Eyes of Laura Mars
2821964
223665810
2008-07-05T04:20:48Z
Dale Arnett
25667
/* Trivia */
{{infobox movie
|name=Eyes of Laura Mars
|image=
|writer=[[John Carpenter]]<br>[[David Zelag Goodman]]
|director=[[Irvin Kershner]]
|producer=[[Jack H. Harris]]<br>[[Jon Peters]]<br>[[Laura Ziskin]]
|starring=[[Faye Dunaway]]<br>[[Tommy Lee Jones]]<br>[[Brad Dourif]]
| editing = [[Michael Kahn (film editor)|Michael Kahn]]
|runtime=104 min.
|budget=$7 mil. ([[USD]])
|released=[[August 2]], [[1978]]
|distributor=[[Columbia Pictures]]
|language=[[English language|English]]
|amg_id = 1:16455
|imdb_id=0077530}}
'''''Eyes of Laura Mars''''' is a [[1978 in film|1978]] [[thriller film]] starring [[Faye Dunaway]] and [[Tommy Lee Jones]] and directed by [[Irvin Kershner]]. The screenplay, adapted from a [[Screenplay#Spec scripts|spec script]] titled ''Eyes'', written by [[John Carpenter]], was Carpenter's first major studio film. Producer [[Jon Peters]], who was dating [[Barbra Streisand]] at the time, bought the screenplay as a starring vehicle for the actress, but Streisand eventually decided not to take the role because of "the kinky nature of the story", as Peters later explained. The role went to Dunaway, who had just won an Oscar for her performance in ''[[Network (film)|Network]]''.
Production began on [[October 17]], [[1977]]. It was shot entirely in [[New York]] and [[New Jersey]]. The famous sequence where the Laura Mars character photographs a group of models against a backdrop of two burning cars was filmed over four days at New York's [[Columbus Circle]]. The $7 million production wrapped on [[January 9]], [[1978]], after 56 days of filming. It was reported that Peters and Dunaway had a tense relationship while making the film, and that Streisand visited the set on a few occasions.
[[Image:237434382 38a29796d5 o.jpg|thumb|left|330px|The sequence where Laura Mars photographs a group of models against a backdrop of two burning cars]]
On its release, the film received mixed critical reviews, with critics such as [[Roger Ebert]] pointing out its clichéd "woman in trouble" plot. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19780101/REVIEWS/801010302/1023] Despite its lukewarm critical reception, the film was a box office hit, earning $20M off of a $7M budget.
The film's theme song, "Prisoner", was performed by Streisand, and was included in the soundtrack.
Laura Mars is said to be an example of an American version of the [[giallo]] genre. The film is also noted for its [[twist ending]].
== Plot ==
Laura Mars ([[Faye Dunaway]]) is a successful [[fashion photographer]] known for her graphic works depicting murder and death. She begins to experience visions of the murders of her friends and colleagues, as seen through the eyes of the murderer. Together with police investigator John Neville ([[Tommy Lee Jones]]), she tries to make sense of her visions. The visions take on frightening new urgency when she realizes she will be next.
The photographs used at the beginning of the movie for Laura's exhibit are actually those of [[Helmut Newton]] and Rebecca Blake.
== Cast ==
* [[Faye Dunaway]] ''as'' Laura Mars
* [[Tommy Lee Jones]] ''as'' John Neville
* [[Brad Dourif]] ''as'' Tommy Ludlow
* [[Rene Auberjonois]] ''as'' Donald Phelps
* [[Raul Julia]] ''as'' Michael Reisler
* [[Frank Adonis]] ''as'' Sal Volpe
* [[Lisa Taylor]] ''as'' Michelle
* [[Darlanne Fluegel]] ''as'' Lulu
* [[Rose Gregorio]] ''as'' Elaine Cassel
== Trivia ==
This is the only film to feature a theme song performed by Barbra Streisand in which the actress/singer does not appear.
George Lucas hired director Kershner for ''[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back|The Empire Strikes Back]]'' because he was very impressed after seeing a early rough cut of the film.
== External links ==
*{{imdb title|id=0077530|title= Eyes Of Laura Mars}}
{{Irvin Kershner}}
[[Category:1978 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1970s horror films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Irvin Kershner]]
{{thriller-film-stub}}
[[fr:Les Yeux de Laura Mars]]
[[it:Gli occhi di Laura Mars]]
[[no:Eyes of Laura Mars]]
[[pt:Eyes of Laura Mars]]
[[ru:Глаза Лауры Марс (фильм)]]