"Laura" rates high for suspense value. Although Gene Tierney, who plays Laura, is murdered before the picture begins, her spectacular rise to fame and her peculiar death furnish the material for the plot. Detective Dana Andrews falls in love with a portrait of Laura. This upsets his sleuthing for a while until a near miracle occurs and the screen begins to swim with possible suspects.

Clifton Webb excels in the role of Mr. Laedecker, a gentleman who combines the virtues of Walter Winchell, Alexander Woolcott, and Tommy Manville. Miss Tierney turns in a good performance, mainly because her part calls for very few lines and many closeups. Vincent Price and Judith Anderson add to the general atmosphere and manage to get involved in the proceedings.

This is one mystery that keeps you guessing, not only about who did it but about what the crime was. Detective Andrews shows a fine knowledge of everything from cheap Scotch whiskey to "Brooklyn dames" as he uses clues that would have stumped Sherlock Holmes to unravel the mess and corral the miss. elh