The Town Players of Newtown are attempting to do what many theater companies have tried in vain to do — re-create on stage the heady romanticism of the 1944 film noir “Laura.” It’s not an easy task. Film noir utilizes two elements of drama that are generally contrary to stage technique shadows and silence. In films, what we don’t see clearly, or is said indirectly, can be both menacing and intriguing; on stage it’s inconclusive and unmoving.” (Source: newstimelives.com)

Plot: Otto Preminer’s “Laura,” is about a woman named Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) who is presumably murdered. A detective (Dana Andrews) investigating the “so called” murder falls in love with the dead girls portrait ( Gene Tierney) only to find out that it wasn’t her that was murdered. Who would want to kill a girl that was loved by so many men? Why? Will they try again?

Laura is a great murder mystery with classic film noir dark undertones. There is not one boring moment, movie is fast paced, all is interesting, and suspenseful. And just like all classic film noirs you will NOT be able to figure out the whole mess until the end. Otto Preminger’s use of shadow and lighting make it all the more mysterious and thrilling. The cast is brilliant, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson (a dynamic dual), Cliff Webb as the critic Waldo Leidecker who takes pleasure in making everyone’s life miserable.

Will this work on stage? Can they make the audience feel the mystery, love, betrayal, twists and turns? What do you think?

One Response to “Film Noir “Laura” on Stage”

  1. Dan says:
    September 17, 2006 at 9:13 pm

    Laura is a magnificent film noir, one that I could watch over and over. I’ve often wondered what happened to that hand-held game that Dana Andrews played with off and on during the movie (the one with the baseball diamond and the little steel balls).

    I wonder if it still exists in some museum or something?

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