After wanting to watch The Trouble with Harry (1955) for quite some time, I was finally able to get my hands on a copy last month. It did not disappoint.
This isn't your typical Hitchcock film, and the viewer shouldn't go into it expecting one. Just watch the trailer and you will see what I mean.
That being said, here are five reasons you should watch The Trouble with Harry:
1. It's Hitchcock's only comedy. Yes, he also directed Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941) but that was at the request of Carole Lombard and doesn't really have his "stamp" on it. Hitch's droll humor is unmistakable in this one.
2. Edmund Gwenn and Mildred Natwick. They are the REAL leading couple of the film. Without them, it would not be the delightful and unique film that it is! And who said falling in love over a corpse is only for young people?
3. Shirley MacLaine. It's her film debut and she nails it. It's not easy to play in a black comedy but her performance feels like that of a veteran.
4. Little Jerry Mathers of Leave it to Beaver fame. Only 6 years old, Mathers sprouts some of the most memorable lines and because he's so little they are all the more humorous.
This is a two-muffin rabbit.
5. The scenery. The fact that it was filmed in Vermont during a glorious autumn is more than enough reason to watch this movie. Okay, so some of the scenes ended up being shot in California with fall colored leaved glued on the trees, I couldn't tell the difference!
This post is part of The Alfred Hitchcock Blogathon hosted by Coffee, Classics, and Craziness. Be sure to read all of the other posts on the Master of Suspense!
YES! I put this high on my list of favorite Hitchcock movies too. It's just so charming, if you can call a movie about a dead guy causing trouble "charming." I think you can.
ReplyDeleteYou can ;) Wish I could have written a longer post but I'm drowning in blogathons lol
DeleteMe too! WHY did I say I'd write 2 posts for the film noir one? Sigh. Well, I have one written and am working on the other right now, so I should survive.
DeleteMy favorite Hitchcock! And actually the first of his I saw, since my favorite episode of "Remington Steele" was based on it and I wanted to get the references!
ReplyDeleteHave you read the book?
There's a book!?! Will definately have to look it up!!
DeleteThere is, it's by Jack Trevor Story. I tried to read it a few years ago, but couldn't get into it at the time. It might be time to try reading it again...
DeleteI checked my library but they don't have it :( Maybe I'll come across it one day :)
DeleteThis movie looks great - I'll have to check if my library has a copy. :) And thanks for participating in the blogathon!
ReplyDelete~Eva
I hope it does! Thanks for hosting!! :)
DeleteYou've convinced me! I saw this a long, long time ago and remember being a bit nonplussed, but my movie humor has developed quite a bit and this suddenly sounds delightful...and I love the idea of Mildred Natwick and Edmund Gwynn as the real couple and falling in love over a corpse.
ReplyDeleteThey really are fantastic in it, the true leading couple of the film. Hope you enjoy it the second time around!
DeleteThese are good reasons indeed! :) I can't say that it's my favourite Hitchcock's film, but it certainly is a very amusing one. However, despite the fact that it's his only comedy (or "black comedy") we have to agree that there is a lot of humour in many of his films. Hitchcock accorded a lot of importance to this. And I must admit, I laugh more at watching The Lady Vanishes (which is for me the funniest Hitchcock's film) or To Catch a Thief, than this one. One I also found very funny was the very underrated Waltz from Vienna (which is Hitchcock's only musical ;) )
ReplyDeleteBut to come back to The Trouble with Harry, I think the cast is wonderful in it! Edmund Gwenn was also in The Skin Game, not a very good film, but he was the best thing (and only good thing) about it.
I haven't seen the two earlier films you mentioned. Will have to look them up. I also haven't seen the Skin Game but Gwenn is awesome in any film :)
DeleteBlack comedies are sort of a new genre to me but I want to see more. And yes, there's the signature Hitchcock humor in lots of his films. It's one of the reasons I love him. People need a comedic relief from the suspense!!