Laura

by Vera Caspary, George Sklar

When Mark McPherson first falls in love with Laura, he knows he's in love with a phantom for Laura is dead, and he's in charge of her murder investigation. From her portrait, her letters, her personal effects and from his contacts with the three men who loved her, Mark has created an image of a woman tantalizingly alive and real. When she appears in the midst of a thunderstorm, very much alive after all, it is revealed that Laura's best friend (and rival) was the true victim of the crime. But now, all evidence seems to point to Laura's guilt. Despite his growing love for her a love which Laura seems to return Mark is about to pin the crime on her, when the real murderer appears and tries to do away with the girl he meant to kill in the first place Laura.

Genres: Plays

74 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

About the author

Vera Caspary, an acclaimed American writer of novels, plays, short stories and screenplays, was born in Chicago in 1899. Her writing talent shone from a young age and, following the death of her father, her work became the primary source of income for Caspary and her mother. A young woman when the Great Depression hit America, Caspary soon developed a keen interest in Socialist causes, and joined the Communist Party under a pseudonym. Although she soon left the party after becoming disillusioned, Caspary's leftist leanings would later come back to haunt her when she was greylisted from Hollywood in the 1950s for Communist sympathies. Caspary spent this period of self-described 'purgatory' alternately in Europe and America with her husband, Igee Goldsmith, in order to find work. After Igee's death in 1964, Caspary returned permanently to New York, where she wrote a further eight titles. Vera Caspary died in 1987 and is survived by a literary legacy of strong independent female characters.

Reviews

[Carla Remy · Rating 4 out of 5]

06/2015

Maybe this would have been better if I didn't know the 1940s film so well. The movie covers the story very thoroughly. Still, I totally enjoyed reading this. I found this copy at a thrift store in California. It's from 1942 and it still has its dust jacket! Amazing (it is a book club edition, and the cover is faded in parts...still pretty cool).

05/2023
I did not read the stage play. I read the novel by Vera Caspary. I have no idea where this "stage play" even came from.

[Yourfiendmrjones · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a play, it flows pretty well and the dialogue still crackles. The only change from the film and the book being a switch from Judith Anderson's character to a new character Danny. He is the son of the landlady downstairs who has a crush on Laura as well as sharing a love of jazz music with her. As much as I like jazz, the Anderson character add more opportunity for acid lines in the piece and Danny kind of drags as a red-herring suspect.


SPOILER ALERT- Rosebud is Laura's sled. Also, she's a dude.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating is for stage play.

An enjoyable, and swiftly paced, detective story, set in the early 40's. Taking place in one location over the period of two days, the audience is treated to a murder investigation being conducted by Detective Mark McPherson. The play unfolds over three acts as we meet several individuals closely involved with Laura's life. Each of them, of course, hides several relevant secrets, which deepens the mystery, and creates a whirlwind of intense questioning, personal conflict, drama, and suspense, especially when it is revealed that Laura wasn't the victim after she reappears, having known nothing of the murder.

Laura is not without its faults, as there is the occasional dragging monologue (Waldo's intensely foreshadowing story in act 1), and it has its share of cheesy one-liners ("You can't call me a murderer and light my cigarette."). As a whole, it's an enjoyable trip back in time to the period of the classic noir detective.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the stage play, not the Novel ISBN: 0822206463

This is excellent as far as screenplays go. See the review of the movie for more details. This play is 74 pages. If you are looking for the Novel this is not it. The movie with Gene Tierney is well-played.

Publisher: Dramatists Play Service, Incorporated
If you found the play interesting you may want to obtain a copy of “Laura as Novel, Film, and Myth” by Eugene McNamara for more insight.

Story:
Waldo Lydecker, a self-centered writer is having his lunch interrupted by a young lady Laura Hunt who is soliciting his endorsement of a pen. He takes her under his wing and grooms her for corporate greatness. Later it looks like someone has bumped off Laura. Detective Lt. Mark McPherson is assigned to the case. Somewhere in the process of investigation he seems to have fallen in love with the dead Laura and wants to buy her portrait.

Can we figure out who did it before Mark?

[Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terribly dated. A "big" reveal at the end of each act, but SO plodding everywhere else.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this play, as I have the movie. Small differences between them of course, but a really good read.