Forsgren: Delve into the darkness of film noir with “Laura” on Netflix
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You don’t have to peruse Netflix for too long to figure out it’s a treasure trove of low-budget B-movies, little-seen independent films and a whole spectrum of documentaries. But Netflix also has a good selection of classic films. This month, we descend into the shadowy world of film noir as exemplified by the classic film “Laura”.
A doomed protagonist runs down a dark, wet street, driven to meet his fate by a beautiful, mysterious woman. Acts of desire and violence take place among long, dark shadows and swirling clouds of smoke. This is film noir.
Arising on the 1940s as Americans were dealing with the fear and uncertainty surrounding World War II, film noir is less a movement or a genre than a visual and thematic aesthetic. Film noir spread its tendrils into many film genres, from gangster movies and detective films to suspense thrillers and even westerns.
Uniting these films from different genres were several shared elements. First, there was the visual aesthetic, especially the use of shadows. Because many noir films were lower budget B-movies, they would use shadows in lieu of props to decorate sets. This added interesting elements to the look of the films, without busting the budget.
Shadows were also used as a way to comment on the emotional or psychological state of the characters. They could emphasize a character’s rage or moral ambivalence. The shadows could also entrap and ensnare the characters, a subtle visual hint to the inevitable demise of said character.
Other elements found in film noir include existential dread of the lead characters, lurid acts of violence and sex and the “femme fatale”, a gorgeous, siren-like woman who drives a man to his destruction.
The Otto Preminger-directed “Laura”, currently available to stream on Netflix, is a good place to start an exploration of film noir. It was one of the more prestigious noir pictures, and it had a bigger budget. In spite of that, it still features many elements that are quintessentially film noir.
”Laura” sees detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of a beautiful young woman named Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). While trying to get a straight story out of Lydecker (Clifton Webb) and Carpenter (Vincent Price, years before he became a horror icon), McPherson becomes infatuated with Laura, falling in love with her because of a painting of her hanging on her apartment wall.
”Laura” is a film that is filled with doom and death in spite of the fact that it’s not a particularly violent movie. Death hangs over the proceedings like a black curtain, and it’s not just because the movie is about a murder investigation. Laura is a femme fatale not because she intentionally drives men to their dooms, but because her presence indirectly causes death.
Another noir-ish element in “Laura” is the use of shadows. While the foreground of the film is lit in a traditional Hollywood way, the backgrounds are often filled with shadows. Those shadows often help illuminate what’s going on in the character’s heads. For example, there’s a scene where Lydecker stumbles across Laura and Carpenter together. He stands at the back of the shot, the shadows shrouding him a perfect metaphor for his jealousy and rage.
The idea of McPherson falling in love with a dead woman’s portrait is also something that has film noir written all over it. Noir movies often feature characters whose desire drives them to do things they normally wouldn’t. And I would say that falling in love with a painting is definitely abnormal.
Finally, I want to bring up the character of Lydecker, because he’s the character who’s stuck on the existential train to his doom. Lydecker is a narcissistic media personality with a national audience. He enters Laura’s life and serves as a mentor and close friend. But his feelings run on beyond friendship, spawning jealousy and anger. At one point, he tells McPherson (and us) that when a man has everything he wants except what he wants most, he becomes bitter. Lydecker comes to embody that statement.
”Laura” is a terrific introduction into the world of film noir. It’s packed with fascinating characters and beautiful visual composition. If you have any interest in film history, do yourself a favor and check it out on Netflix A.S.A.P.