My wife and I went in knowing almost nothing, beyond it being considered a classic film noir, and I'm glad we did!

The first half feels like a murder mystery wrapped in a character study, but what really got me was how modern the storytelling felt for such an old movie. The atmosphere, the dialogue, and especially the way the mystery slowly unfolds kept us both captivated and intrigued the entire time, while also trying to figure who dunnit.

Clifton Webb absolutely steals every scene as Waldo Lydecker. He's witty, manipulative, and fascinating to watch. He pulls you back and forth on his involvement and his character has some quirks that are still relatable today. He's definitely one of my favorites of the film. Dana Andrews too has such a captivating screen presence as the detective. His character is intelligent, and so fun to follow throughout while he tries to crack the case. Some of his methods however, would be considered unconventional by todays detective standards. Vincent Price also shows off his incredible acting skills, and it's apparent why he had such a long and successful career afterward. This movie made me want to check out more of his early stuff. Gene Tierney delivers a quiet but incredible performance as Laura Hunt. Even with relatively limited screen time, she gives the mystery its weight. Dorothy Adam's, who plays Laura's maid is an unforgettable character as well. It's seriously just good all around and I highly recommend it.

Without spoiling anything, the plot took a turn I genuinely didn't see coming, which is impressive for a movie that's over 80 years old. The writing is fantastic and some of the quotes will stick with you if you give it a chance. 

Rating: 9/10. A stylish, smart noir that absolutely holds up. I'm curious how people who have seen a lot of classic noir rank this one compared to The Maltese Falcon.

What should we check out moving forward?

Laura [1944]