Gene Tierney, was an American film and stage actress. It has been said she was one of the great beauties of her day, she is best remembered for her performance in the film, Laura (1944).
Hudson's Bay (1941). Historical drama. Cast: Paul Muni, Gene Tierney, Vincent Price and Laird Cregar. The film is about a pair of French-Canadian explorers whose findings lead to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company. HUDSON BAY (1941) MOVIE CLIP.
Laura is a (1944) film noir directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt is based on the (1943) novel by Vera Caspary. (2005), the American Film Institute ranked its score #7 in AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores, and in (2008), they named it the fourth best mystery film.
This film uses light and shadows to set the mood. LAURA, has a wonderful cast of characters: Vincent Price plays the role of a spineless womanizer, Clifton Webb as a cynical, creepy columnist, Dana Andrews as the tough cop and Gene Tierney as the beautiful Laura. In this film Laura is loved by three men, each of them have their own reasons.
In the beginning of the investigation of the murder of Laura, New York police lieutenant Mark McPherson questions columnist Waldo Lydecker, a close friend of Laura. Claiming to be intrigued by crime, Waldo asks if he can join Mark in his investigation. Although their relationship is platonic, Waldo is jealous of her romances with other men, and uses his column to keep her under his control.
Mark, who is becoming obsessed with Laura, returns to the apartment and starts searching through her personal things. Waldo stops in and says he knows Mark has secretly put in a bid for Laura's portrait, and accuses him for falling in love with a corpse. After Waldo leaves, Mark falls asleep under the portrait. He awakens to the sound of someone entering the room. Could it be the killer ?
Gene Tierney originally did not want to make this film but did it anyway under contract obligations.
Ranked #4 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Mystery" in June 2008.
The famous theme David Raksin songwrote for the film was originally entitled "Judy" in honor of Judy Garland.
Dragonwyck(1946). Period/drama. Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck and Ernst Lubitsch. Based on the novel Dragonwyck by Anya Seton. Music score: Alfred Newman. Cinematography: Arthur C. Miller. Cast: Gene Tierney, Walter Huston and Vincent Price, with Glenn Langan, Anne Revere, Spring Byington, Harry Morgan and Jessica Tandy.
Dragonwyck, is one of those films that would lose it's moody atmosphere if it were in color. I thought Vincent Price did an outstanding performance in one of his first films. The story starts as the innocent farmers daughter Miranda (Gene Tierney), excited to learn that she is related to the rich Van Ryn. And is being invited to visit their beautiful mansion to take care of his young daughter.. Miranda is instantly attracted to the handsome Nicholas, the owner of "Dragonwyck". Mean while, Nicholas busy fighting off a revolt of his tenant farmers and coming up with a plan to get rid of his wife. (Because she has not given him a son.) Miranda moves back home with her parents after the wife's death. Not long... Nicholas comes for her and they marry and Miranda gives birth to a son, the boy is not healthy and does not live. Nicholas begins to slip into insanity, moving to the attic of his mansion to live in his world of drug addiction..
A broken hearted Miranda looks for help from the the local doctor, Dr. Jeff Turner (Jeff Langan). Dr. Turner falls in love with Miranda, and he eventually learns that Nicholas killed his first wife to be with her, and he fears that Miranda might be next on the list. Dragonwyck Movie Trailer.
FUN FACTS:
Gregory Peck was the first choice to play Nicholas Van Ryn, but he bowed out when he learned Ernst Lubisch was dropping out as director. When second choice Laird Cregar died, Price was assigned.
Vincent Price lost 30 lbs. for the film.
It is a fictional story of Miranda Wells and her marriage to Nicholas Van Ryn, set against an historical background of the Anti-Rent Wars, the Astor Place Riots, and steamboat racing on the Hudson River.
The book focuses on Miranda Wells: her longing for her rich cousin Nicholas Van Ryn and her marriage to him and her discovery of her husband's dark and twisted life.
The novel was adapted into the film Dragonwyck, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Gene Tierney, Walter Huston and Vincent Price.
Hudson's Bay (1941). Historical drama. Cast: Paul Muni, Gene Tierney, Vincent Price and Laird Cregar. The film is about a pair of French-Canadian explorers whose findings lead to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company.
