Who directed the 1944 film noir Laura?

Otto Preminger directed the 1944 film noir Laura.

The film stars Gene Tierney as Laura Hunt, Dana Andrews as detective Mark McPherson, Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker, and Vincent Price as Shelby Carpenter. Its mystery begins after Laura is believed to have been murdered, with McPherson investigating the people closest to her.

Preminger also served as the film’s producer. The project had a troubled production: Rouben Mamoulian initially directed, but 20th Century Fox replaced him after the studio was dissatisfied with the early footage and creative direction. Preminger then took over and reshaped the film’s visual and dramatic style.

Laura was adapted from Vera Caspary’s 1943 novel. Its atmosphere, shifting suspicions, portrait motif, and haunting score by David Raksin helped make it a classic of film noir. The film received five Academy Award nominations and won for Best Black and White Cinematography. John Huston, Fritz Lang, and Billy Wilder were prominent filmmakers, but none directed this film.