Laura Trivia

1. Which director, whose credits include 1959's "Anatomy of a Murder" and 1960's "Exodus", directed 1944's film noir classic "Laura"?

From Quiz Laura

Answer: Otto Preminger

Otto Preminger's first desire was to become an actor, but while working in theater, his natural talent for behind-the-scene work became obvious. After working with the legendary Austrian director Max Reinhardt, he struck out on his own, and soon caught the notice of the founders of Twentieth Century Pictures. Before long, he was in Los Angeles, and working with some of Hollywood's biggest names. Despite clashing with Darryl F. Zanuck, one of Twentieth Century's founders, Preminger replaced the studio's first choice for directing "Laura", and went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the film. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for 1963's "The Cardinal", and he won the Bronze Berlin Bear Award for 1954's "Carmen Jones".

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Vera Caspary

Vera Caspary (1899-1987) was an American author. Independent like her heroine, Vera Caspary wrote mostly fiction.

From Quiz Laura

Answer: Gene Tierney

Laura is surrounded by people who love her - or seem to. Her business success is routinely feted by her columnist friend and mentor, Waldo Lydecker - who seems to desire more than a platonic relationship. Her love life is satisfying, and she is engaged to a Southern gentleman - who may be more playboy than husband material. Her wealthy aunt, and friend, adores her, but is also jealous. And, at the beginning of the movie, it appears that Laura has been murdered. After several years on Broadway and in Hollywood, Gene Tierney's first critical and popular success came with 1943's "Heaven Can Wait". The next year her role in "Laura" became her most memorable portrayal. In 1945, her role in "Leave Her to Heaven" earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: The Algonquin Hotel

The Algonquin Hotel on 44th Street in New York City was the lunch spot for a literary group known as the 'Round Table'. These people were known for their wit and commentaries on theater and other topics. The group included Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) and Robert Benchley (1889-1945).

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: Waldo is taking a bath.

Waldo is an egocentric character, who changes his routine for no one. Regardless of the seriousness of the interview regarding Laura's murder, it's bath time and that's that. The scene also provides a bit of comic relief to an otherwise serious moment.

From Quiz Laura

Answer: shotgun blast

On a hot Friday night in 1944, Laura Hunt calls Waldo Lydecker to cancel a dinner date because she is planning on going out of town. When a female body is discovered just inside her apartment doorway, the woman's face rendered unrecognizable due to a shotgun blast, the body is identified as Laura.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: The Wallace Flow Write Pen

Laura begins her advertising career by boldly asking Waldo to endorse her product, which he eventually does.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: Laura Hunt

The portrait is a glamorous one of the actress, Gene Tierney, who played Laura. McPherson is captivated by her beauty, as nearly everyone was during Tierney's career. Her real life husband, Oleg Cassini, designed most of her costumes for her films. Cassini had a prosperous career in fashion for many years.

From Quiz Laura

Answer: bathtub

Detective McPherson, played by Dana Andrews, is a rather unconventional, but dogged investigator. He talks to Lydecker as he prowls through the columnist's penthouse, until Lydecker asks the detective to join him in the bathroom. Relaxed in the giant marble tub, a typewriter positioned to straddle the tub, Lydecker answers McPherson's questions with a seeming delight in being considered a murder suspect.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: silver cigarette case

Unfortunately, Laura learns that the cigarette case was pawned and bought from the pawn shop by Waldo.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: Anne is Laura's aunt

Although the relationship is a close blood tie, even Anne has given thought to killing Laura because Anne is in love with Laura's fiancé, Shelby Carpenter, played by Vincent Price. When the detective interviews Anne, he refers to Laura as "Your niece".

From Quiz Laura

Answer: Judith Anderson

Ann claims to adore Laura, but she is also in love with Shelby Carpenter, Laura's fiance. She has been giving Shelby money, and enjoying his company whenever possible. Laura and Shelby's upcoming nuptials, however, have Ann feeling something quite different from adoration or love. Dame Judith Anderson professional career began in Sydney, in the theatrical production of "A Royal Divorce" in 1915. After several years of struggling for success, she was established as one of the preeminent actresses in theater and film. Just a few of her better-known film roles are in 1940's "Rebecca", 1945's "And Then There Were None" and 1953's "Salome".

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Jacoby

Waldo writes a column criticizing Jacoby. He hopes it will end Laura's infatuation with the handsome artist. Waldo's plan works and Laura breaks up with Jacoby.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Connecticut

Laura is away in Connecticut the weekend of the murder. It is not unusual for wealthy New Yorkers to have second homes in nearby states.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: He faints.

Waldo is a cool, confident, man of the world. When he faints at the sight of Laura, we are surprised because he doesn't appear to be the type who would allow anyone to see him lose his composure. It also signifies his real shock at the discovery.

From Quiz Laura

Answer: Algonquin Hotel

Waldo Lydecker's obsession with Laura is consuming. After their first meeting at the Algonquin Hotel, where he dismisses her with cold criticism, he pays a visit to her workplace - the Bullitt and Co. Ad Agency. From that point on he is obsessed with her. Despite his seeming desire for her, his need is more consuming, more controlling, more self-centered. He cannot tolerate anyone else having her, and considers her to be his creation, his property.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Mosconi's

After Bessie, Laura's maid, has removed evidence, Det. McPherson checks to see if the cheap bottle found in the liquor cabinet is similar to Laura's usual orders. He finds out that another person must have brought the cheaper bottle into Laura's apartment.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: She wants to protect Laura's reputation.

Bessie is a street wise woman who was raised to "Spit every time she saw a cop". Laura has always treated her well and with great respect. In her overzealousness to protect Laura, she wipes fingerprints off the glasses, replaces the scotch with a cheap variety and cleans the liquor cabinet. She says, "I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea about her".

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Lancaster Cory

We never meet Lancaster Cory but he is referred to as a friend of Laura's as well as an art critic.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: Laura Hunt

McPherson arrests Laura and interviews her at the precinct rather than at her home. He soon explains to her that his feelings for her made it necessary to interview her in professional surroundings. Laura smiles at his confession and says, "Then it was worth it, Mark."

From Quiz Laura

Answer: armchair

Feeling intrusive and uncomfortable after searching through Laura's bedroom, and reading her letters and diary, Detective McPherson settles in the living room. A drink in hand, he sits in an armchair, beneath the watchful gaze of Laura's portrait, and falls asleep. He is awakened by a noise, and the presence of a woman. Very much alive, and the epitome of McPherson's ideal dame, Laura has returned. The corpse inside her apartment doorway was not hers - it was Diane Redfern.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Anne confesses to thinking about killing Laura.

Laura's aunt is in love with Shelby Carpenter and is anxious to get Laura out of the picture.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: Waldo is invasive and consistently jealous.

Indeed Waldo is so enamored of Laura that he has followed her, written columns to destroy her affection for other men, and hired detectives to gather negative information on almost everyone she knows. When he follows her and sees her alone, through her apartment window, with another man, Waldo writes a column destroying the man's reputation so Laura will reject her newest suitor in favor of him.

From Quiz Laura

Answer: grandfather clock

Following a confrontation between Laura, Waldo Lydecker and Detective McPherson, Laura tells Lydecker to leave. After discovering the shotgun hidden in Laura's grandfather clock, Detective McPherson warns Laura to stay in her apartment, and leaves to arrest Lydecker. Upon his departure, Lydecker reappears, and attempts to shoot Laura. But, after being told that Lydecker had never left the building, McPherson and fellow police return to the apartment - in time to rescue Laura and kill Lydecker.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura" Again

Answer: Ernest Dowson

Ernest Dowson (1867-1900) was known for his phrasing. His line 'The days of wine and roses' is well known to movie-goers. He died of alcoholism.

From Quiz Hunting "Laura"

Answer: Waldo Lyedecker

Waldo has become insanely jealous of any man attached to Laura. His first attempt at killing her failed so, once rejected by her for good, he loads the double barrel shotgun hid in her apartment clock, and announces to her that "They'll find us as we always should have been, together."

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