Friday, July 1, 2016

Laura by Vera Caspary A review by Warren Bull



Laura by Vera Caspary  A review by Warren Bull

The movie that Otto Preminger directed in 1944, based on the novel Laura is a classic.  The premise is unique.  A hard-boiled detective investigating the murder of beautiful independent woman falls in love with the victim.  The only problem is — she is dead.

Mark McPherson is a tough and intelligent detective with experience in unraveling rackets and financial shenanigans.  He is assigned to investigate the murder of Laura Hunt by a supervisor who despises him.  The supervisor wants to deny McPherson the pleasure of attending a baseball game he had been looking forward to attending.  Neither man could predict the twists and turns that follow that act of petty spite.

When McPherson interviews important people in Laura’s life, he becomes fascinated by and then enamored of the dead woman. 

If you don’t know the rest of the plot, I won’t spoil it by telling you any more.  If you haven’t read the novel or seen the movie, you are in for a real treat.


I can say that the author deals fairly with readers.  Her characterizations are subtle and telling.  I was fully engaged and my interest never waned.  I finished the book in one day.  Once again, I find there’s a lot to be gained by reading the classic novels.

5 comments:

  1. My book club, which shows a movie every year in December when we figure some people might be too busy to read, featured Laura last year. I'd never seen it before. It is a great story.

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  2. Love the movie (Gene Tierney is gorgeous)! I'll have to check out the book.

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  3. Warren, I don't remember the movie, but I read the book years ago. I don't remember much of it, either, except that I liked it.

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  4. One of my favorite movies, but I never read the book. Going to have to look that one up. Thanks, Warren!

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  5. I remember the movie. I'll have to read the book and re-watch the movie. I wonder when they'll do a remake?

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