MovieChat Forums > Laura Discussion > The leading men act REALLY gay

The leading men act REALLY gay

posted 13 years ago by DoloresHaze-1
89 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS
This movie was a favorite of mine when my mother introduced it to me when I was a child. I watched it recently and realize it's not that well plotted or acted (Tierney is wooden), and the only thing it has going for it is the twist of Laura not being the murder victim, and a haunting theme song. Both Webb and Price seem very gay to me - I don't care if they were gay or not in REAL life, they are totally unbelievable playing heterosexual characters in this film. I would have believed they were in love with each other before being entranced by Laura. All the characters but Laura are despicable. Why would such a nice, lovely woman surround herself with such vipers? Laura's apartment is garish and cluttered with the most awful ruffly lamps, curtains and more (maybe to signify wealth? Was interior design that hideous in the 40s?). Gene Tierney's wardrobe is horrid - stripes, checks, the oddly cut dress she wears at the party, etc. There were stunning fashions in the forties - but her clothing was dowdy, only her great beauty pulled it off. I could go on and on, but bottom line - this movie is highly overrated.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

I thought that Laura's clothing and apartment were lovely.

Yes, she did surround herself with a "remarkable collection of dopes", as the detective put it.

I think that the film isn't overrated at all. In fact, I consider it to be one of my favourites.

~~
💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍

[–] zbacku 9 years ago

Wow. You really don't like the Classics do you. Nor do you know anything about the 40's

[–] hobnob53 9 years ago

Everybody's entitled to their opinion, but I agree, the OP really doesn't seem to know much about the 40s, its styles, or people's behavior in that era.

To be fair to the OP, however, I don't think he's said he doesn't like "the classics" -- how ever it is you define a "classic". He was only talking about Laura. I think many of his statements are uninformed and I happen to like this film very much, but someone can dislike a particular film, even a "classic", and not dislike all films of that age or type. There are certainly so-called "classic films" I don't like, though I would hope my opinions are at least grounded in some factual basis.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 9 years ago

Sorry blues . . . the film is movie masterwork . . . one of the best ever!

[–] polyscygyrl 9 years ago

HUGE fan of noir here, including many books from the 30s and 40s, especially those written by women. Laura was based on the book, wondering if any commenters have read it? The "seeming gay" is true to the original.

It is CRYSTAL CLEAR in the novel that both Shelby Carpenter and Waldo Lydecker are gay. In accordance with social norms of the era rather than scientific fact, homosexuality contributes to the psychotic behavior of the killer.

And in the book, Laura is quite the viper herself. Fits right in with her crowd. It is the detective's perception of her that is wrong.

[–] Gubbio 9 years ago

It is CRYSTAL CLEAR in the novel that both Shelby Carpenter and Waldo Lydecker are gay. In accordance with social norms of the era rather than scientific fact, homosexuality contributes to the psychotic behavior of the killer.

I've never read the book, but some who have, have commented on it here over the years.

No one has ever said what you said about the characters (in the book) being gay. Interesting.

[–] jlprizm86 9 years ago

I didn't get "gay" at all. I don't know if we were watching the same movie.

[–] greenbudgie 9 years ago

I am a huge Vincent Price fan. But I'm embarrassed to watch him in this. My least favorite film that he ever made. I think his voice changed sometime soon after making this movie. I definitely don't like his voice in this one. Vincent Price could sound effeminate at times. That doesn't bother me so much. I just think that he overdoes the southern drawl in this one.