!
In the briefest of sentences, TCM describes Laura as a film about a detective who falls in love with the woman whose murder he's investigating. That’s a great description and all but it completely fails to mention the amount of men in bathtubs in this movie!!! I am so excited to hear everyone’s thoughts about Laura. I know the last film we watched had a very strong gay storyline, and I’ll tell ya, tonights movie is no different!! Perhaps a theme of film noir, no?
Where to watch:
You can watch Laura for free on a Roku app called Classic Movies or Classic Noir. It’s also available on the Criterion Channel if you have a subscription. Additionally, it’s available for rent on Amazon or Apple.
Come back to discuss!
I’ll start a Subscribers only chat thread tonight at 8 PM EST to discuss the film. Join the conversation whenever is convenient for you! I am eager to hear your feelings on a young hot Vincent Price!
As always, the list of films is free but if you want to participate in community discussion of the films, that will be for paid subscribers only! Please do consider becoming a paid subscriber because it helps me buy bread for toast.
Just finished watching. I can’t believe I’ve never seen this film before. So much triangulation in this film... every little group of three has so much tension! Now that I think of it, I guess that’s been there in all four of the films we’ve looked at. Hmmm...
What did you think of Poor Bessie? I feel sorriest for her. Authentic, proud, so in love with Laura. But I guess she probably gets to hang on... as her maid. 😣
And I loved the clocks!
What do we think of Lydecker? I was intrigued by his disdain for “earthy” love. Especially after the first bath scene and his general “foolishness,” which I think coded him as gay. Sort of like Joel Cairo. Did he really love Laura? Or just want her as another of his valuable possessions?
Great film! Curious what others think.
Can’t wait! I met Vincent Price in 1976 after he performed in a play I attended. I remember being stunned at how tall he was. And so very kind. I was a kid and he engaged me in a lovely conversation.