The film's director, Otto Preminger, had originally wanted to use Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" as the theme, but Raksin was not convinced that it was suitable.
Raksin later said, and maintained for the rest of his days, that when, over that weekend, his wife sent him a "Dear John" letter, the haunting theme seemed to write itself.
[1] The lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer after the film made the tune popular, so he had to title the song "Laura".
[2] According to Mercer, he had not yet seen the movie when he wrote the lyrics but was aware that it was a romantic, somewhat haunting story.
[3] Some of the best-known versions are by Woody Herman,[2] Dave Brubeck, Johnny Johnston, Emil Newman, David Rose, Billy Eckstine, Charlie Parker, J. J. Johnson, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Spike Jones[1] and Julie London (included on her 1955 debut album Julie Is Her Name, Vol.