AN UNEXPECTED HITCHCOCK OR "THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY"

I picked this film strictly to lift my mood. I was in quite a foul mood as moods go and utterly unable to battle with, say, three hours of 1916 footage. Or anything on a par with that. I have endless respect for pretty much all kinds of film as you well know, however, there is a time and a place for everything and this was not it. Now, at first glances a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock doesn’t seem an ideal film to lift one’s mood. I mean yes, his brilliant thrillers can be cathartic, that’s a given, but uplifting? I agree with you. The thing is, I was keeping this little gem under my hat for just such a rainy day. It is a rare thriller – comedy by the great master. Now, I haven’t watched many Hitchcock comedies in my time (neither has anyone else seeing as he didn’t actually film that many) but I reckoned if we’re talking about Hitchcock, it has to be good. I was right.
It is a beautiful day in the American countryside. High in the woods, Captain Wiles – local of the small town nearby – discovers a body. Now, the problem is, the Captain , who is doing a spot of illegal hunting for his dinner, rather suspects he has killed him. The only reasonable course of action seems to be to bury Harry (whose name is revealed by a letter in his pocket) and pretend “he never happened”. Simple enough plan, no? Not quite. Along come a whole host of people, each and everyone knowing Harry and each and every one suspecting they might have something to do with his death. Although the only sensible course of action is to get rid of Harry while skillfully avoiding the town’s sheriff, this will prove to be easier said than done. What with romance flying through the air and complicating things and the necessity to bury – or unearth – Harry emerging almost hourly, the Captain’s quiet evening hunting will turn out to be more of an adrenalin rush than he may have expected. Not to say back-breaking…
I have always claimed that it is painfully difficult to marry genres so different as comedy and horror – or thrillers. The two are so different, if it is badly done the result is disastrous but if it is well done it is a beautiful, amusing symphony of contrasts. And we are talking about Hitchcock here fellas… This is one film where one becomes distinctly aware of the Hitchcock’s British roots. The humor borders on the rather more American slapstick (not least thanks to the “perfect prop” in the shape of Harry) but the humor is subtle, bizarre, ironic and very, VERY British. Now don’t scrunch up your nose just because I said British, it suits the case very well. After all, if we are going to laugh and be serious alternately, we cannot have huge comic gestures. There is the small matter of Harry, digging up the circumstances of his death, figuring out who killed him and whether the whole incident should be reported to the police or discreetly forgotten about. It is a subtle and witty film. Not least because of the acting talent. This is the film Shirley MacLane was discovered in, not to mention an appearance by John Forsythe as the Captain. In short, a truly brilliant way to spend 100 minutes. Save for a rainy day, it works!