The Trouble with Harry (1955)

The trouble with Harry is that he's dead, and everyone seems to have a different idea of what needs to be done with his body...

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

John Michael Hayes (screenplay), Jack Trevor Story (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, Mildred Natwick

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edmund Gwenn	...	Capt. Albert Wiles
John Forsythe	...	Sam Marlowe
Mildred Natwick	...	Miss Ivy Gravely
Mildred Dunnock	...	Mrs. Wiggs
Jerry Mathers	...	Arnie Rogers
Royal Dano	...	Deputy Sheriff Calvin Wiggs
Parker Fennelly	...	Millionaire
Barry Macollum	...	Tramp
Dwight Marfield	...	Dr. Greenbow
Shirley MacLaine	...	Jennifer Rogers

Storyline

Trouble erupts in a small, quiet New England town when a man's body is found in the woods. The problem is that almost everyone in town thinks that they had something to do with his death.

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Plot Keywords:

suspect | artist | vermont | unnecessary shame | hobo | 

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Taglines:

A THRILLER with a difference!

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mais qui a tué Harry?

Filming Locations:

Morrisville, Vermont, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.50 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to the indifferent weather conditions in Vermont, boxes and boxes of autumnal leaves were shipped back to California where they were painstakingly pinned onto trees on a studio soundstage.

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Goofs

Sam's leaves his newest painting at the roadside stand as he and Wiggie walk to the Emporium. Sam's painting can now be seen leaning against the counter. Wiggie's attention is drawn out the window, where she sees a customer pick up Sam's painting for a closer look; her attention then shifts back to the interior of the store where Sam's painting is still magically leaning against the counter.

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Quotes

Miss Graveley: [to Capt. Wiles] I'm grateful to you for burying my body.

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Crazy Credits

The drawings behind the opening credits are by artist Saul Steinberg, reportedly echoing elements of paintings by Paul Klee, whose work Hitchcock collected. Steinberg received no on-screen credit.

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Connections

Referenced in Peyton Place (1957)

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Soundtracks

"Flaggin' the Train to Tuscaloosa"
Lyrics by Mack David
Music by Raymond Scott
Sung by John Forsythe (uncredited)

User Reviews

Better than I expected

When I read the box at the video store, I thought it sounded a little silly, but since it was directed buy Hitchcock, I decided to give it a try. I was glad I did!

This film does a good job at showing what life is like (in a twisted way) in a small American town. Of course the whole thing is a black comedy about a corpse, but it's great fun, and suspenseful too, especially when Calvin is in the room, questioning everybody. I didn't understand why the door kept opening, but maybe it was just a joke - normally the door would signal a killer entering or something like that - but the door is never any cause for alarm.

All the actors are good, especially Gwenn, and Mrs. Gravely was so endearing. Don't ignore this lesser known Hitchcock movie. It's a treat to watch and is genuinely funny.