Hangover Square (John Brahm 1945)
A promising young classical composer suffers violent dissociative episodes when subjected to discordant sounds.
20th Century Fox’s follow-up to 1944’s The Lodger, with the same killer (Laird Cregar), detective (George Sanders), scriptwriter (Barré Lyndon), director and a similar period setting. Reportedly, a very unfaithful adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s novel, but still a very good film in its own right. Cregar, in his last role before his untimely death, does a great job as the lead, who keeps audience sympathy by not realizing what he does during his blackouts. Linda Darnell almost outshines him as the music hall singer who seduces and betrays him. (This horror/thriller has got more than a bit of noir in it.)
Marvelous bits include Guy Fawkes Night and the even more fiery Grand Guignol climax, which features excellent use of Bernard Herrmann’s Concerto Macabre, written especially for the film.
