Hangover Square

Famous Composer George Harvey Bone (Laird Cregar) turns from gentle giant to violent murdering psychopath when prompted by certain sounds - he can then recall nothing. Into his life comes tricky nightclub singer Linda Darnell who uses him to write popular songs that she can use / sell - he becomes bewitched.

Glorious piece of Grand Guignol evoking Jekyll and Hyde and a foggy, chestnut roasting London. The story is well played out and full of memorable scenes without going over the top. At the centre of it all is Cregar, hugely impressive as both a sweet, gentle man and an evil killer. He is well supported by Darnell who is good at being bad and George Sanders as the psychiatrist / amateur detective. Bernard Herrman's score is one of his best and used well throughout, but particularly in the climactic scene which is truly terrific.

In this variation on the Jekyll and Hyde story, a composer has sporadic episodes where his subconscious takes over and he has no recollections of his actions during these lapses when he comes to. This film reunites Cregar and Sanders with director Brahm from "The Lodger" the previous year, and, like the earlier film, it is visually opulent but the story is less than compelling. Cregar gives perhaps his best performance in this, his final film before his untimely death at age 31 just as he was coming into his own. Darnell, who would also die young, is a sensuous presence as the object of his obsession. Herrmann provides an impressive score, including a piano concerto used in the finale.

HANGOVER SQUARE is one of my favorite films in which LAIRD CREGAR appeared--in fact, his last before a crash diet ruined his health and led to his death at age 28. Seeing him in this film, made me realize what a wonderful Rochester he would have made in '44's JANE EYRE. He had the kind of presence that looms over every frame of this film, even when he's not actually in the scene.

He's a troubled musician who reacts violently when he hears certain discordant sounds. LINDA DARNELL makes an attractive romantic presence in her period costuming (it takes place in Victorian London), and GEORGE SANDERS does a nice job as a doctor (a good guy for a change).

The scenes that stand out are Cregar climbing the ladder of a bonfire to dispose of his latest victim and the finale where he's playing the piano in a deserted building as the flames spread around him--all the while Bernard Herrmann's score is making an impact.

It's a delicious LAIRD CREGAR performance and a fitting finale to his short but illustrious career. It's somewhat similar to a previous film, THE LODGER, another Victorian thriller he did with Merle Oberon.

If you admire good acting, directing and cinematography, this is a good movie to watch. It combines all of those elements. Whoever did the DVD transfer is to be complimented, too: the picture is sharp and the lighting is outstanding.

After a quick shocking opening, the story settles in for awhile and you have to stick with it. If you're used to modern movies, you'll get bored but if you hang around "Hangover Square" to where the main figure commits his second crime, the rest of the film gets better and better from that point. So does the direction and the photography. Kudos to Director John Brahm for a variety of interesting angles, from floor level to above-ceiling, through peep holes and anywhere else he could think of to shoot the scene.

If you're a fan of film noir, Cinematographer Josesph LaShelle's work here will keep you enthralled. Once he gets rolling, scene after scene is jaw-dropping in his array of lights and shadows - superb stuff.

Laird Cregar, meanwhile, is mesmerizing as "George Harvey Bone," a demented composer who, upon hearing discordant notes, literally goes insane and gets violent, intending to choke the life out of the last person who got him upset. What a shame the young Cregar never lived to see his great performance on screen. Read his biography here on IMDb, as it is interesting and tragic. In fact, if you rent or have this film's DVD, check out the 20-minute bonus feature of Cregar's career. The fact that the actor is still talked about in reverent tones in Hollywood some 60 years after his death, is a testimony to his acting prowess. particularly since his career was so short.

Linda Darnell adds a lot of sex appeal and evilness to "Hangover Square" and George Sanders - surprise - plays a good guy. How often do you see that?

The finale in here also is incredible - one you are guaranteed to remember!

Now that "Hangover Square" is available on DVD with such a great transfer, I highly recommend it.

HANGOVER SQUARE was Laird Cregar's last film (he died at 28) and he turns in a fine performance. You can see how haggard he looks from his 100+ pound weight lose which happened before and during the filming of this movie. His appearance and exhaustion fit well with the role of George Bone though. The scene where he carries the body to the Guy Fawkes bonfire and places it with all the mannequins is very memorable as is the ending. The film score by Bernard Hermann is excellent and the concerto Bone "writes" is believable and tense. Cregar even plays the piano very well. It is too bad he died so young after only 5 years making movies as Hollywood lost a fine talent that was just starting out. John Brahms does a good job directing the atmospheric HANGOVER SQUARE too.