Police detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is drawn into high society as he investigates the murder of ad exec Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). The slithery suspects are numerous, including snobbish columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), and Laura's philandering fiancé Shelby (Vincent Price). McPherson begins to fall in love with Laura through a portrait in her home and the memories relayed by those who knew her...just as it becomes apparent that even the basic facts of the case might not be what they seem.

Peppered with eternally quotable dialogue and sumptuous, Oscar-winning cinematography, Laura stands with The Big Sleep and Double Indemnity as one of the classic noir titles.

"Few movies make you feel dirtier, and so perversely grateful for the pleasure." Time Out

Inspired by the 50th anniversary restoration of Francis Ford Coppola’s neo-noir thriller The Conversation (at QFT from Sat 13 July), we are spending July looking at noir detectives, from classic noir’s police investigators to neo-noir’s common people turned amateur sleuths.