“I wrote 63 songs this year. They’re all about Jeter.” Just kidding. The game we love, the players we hate, and more.
From Norman Mailer to Wendy Pepper — everything on film, TV, books, music, and snacks (shut up, raisins), plus the Girls’ Bike Club.
Helping public schools, winning prizes, sending a crazy lady in a tomato costume out in public.
Monologues, travelogues, fiction, and fart humor. And hens. Don’t forget the hens.
The Tomato Nation advice column addresses your questions on etiquette, grammar, romance, and pet misbehavior. Ask The Readers about books or fashion today!
Roger Ebert describes the film, and why it’s wonderful, better than I can; I’ll only add that, if you tend to avoid film noir, this isn’t typical of the genre, and you should give it a try. Preminger has a very nimble touch as a director; the movie gets a lot done without any strain, and it’s aged well — the bitchy barbs still feel quite modern.
I’ve (re-)discovered a few things over the course of the recent Days Of Rage. Some of them are great!
I found it while researching a murder (…this is a sentence I have more frequent use for than most), the true story of a neighborhood legend from my childhood. I grew up in a leafy, …
Plus, I love that Dana (Andrews) plays a boy and Gene (Tierney) plays a girl.
I love “Laura” so much. It’s just such a fun, beautiful movie to watch. Vincent Price’s hilarious “Kentucky” accent makes for some good unintentional giggles as well.
Unrelatedly: did you see that the FJM guys dropped the cloak of anonymity? Check it out. Kind of interesting.
This is one of my all-time favorite movies! It’s mesmerizing. The great characters, the beautiful cinematography, the intricate plot, the bitchy barbs Sars mentioned–it’s all perfect. And at a mere 85 minutes, it is more than deserving of your time.
Oh, lord, do I love this movie. Partly because I love Dana Andrews, with his inexpressive face and husky voice. But mostly because it’s DELICIOUS.
Thanks for linking to the Ebert piece, which is terrific. His description of Dana Andrews’ detective moving through Laura’s apartment at night, inhabiting her spaces, is dead on. It’s a very erotic scene.
Ebert’s quote from Naremore is right on: “any movie that puts Clifton Webb, Judith Anderson and Vincent Price in the same drawing room is inviting a mood of fey theatricality.” The whole thing is so wonderfully unreal, enhanced by Gene Tierney’s almost unearthly beauty (so distinct from the horrible sadness of her real life) and David Raksin’s unforgettable music.
There’s also a particular narrative device that it shares with, say, Sunset Boulevard and Desperate Housewives.
I just go completely stupid whenever Gene Tierney is on the screen. She’s beyond amazing to look at–what an incredible face. The movie is pretty good.
Can’t say I’d ever taken Andrews’ time alone in her apartment to be erotic…seemed more pathetic and confused, or maybe overwhelmed. But, then, I naturally put myself more in his shoes than hers just due to gender.
I love this movie. It’s been one of my favorites for years now. And I do believe I need to rewatch it again… :D
I can’t believe I’ve never gotten around to watching this…my grandmother is in it (small part, uncredited “Woman”). I’m going to Netflix it right now.
@Tom: I’m with you on this movie. I love it, and I get totally stupid when Tierney’s onscreen. She’s just luminous. I agree that there’s something a bit lost about Andrews in the apartment.
Much as I love the movie, I can’t helping thinking of the Carol Burnett spoof of it (loving, I like to think) where the gumshoe character falls in love with Laura because of the va-va-voom curvy chalk outline of the body on the floor of her apartment…