Film Illiterate, wherein the proprietor records movies seen, and sporadic progress through assorted lists of the "best". Originally started after regretfully renting something forgettable for the third time. I've forgotten what, but never again! A tedious endeavour since 2005. Hello. 🙂
Hitchcock's off-beat black comedy The Trouble With Harry is a strange beast. Captain Wiles (Edmund Gwenn) thinks he has accidentally killed the man -- with a stray bullet meant for a rabbit -- but it turns out that he's not the only one. Who did kill Harry?
It's a murder mystery of sorts, but no-one really cares that Harry is dead; the question is explored with more good-natured curiosity than thrilling suspense. Although the story approaches farce as the situation becomes more and more complicated, it never reaches the fever pitch required to be truly satisfying as such. It's too placid and too uneventful.
If anything, The Trouble With Harry is a song in praise of country life, where life is so peaceful that even murder is relaxed. What need of thrills when one has muffins for afternoon tea? In this, unfortunately, the frequent use of outdoor sets in place of location shooting (apparently forced by extensive rainfall) is a problem. It's hard to appreciate the beauty of the countryside when it's obviously fake.
Still, it's a light bit of fun, and an impish young Shirley MacLaine ought to be reason enough for any man of taste...