Thanks to John Escobar who provided this recent photo of the portrait of Laura!
Gene Tierney's best known role is the enigmatic murder victim in Laura (1944). As the detective assigned to investigate her death, Dana Andrews falls in love with the bewitching portrait of Laura over the fireplace in the apartment. Then, several days after her supposed death, he falls asleep on the sofa only to awaken and find that Laura was not just a dream, captured on canvas, but …
To replace it, Preminger sent Gene to studio photographer Frank Polony. Several portrait shots were taken, and the best shot was enlarged to the size of a painting. After it was framed it was lightly airbrushed with paint, giving it the appearance of brush strokes.
This painting of Gene Tierney as Laura was later also used in On the Riviera (1951) in color co-starring Danny Kaye, and in Woman's World (1954) starring Clifton Webb. In Woman's World the painting hung on a wall with portraits of several other women who were supposed to have been former romantic interests of Webb's character.
Now there's a hat! I love this movie, great back story on the gorgeous "painting." I'll have to check out those other films where it appears.
ReplyDeleteI love this film so much! I found you after you had left a comment on my blog (regarding music - how do you like Emmy the Great?), and see that you have excellent taste as well. Always nice to meet someone with similar passions!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know where that painting is today. Anyone know?
ReplyDeleteAlso the painting from 'Portrait of Jennie', which presumably passed from Jennifer Jones' estate through the hands of her private art dealer husband. (Whom she married after David Selznick.)
I vaguely remember haven read something about the present whereabouts of the painting of Laura. The last couple of days I've searched the web but unfortunately I cannot find it. If I discover the location I will make a post about it (I hope the paining isn't destroyed).
DeleteAbout 20 years ago, a Hollywood actor friend who I knew in Burbank said he knew a private collector who had the painting hanging in his living room. Alas, despite my requests to see it, it never happened. I also read somewhere else that a private collector here in southern California had the painting. Where it is now is anyone's guess.
ReplyDeleteSo close! At least it still exists. It will turn up someday, thank you for your story!
DeleteAre there prints of the painting available for sale anywhere?
ReplyDeletei have also been searching for a print of the Laura portrait for my spouse. any news?
ReplyDeleteIt's strange but it doesn't seem to exist.
DeleteWhat exactly is family portrait portray? This really is spelled out the following: These kinds of portray usually shows someone's face, by generally there, the term "portrait" stems. On top of that, there are lots of pictures, older along with brand-new versions, on that you can understand the portraitee's entire body. A new family portrait is usually coloured while using purpose to exhibit almost all characteristics along with functions. The painter will try for you to stress this review inside a family portrait Painter of portraits
ReplyDeleteHere is info from a user comment on the Gene Tierney Movie Page website:
ReplyDeleteIt's owned by a collector named Michael Shaw. He also owned the pair of ruby slippers that were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids MN in 2005. He also has the clock from "Laura" or at least he did in the story I read some time ago.
January 23, 2015
Thanks!!
DeleteAny more news on the Laura picture anyone?
ReplyDeleteMarkyart's info was pretty interesting though.
DeleteHere is an interesting update:
Deletehttp://theartofilm.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-laura-portrait.html
I have information on the Laura painting and photos. I don't know how to post or I would.
ReplyDeleteWho owns it? What can you tell us? Is there a website you can refer us to? I'm watching the movie now on Netflix and would love nore info!
DeleteI can't figure how to post a photo. I'll try again.
DeleteTry this site
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208137488968217&set=g.2255790335&type=1&theater
Also, try this Facebook link.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208770078782567&set=a.10206968921554762.1073741895.1030577295&type=3&theater
Thanks John, great photo!
DeleteMy pleasure Rob. :-D
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos and I like the are they called Dutch shoes? In the first photo.
ReplyDeleteI purchased the wooden shoes in Amsterdam several years ago.
DeleteEs el cuadro más famoso que haya aparecido en pelÃcula alguna, tiene una magia inigualable, a pesar de que no es en sà un cuadro, sino una fotografÃa y que unido al tema de la pelÃcula, conforman un binomio difÃcil de olvidar para todo aquel que haya visto la pelÃcula. Gracias
ReplyDeleteMe alegra que disfruten la foto del retrato de Leonardo
DeleteA lovely tribute and interesting post, I'm still a fan of these old movies and the stars that played in them.
ReplyDeleteThe portrait in Woman’s World is not the Laura portrait. It is a similar pose but looking closely here are many differences. The arm position, dress and hair are not the same.
ReplyDelete