Classic Noir Returns: Gene Tierney's Iconic 'Laura' makes a Comeback for the Weekend

Nourhan Fouad

Committee, Article

Film buffs are eagerly anticipating the first screening in eleven years of an Academy Award-winning film noir classic. Laura, starring Gene Tierney, is showing this Saturday and Sunday as a part of the British Film Institute’s month-long seasonal spotlight on the enigmatic 1940s Hollywood starlet.

For the first time since 2013, this iconic 1944 crime drama will be shown on the big screens in London. It tells a tantalising tale of obsession and betrayal as detective Mark McPherson, played by Dana Andrews, investigates the murder of Laura Hunt, played by Tierney.

Tickets to see this ‘Best Black and White Cinematography’ Oscar winner are in high demand. Saturday tickets are already sold out, and Sunday tickets are nearing full capacity as well.

Film student Farah Anwar, 21, described the upcoming screening as “a golden opportunity for cinema lovers”. The BFI’s revival of this classic film offers audiences a unique opportunity to travel back in time and watch a professional screening of a black-and-white movie. Anwar says: “It’s not every day that you get the chance to watch one of the best mystery films of all time in theatres. Especially with it being from the 1940s because it’s really hard to find high-quality versions of old movies online.”

Younger audiences interested in watching the film also have a chance to do so at a discounted price. As part of the BFI’s ‘25 and Under’ program, 16-25-year-olds can claim their tickets for just three pounds. Allowing young audiences to appreciate the artistry of the past and place it in a modern context.

Gene Tierney is often overshadowed by being named 'the most beautiful woman in movie history'. Aga Baranowska, the BFI season programmer, remarks: "She has an incredible on-screen presence, she is just mesmerising...you cannot take your eyes off her. And it is not just external beauty but something beyond that."

To celebrate her range as an artist, the season showcases a diverse range of films, including classics like Laura and some of Tierney’s lesser-known works. When asked about this deliberate choice, Baranowska says: “Tierney deserves to be known and remembered for her other wonderful performances as well".

She continues: "Within the 1940s, Gene moved with ease from comedies to film noirs, with period dramas and romantic stories along the way, giving a wide range of performances. She had a great range as an actor and an ability to transform herself into a variety of characters.”

Anwar, who has already attended two screenings, says “it was refreshing to discover movies from that time where the female lead is more than a femme fatale stereotype”. She’s “counting down” to attend Laura with a close friend who has never watched film noir before.

BFI Southbank will also be hosting many relevant events throughout the month of April that film aficionados can also look forward to. Panel discussions such as ‘More Than a Dream: Gene Tierney’ on 26 April will feature esteemed film critics and cinema experts and give guests the opportunity to ask questions about films like Laura.