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Today is Vincent Price's 105th birthday. I have only seen four of his pictures, but since one of them is widely regarded as one of finest films noir of all time (and features one of my favorite actors, Dana Andrews), I thought I would tell you a little bit about it.     Theatrical release poster Directed by Otto Preminger, Laura (1944) opens in New York with the discovery of the facially disfigured body of the beautiful and highly successful advertising executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney), murdered by a shotgun blast to the face, inside the doorway of her apartment. Police detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) interviews each of the suspects: Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), an imperious society columnist and Laura's possessive mentor; Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), Laura's weak-willed playboy fiancé; and Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson), Laura's socialite aunt, who is in love with Shelby. Mark also questions Laura's loyal housekeeper, Bessie Clary (Doro...

To celebrate lovely Gene Tierney's 95th birthday, which was yesterday, this week on "Film Friday" I thought I would bring you what I believe was the first film of hers I have seen. Incidentally, this picture was released on the exact same date of her 26 th birthday. Original poster by Norman Rockwell Directed by Edmund Goulding, The Razor's Edge (1946) opens at a dinner party held by eliti st snob El liott Templeton (Clifton Webb) and his sister L ouisa B radley (Lucile Watson) at a Chicago coun try club in 1919. Much to the family's dismay, Louisa 's daughter I sabel (Gene Tierney) is enga ged to Larry Dar rell (Tyrone Power), a war veteran who discovers upon his return home that he can no longer fit into th e world of upper-class society that his fianc é lives in. Also at the party is Sophie Nels on ( Anne Baxter ), Isabel's simple childhood friend ; Gray Maturin (John Pa yne), Larry's wealthy f riend who is also in love with Isabe...