"; if(is_file("header.php")) include "header.php"; else include "../header.php"; ?>

"I shall never forget the weekend Laura died..." That's the opening line of one of the most beloved film noir classics and a film that has been long overdue for a dvd release. The wait is worth it though and this 20th Century Fox dvd delivers big bang for your buck. "Laura" is a perfect film and despite many preposterous characters and plot situations, it delivers on many levels. An impeccable cast - Gene Tierney at her loveliest and Clifton Webb at his urbane best (never mind the notion that his character Waldo Lydecker couldn't possibly be romantically interested in a woman - the film is so good that most viewers will overlook it) and Dana Andrews perfect as your typical film noir detective. In addition to the cast, "Laura" is so wonderful to look at. The set decoration and cinematography were both deservedly nominated for Academy Awards (cinematographer Joseph LaShelle was the film's only Oscar winner). The "look" of the film expertly conveys a mood of coziness, despite the subject matter, even in the exterior scenes with rain and snow. The interior decoration is sumptuous (both Laura and Waldo's apartments provide glorious eye candy). Ditto for the costumes with the exception of Tierney's bizarre head-gear. Two commentaries are provided. The first, by film archivist Jeanine Basinger (of Wesleyan University, which houses the Gene Tierney papers) and composer David Raskin, is generally informative although it is apparent that both commentators were not in the same room when the recording was made. Basinger covers basic details about the film as well as brief biographies of the actors. Raskin's comments concern his famous score for the film. The second commentary is by film historian Rudy Behlmer. Although a bit dry, he is very thorough on the film's history, beginning with the novel that the film was based on (he interviewed Vera Caspary in the 70s) and provides interesting details about the film's production history. Two A&E Biographies are included and both are excellent. The first, "Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait," covers her tumultuous life with interviews with her ex-husband Oleg Cassini, her daughter Christina Cassini, Richard Widmark and others. The second, "Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain" showcases Price's brilliant career and his varied interests (art, writing, collecting). Commentators include his daughter, Victoria Price, actors Hazel Court, Jane Russell and director Roger Corman. Other features include the trailer and a brief deleted scene in which Lydecker expands on his conversation with McPherson about how he molded Laura.