The Trouble with Harry
The Trouble with Harry is a 1955 American black comedy film (99 minutes) directed by Alfred Hitchcock.[1] The screenplay by John Michael Hayes adapts the 1950 novel of the same name by British author Jack Trevor Story, centering on the comedic chaos that ensues when locals in a rural Vermont village discover a man's body in the woods and each suspects themselves of accidentally causing his death.[1][2] Starring Edmund Gwenn as retired Captain Albert Wiles, John Forsythe as artist Sam Marlowe, Shirley MacLaine in her screen debut as young mother Jennifer Rogers, Mildred Natwick as spinster Miss Ivy Gravely, and child actor Jerry Mathers as Jennifer's son Arnie, the film blends mordant humor with Hitchcock's signature suspense elements amid autumnal New England foliage.[1][3] Produced by Alfred Hitchcock Productions for Paramount Pictures, the film was shot on location in Stowe, Morrisville, and Craftsbury, Vermont, during the fall of 1954 to capture the vibrant Technicolor scenery, with additional scenes filmed at Paramount's Hollywood studios.[1] Hitchcock, seeking creative freedom after successful collaborations with Paramount, selected the project as a lighthearted departure from his thrillers, incorporating improvised dialogue and a score by Bernard Herrmann that the director later called his favorite among all his films.[1] Released on October 3, 1955, following a premiere in Barre, Vermont, on September 30, it features the corpse being repeatedly buried and unearthed by the characters, who ultimately learn the man died naturally of a heart attack, allowing romances to blossom.[1] Despite Hitchcock's personal fondness for the film—once describing it as his favorite—the picture underperformed at the U.S. box office, grossing approximately $1.2 million against a $1.5 million budget and leading to a half-million-dollar loss for Paramount, partly due to its unconventional marketing as a comedy rather than a thriller.[1][4] It fared better internationally, enjoying prolonged runs in the United Kingdom and France, where audiences appreciated its wry British-inspired humor derived from the source novel.[1] Critically, contemporary reviews were mixed, with some praising its charm and others faulting its meandering pace, but modern assessments, including an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, hail it as an underrated gem in Hitchcock's oeuvre for its subversive take on death and community.[3] The film remained largely unavailable until a 1984 re-release, cementing its status as a cult classic that showcases Hitchcock's versatility beyond suspense.[4]Synopsis and characters
Plot
In the autumnal woods of a small rural Vermont town, retired sea Captain Albert Wiles discovers the corpse of a man named Harry Worp while hunting rabbits and, fearing he accidentally shot him, decides to bury the body to avoid trouble.[5] Soon after, young artist Sam Marlowe stumbles upon the scene and agrees to help with the burial, only for the pair to be interrupted by Jennifer Rogers, Harry's estranged wife and mother to a young boy, who confesses she may have killed Harry by striking him with a milk bottle during an argument the previous night.[4] As the group debates their predicament over casual conversation, spinster Miss Ivy Gravely arrives, knitting in hand, and reveals her belief that she struck Harry with her hiking boot in self-defense after he allegedly attacked her, adding to the chorus of mistaken guilt.[5][6] The comedic misunderstandings escalate as the villagers repeatedly exhume and rebury Harry's body to evade detection—first hiding it in Marlowe's shed to avoid a nosy dog, then relocating it after a rainstorm unearths it again, all while the characters bond over their shared secret and ironic situations, such as pausing for hot chocolate amid the chaos.[4] The local mailman, who suspects he may have run Harry over with his truck, joins the fray with a shovel, further complicating the efforts to dispose of the remains discreetly.[6] Tensions peak when a deputy arrives to investigate, prompting frantic cover-ups, but an autopsy later reveals Harry died naturally from a heart attack, not foul play, clearing everyone of suspicion.[4] In the resolution, with the coroner's inquest confirming the innocent cause of death, the group disposes of the body properly, and the black comedy culminates in romantic pairings: Wiles and Gravely, and Marlowe and Jennifer, who walk off together as the quirky Vermont community returns to its serene rhythm.[5]Cast
The principal cast of The Trouble with Harry includes a mix of established actors and newcomers, with director Alfred Hitchcock selecting performers who brought distinct energy to the film's quirky ensemble.[1]| Actor | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shirley MacLaine | Jennifer Rogers | Film debut; discovered by Hitchcock following her Broadway role in The Pajama Game.[1] |
| Edmund Gwenn | Capt. Albert Wiles | Retired sea captain who finds the body.[7] |
| John Forsythe | Sam Marlowe | Local artist; film debut, cast by Hitchcock after television appearances.[7] |
| Mildred Natwick | Miss Ivy Gravely | Spinster with a romantic interest in the captain.[7] |
| Mildred Dunnock | Mrs. Wiggs | Store owner assisting with the artist's work.[7] |
| Jerry Mathers | Arnie Rogers | Jennifer's young son.[7] |