Now, with Laura still alive, unmasking the killer becomes even more urgent. At a party celebrating Laura's return McPherson arrests Laura for the murder of Redfern. Upon questioning her, he becomes convinced both that she is innocent and that she does not love Carpenter. He goes to search Lydecker's apartment, where he becomes suspicious of a clock that is identical to the one in Laura's apartment. On closer examination, he finds it has a secret compartment. McPherson returns to Laura's apartment. Lydecker is there and notices a growing bond between Laura and the detective. Lydecker insults McPherson and is sent away by Laura, but pauses on the stairwell outside. McPherson examines Laura's clock and finds the shotgun that killed Diane, but leaves it there. Laura is confronted with the truth that Lydecker is the murderer. McPherson and Laura kiss, then he locks her into her apartment, warning her to admit no one. After he leaves, Lydecker, who had slipped in, retrieves the shotgun, emerges from another room and attempts to kill Laura, saying that if he cannot have her no one can. She deflects his shot and flees just as McPherson arrives, and Lydecker is shot down by McPherson's sergeant. As he dies, Lydecker whispers "Goodbye, Laura. Goodbye, my love." Cast Gene Tierney as Laura Hunt Dana Andrews as Mark McPherson Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker Vincent Price as Shelby Carpenter Judith Anderson as Ann Treadwell Dorothy Adams as Bessie Clary, Laura's Maid (uncredited) Ralph Dunn as Fred Callahan (uncredited) Clyde Fillmore as Owner of Bullitt & Co. Ad Agency (uncredited) William Forrest as Important Client (uncredited) James Flavin as Det. McEveety (uncredited) Kathleen Howard as Louise, Ann's Cook (uncredited) Larry Steers as Man Dining with Laura (uncredited) Cara Williams as Secretary in Laura's Office (uncredited) Eric Wilton as Restaurant Patron (uncredited) Production Otto Preminger was looking for a theatrical project to direct and first became aware of Vera Caspary's story when her agent offered him the first draft of a play called Ring Twice for Laura. Preminger liked the high-society setting and the unusual plot twist, but he felt the work needed a major revision and offered to rewrite it with its author. Caspary and he disagreed about the direction they should take it, and she opted to collaborate with writer George Sklar, instead. Marlene Dietrich expressed interest in portraying the title character, but without the attachment of Dietrich