The Trouble with Harry(1955) PG
| Director: | alfred hitchcock | Runtime: 1hrs 39min ( 99min) |
|---|---|---|
| captain albert wiles | ..... | edmund gwenn |
| sam marlowe | ..... | john forsythe |
| miss ivy gravely | ..... | mildred natwick |
| mrs. wiggs | ..... | mildred dunnock |
| arnie roger | ..... | jerry mathers |
| deputy sheriff calvin wiggs | ..... | royal dano |
| millionaire | ..... | parker fennelly |
| tramp | ..... | barry macollum |
| dr. greenbow | ..... | dwight marfield |
| jennifer rogers | ..... | shirley macLaine |
| ellis | ..... | ernest curt bach |
| man walking past sam's outdoor exhibition | ..... | alfred hitchcock |
| harry worp | ..... | philip truex |
| art critic from the modern museum | ..... | leslie woolf |
Little Arnie Rogers (Jerry Mathers) opens this tale as a three-foot kid running through the woods with his toy gun. He hears a shot...he goes a little further with a concerned, frightened look on his face, only to come across none other than a dead body (Philip Truex). He stared at it for a moment...then runs away.
Next we meet Captain Albert Wiles (Edmund Gwenn), who is out shooting rabbits (which is not allowed). On his way through that same forest, headed home after bagging exactly no dinner, finds the same body, stone dead, and naturally assumes that he himself shot and caused this young man's demise.
The Captain is terribly distraught, as he does not know who this dead man is lying on the ground before him.
As he is standing there, up the hill walks Miss Ivy Gravely (Mildred Natwick). She stands beside the Captain, obviously unsure of exactly what to say concerning this situation. So, naturally, the two (Ivy and the Captain) decide to have coffee and blueberry muffins that afternoon. They also decide that some Elderberry wine would go nicely with the repast. Miss Gravely walks away from Albert and the dead man, delighted.
Albert ducks out of sight as he sees little Arnie returning with his mother, Jennifer Rogers (Shirley MacLaine). We learn here that she knows the dead man, that his name is Harry, and that she is not upset that he is dead.
Albert stays hidden, for as soon as Jennifer and Arnie leave the scene, another person arrives. This time, it's Dr. Greenbow (Dwight Marfield). He, however, is so engrossed in a book, that he trips over the body (literally), losing his glasses on the ground. When he retrieves them, he again picks up his book and continues on his way.
Finally (we think), a tramp (Barry Macollum) wanders up the hill. By now, the Captain is thinking he aught to be selling tickets [author's commentary]. The tramp sees Harry, sits down, and takes the shoes for himself. [author's note: see John Grisham's novel "Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer" for an interesting connection to this part of the story.]
The Captain leaves, and a little later on, other townspeople discover Harry. Sam Marlowe (John Forsythe), starving artist, is strolling along and stops to sketch the scenery. He approaches Harry to ask him to kindly remove himself from the area. Obviously, being dead and all, this proves impossible. So, Sam sits down and sketches Harry.
Finally (for real this time), Dr. Greenbow walks by again; again reading a book; again, tripping over Harry, losing his glasses; again, retrieving them and going on his way. Note that this is the town physician -- the one person in whom the townspeople trust their lives!
Once most people of the town are all aware of Harry (it looks as if Dr. Greenbow isn't really aware of much of anything), it becomes apparent that nobody is quite certain as to why he is dead. Or, more accurately, who is responsible for his death.
Captain Wiles is sure he shot Harry, by accident, while hunting for rabbits. Jennifer thinks Harry must have died after staggering away from her house. You see, she had just hit him over the head with a milk bottle (in those days, milk bottles were glass, not plastic)! However, Miss Gravely is convinced she is to blame for killing Harry with the leater heel of her hiking boot -- the one with the metal cleat on the end of it.
In the midst of all this, a wandering millionaire (Parker Fennelly) wants to buy all of Sam's paintings. Sam doesn't ask for money. Instead, he asks each of the aforementioned conspirators what they want the most. The millionaire writes down their wishes, and promises to grant the requests in exchange for the paintings. But what does Sam ask for? That is a request that is only whispered in the millionaire's ear.
By the way, all this is occurring under the nose of Mrs. Wiggs' (Mildred Dunnock) son, Calvin (Royal Dano), who also happens to be the Deputy Sheriff, and about the only person who does not know about Harry.
Oh, yeah…did I mention that Harry has been buried and exhumed a few or more times since this ordeal began? The people of this town are very indecisive.
Even when the gig seems to be up, the surprising quick wit of the townsfolk, along with convenient circumstance, prove useful in postponing what seems to be inevitable. Or is it? But wait…there's more…I think…
Out of respect for the famed director (by the way, did you find Alfred? He once again makes his trademark cameo appearance somewhere in the film), I won't reveal what happens to Harry in the end. You'll just have to see the movie. Don't worry…you'll find out.
Twists and turns at every corner. Of course, what else should you expect from Alfred Hitchcock. And all with the whimsical comedic style we come to expect from the famed director. Dead bodies are darned funny, wouldn't you say? And who else would you expect to see making a film with such a storyline as…wait a minute…something's just not right there. There are just too many unknowns about and in this movie. Who really killed Harry? Should Harry be buried or not? Who really directed the movie? Was it The Alfred Hitchcock, or just someone with a really fortunate name?
I can pretty much guarantee that before this movie is over, you will have had a quizzical expression on your face at least three times…if you were paying attention.
This story, written by Jack Trevor Story (screenplay by John Michael Hayes), in itself is meant to be confusing. Beyond that, clever wordplay and thoughtful paradoxical situations are executed as only Alfred Hitchcock could. The audience is confused, the characters are confused, but everyone knows exactly what is happening at any given moment…but only for said given moment.
Of course, you will see some great stars helping out the movie. John Forsythe (unseen voice in Charlie's Angels), Shirley MacLaine (Steel Magnolias), Edmund Gwenn (Miracle on 34th Street), and, of course, Jerry Mathers as The Beaver (ha!). Not that this story needs any help, it would have done just fine by itself. But don't take my word for it.
For those of you who are yearning for (or just planning) a Hitchcock marathon with the family, I would suggest an order of Hitchcock movies such as follows: Psycho, The Birds, Rope. The Trouble with Harry…then you can go to bed peacefully…
Finally, a short list of quotes I think are worth repeating. You may recognize some, but these are my own picks, not ones that are particularly famous:
- Mrs. Wiggs :
I only brought your name up once when we were talking about strange people.
- Sam :
Would you like to say a few words, Captain?
Albert :That I would. Harry Worp, don't you ever show your face around here again.
- Albert :
Coming home from Madagascar once we had a fireman on board who hit his head on a brick wall and died two days later.
Sam :Where would he find a brick wall on board a ship?
Albert :That's what we always wondered.
- Jennifer :
Did you see his mustache and his wavy hair?
Sam :When I saw him, he was dead.
Jennifer :He looked exactly the same when he was alive, only he was vertical.
- Sam :
Who's the man up on the path?
Jennifer :What man?
Sam :You know, Harry. The dead man.
Jennifer :Oh, him. That's my husband.
Sam :Your husband's dead, then?
Jennifer :[nods] Is your lemonade sweet enough?
Sam :Seems to be.
Jennifer :I like it tart.
Sam :Harry is Arnie's father, then?
Jennifer :Nah. Arnie's father's dead.
Sam :So's Harry.
- Sam :
Perhaps I'll come back tomorrow.
Arnie :When's that?
Sam :Day after today.
Arnie :That's yesterday. Today's tomorrow.
Sam :It was.
Arnie :When was tomorrow yesterday, Mr. Marlow?
Sam :Today.
Arnie :Oh, sure. Yesterday.
Jennifer :You'll never make sense out of Arnie. He's got his own timing.
10 /10 
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