The Trouble with Harry (1955)
Quirky town confronts shared guilt and mystery over an unexpected corpse. Perfect for fans of dark comedy and small-town secrets.
Genres: Comedy, Mystery
Cast
- Cast member 1
- Cast member 2
- Cast member 3
- Cast member 4
- Cast member 5
- Cast member 6
- Cast member 7
- Cast member 8
- Cast member 9
- Cast member 10
Your Status
The Trouble with Harry(1955)
Overview
In a quiet Vermont village, a dead man’s body turns into an awkward problem when several locals think they might be responsible. As rumors spread and nerves rise, they scramble to handle the situation discreetly, leading to a string of odd choices, uneasy teamwork, and darkly funny misunderstandings.
Insights
Review Summary
Pros: quirky small-town charm; witty dialogue; gorgeous autumn scenery | Cons: low suspense; slow, talky pace; uneven humor
Will You Like This?
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a light, offbeat black comedy with charming characters and a low-stakes mystery vibe, similar to Family Plot or Charade; Not for you if you expect constant suspense or big laughs.
My Friends' Ratings
None of your friends have rated this yet.
Cast
Full Cast & CrewJohn Forsythe
Sam Marlowe
Shirley MacLaine
Jennifer Rogers
Edmund Gwenn
Captain Wiles
Mildred Natwick
Miss Gravely
Mildred Dunnock
Mrs. Wiggs
Jerry Mathers
Arnie Rogers
Royal Dano
Calvin Wiggs
Parker Fennelly
Millionaire
Barry Macollum
Tramp
Dwight Marfield
Dr. Greenbow
Leslie Woolf
Art Critic (uncredited)
Philip Truex
Harry Worp (uncredited)
Ernest Curt Bach
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock
Passer-by (uncredited)
Featured Comments/Tips
Even though, as with all Alfred Hitchcock films, a dead body plays an important role in "The Trouble with Harry," the film is unusual for the director. Because it isn't a thriller but a comedy. Although dark humor is prevalent in pretty much every Hitchcock film, it has rarely been the focus. For me, however, the change did not work. There are a few amusing moments, but overall, I found "The Trouble with Harry" to be rather boring. I really missed the usual suspense.
My main takeaway from this movie might be that Alfred Hitchcock might have been a big fan of the movie Weekend at Bernie's.
The dialogue in this film is fun. Everyone is so deadpan and matter of fact and I'm enjoying the sardonic nature of everyone's reactions. Feels like it would have been suited better as a stage play than a movie. Shirley MacLaine is as lovely as ever.
Most Hitchcock films are good, but this one is not worth the hour and thirty-nine minutes. 3/10 - for that cool title card, the natural scenery, and the cinematography (the framing in some scenes was very lovely).
It is a farce, but only in the literal sense. It's quirky, but sadly it's more to be laughed at rather than with. Hitchcock's good sense of humour, often referred to by others, doesn't really work on the big screen which is a shame because he really did seem funny off it. The scenery of Vermont is beautiful and is very well replicated in the studio. All of the characters are potty and the premise is ridiculous. One for completionists and fanboys only I think.
Considered a minor Hitchcock picture and now I can see why. Great premise but boring movie. There isn't even a memorable shot. Looks beautiful in 4k, though.
The funniest part of this movie is how unfazed everyone is when discovering a dead body.
Image 4.25 / 5 and sound 3/5. Different and comical? Film by Alfred Hitchcock
Featured User Reviews
The Trouble with Harry is a rare Hitchcock comedy that has divided many watchers. While I don't think its one of his best movies, it certainly is not a bad one. Visually I love the look of the film and the technicolour is amazing. Theirs real charm with the whole cast. The script I thought was pretty impressive, it was tightly written and the quirky characters really fit into the world. For a black comedy, I thought it was more light-hearted than maybe some others. The plot was intriguing enough for me and the witty dialogue worked well within the story. While the actual mystery of who killed Harry is not the centre of attention here, it did create some good moments where each believe they have done it. Seeing them bury him and dig him up several times I actually thought worked well as the running gag and didn't get tiresome for me. For a Hitchcock film, the movie does lack a lot of suspense that he is known for. I never fault like they were in any danger of getting caught and facing punishment. Their was a few moments near the end that with the Deputy Sheriff, but it never mounted to much. I do wish they ramped that up a bit more throughout. This was not a laugh out loud comedy, and while some jokes were hit and miss, I was never bored watching the movie. While the film consists of a lot of talking, the sharp script and fine performances kept me engaged enough to have a good time with this one. 7/10
You might also like...
A New Leaf
1971
A Shot in the Dark
1964
After the Thin Man
1936
Cactus Flower
1969
Charade
1963
Family Plot
1976
Foreign Correspondent
1940
Indiscreet
1958
Manhattan Murder Mystery
1993
Marnie
1964
Murder She Said
1961
Murder at the Gallop
1963
Murder by Death
1976
Rear Window
1954
Stalag 17
1953
Suspicion
1941
The Firemen's Ball
1967
The Last of Sheila
1973
The Man Who Knew Too Much
1956
The Thin Man
1934
To Catch a Thief
1955
Topper Returns
1941
Who Done It?
1942
Quincy, M.E.
1976
White Collar
2009
