Hangover Square

Hangover Square is the last film Laird Cregar made in his brief, remarkable career. Freely adapted from Patrick Hamilton's novel, it was directed by John Brahm, photographed by Joseph LaShelle, and features a memorably thunderous score by Bernard Herrmann. Like the previous year's The Lodger, also a Cregar-Brahm collaboration, this is a killer on the loose in Victorian London movie. Aside from some fancily shot scenes early on, this would not in itself be an extraordinary film but for Cregar's portrayal of the lead character, a man who murders when he hears loud, sudden noises. In his quieter moments the man is, of all things, a composer!

There are many fine scenes in this film but it's basically Cregar's show from start to finish, and he does not disappoint. His performance is so brilliant, empathetic, nuanced, and for all the melodrama, utterly believable, that it's impossible not to focus on him at the expense of the rest of the movie.

Perhaps the best way to describe Cregar's acting style here is to imagine A Streetcar Named Desire being performed entirely inside someone's mind, with the characters of Stanley and Blanche being played by the same actor, in a Victorian setting, disguised as a murder story. One wonders where Cregar found the inspiration for such work. He was one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen, and one of the most enigmatic. American-born, he tended to play Brits. Unlike his fellow American Anglophile actor and friend, Vincent Price, he had no education to speak of. Within a span of less than five years he went from supporting player to star. In this movie he is top-billed over Fox hottie Linda Darnell. Not too shabby for a morbidly obese man several inches over six feet in height who, while still in his twenties, was playing men well into their forties.

Cregar had a way of making even accomplished co-stars like Cedric Hardwicke and George Sanders look like amateurs by comparison. He wasn't even trying to. One should watch his films to see what a great actor is like. His roles weren't always great, but he was. Forget Sean Penn and his tantrums, or Meryl Streep's mannered Yale Drama School flair for accents. Cregar was the real deal. The only American actor I can think of who could give him a run for his money would be Brando. Sadly, Cregar was as tormented as he was gifted, was full of self-hatred, for a variety of reasons, and went on a crash diet after completing this film in the hope of becoming a romantic leading man. But he lost the weight so fast it killed him. He was twenty-eight years old.

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.

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.

Laird Cregar stars as George Harvey Bone, a turn of the 20th century London composer. He's busy working on a concerto, but gets distracted by a chanteuse named Netta Longdon (Linda Darnell). He gets his heart broken by this self-serving lady, who's only interested in what he can do for her. Meanwhile, he keeps suffering prolonged "episodes" - brought on by loud, discordant noises - and he can't remember what he does or where he goes during these periods. As it turns out, he becomes impulsively murderous.

"Hangover Square", named for the London address at which Bone resides, was scripted by Barre Lyndon, based on a novel by Patrick Hamilton. Sadly, it would turn out to be the final picture for Cregar, who suffered the ill effects of an attempted crash diet. But he certainly goes out in style, creating a vivid character who's far more sympathetic than the character he played for director John Brahm in "The Lodger". While the other cast members are good, this largely remains his show - one that his character sees through to the bitter end.

Darnell and the equally lovely Faye Marlowe are intoxicating as the women in his life. One does feel disgruntled on Bones' behalf when Netta reveals her true colours. George Sanders is his typical classy, dapper self as an analyst working for Scotland Yard. Glenn Langan is amusingly smarmy as Bones' rival for Nettas' affections. And Alan Napier, Michael Dyne, and Frederic Worlock lend able support in various other roles.

While the excellent black & white cinematography by Joseph LaShelle is definitely a key element, the film works best as a marriage of image and music. Bernard Herrmann is one of the most valuable assets that the film can boast, as his lush score & concerto provide the perfect accompaniment for these melodramatic goings-on.

One clever highlight: Bone taking advantage of a fiery Guy Fawkes celebration night.

Eight out of 10.

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.