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Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, Shirley MacLaine, Mildred Natwick, Mildred Dunnock ... see more see more... , Jerry Mathers , Royal Dano , Parker Fennelly , Barry Macollum , Dwight Marfield , Ernest Curt Bach , Philip Truex , Leslie Woolf

The trouble with Harry is that he's dead. The scene is a autumnal Vermont village, where a pre-Leave It to Beaver Jerry Mathers stumbles upon Harry's corpse in the woods. Mathers alerts his mother Shi... read more read more...rley MacLaine (making her film debut), who recognizes Harry as her ex-husband. Later on, retired sea captain Edmund Gwenn likewise comes across the moribund Harry. Both MacLaine and Gwenn have reason to believe that they're responsible for Harry's demise; MacLaine thinks that she killed Harry by clobbering him with a bottle, while Gwenn is certain that he shot the poor fellow while hunting. As the day draws to a close, seemingly every person in town is convinced that he or she has had some hand in Harry's death, thus they conspire to hide the body from the authorities. Visiting artist John Forsythe, dumbfounded at the calm, collected reactions of the villagers regarding Harry (whose ubiquitous body pops up at the most inopportune moments), solves the "mystery." Though not his most successful film, The Trouble with Harry was one of director Alfred Hitchcock's favorites. The story's whimsical black-comedy elements are perfectly complemented by Bernard Herrmann's playful music score. Best bit: Mildred Natwick, coming upon Gwenn as the latter is strenuously dragging away Harry's corpse, asking offhandedly "What seems to be the trouble, Captain?" The Trouble With Harry was adapted by John Michael Hayes from the novel by John Trevor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

12,648 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

20 critics

PG, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: October 3, 1955

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

Stats: 783 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (783)


  • April 14, 2007
    No lost masterpiece here - slightly amusing Hitchcock black comedy. The male leads are leaden but Shirley MacClaine is smart sexy quirky cute right out of the gates.
  • fb1664868775
    December 11, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Hitchcock's black comedy classic is a different direction for the master and he adapts well.
  • November 1, 2011
    Hitchcock's delightful but somewhat shallow dabbling into dark comedy featuring a young and absolutely beautiful Shirley MacLaine.
  • December 6, 2010
    The Trouble with Harry is Hitchcock at his most playful. It is also possibly his best cast. If you don't find the dark comedy funny, then you can at least appreciate the fantastic performances, particularly from Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe and Shirley MacLaine, in her excellent m... read moreotion picture debut. This movie has influenced many a film, not all great but the 'Comedy of errors' was born, yet another example of a genres practically invented by Hitchcock. Great stuff!
  • November 9, 2010
    One of my top favourite Hitchcock movies because it's not just a thriller and not just a comedy, but it's a dark comedy. I love it, and I highly recommend it.
  • April 29, 2010
    The most underrated Hitchcock film ever made, an absolutely brilliant work of art. Itâ??s really the birth of Black Comedy and still one of the best. The cast is perfect, no names at the time, but they know exactly what theyâ??re doing and really make the script work. This is als... read moreo one of the few times Iâ??ve thought Hitchcockâ??s love for indoor sets was as effective as he planned them it to be. The fake looking town just adds to the hilarious nature of the plot. Youâ??d think by the premise that it would be a horror movie too, when else do bodies get dug and buried six times? I think this is the most personal Hitchcock ever got in his films because you can see exactly where he was going and what he wanted to say by making this.
  • May 20, 2009
    A dark comedy that is a truly underestimated Hitchcock film, but perhaps one that is more of an acquired taste depending on your humour. It is a tad corny in places, but love the dryness of the comedy throughout whilst dealing with a pretty grim and dark subject matter.

    Altho... read moreugh I haven't rated it really highly this has still become an instant favourite for me.
  • November 8, 2007
    Well we know that The Trouble With Harry is not a thriller - it's billed as a black comedy but the real trouble with The Trouble With Harry is that it is neither very black and is never comic. And only mildly entertaining for most of it's length. At times the story is so tedious... read more and irritating you suspect Hitch may have nodded off more than once. Edmund Gwenn witters on interminably - thinking aloud continually till I want to scream. Add to that John Forsythe's laughable (in the wrong way) faux-bohemian artist and I usually reach for the fast-forward. But...
    Over the years I have found it hard to completely dismiss. I find myself drawn to it on rainy Sundays or cold winter evenings - the cinematic equivalent of a hot toddy and a warm rug? Bob Burke's Technicolor photography is so beautiful - the rich Autumnal shades of red, yellow and brown are complimented by Bernard Herrmann's richly evocative score - this is Herrmann's first score for Hitch and it is quite possibly my favourite he wrote for him.
    The women are great. Mildred Dunnock as the brusque shopkeeper, Mrs Wiggs, is only a very small role but she leaves a lasting impression. Mildred Natwick as the lonely spinster Ivy Gravely is lovely. The scene where she buys a teacup and the care and thought she attaches to the purchase is quite touching and a little sad but is soured by Sam Marlowe's patronising and mocking of her - sneering at her deceit about her age, getting Wiggy to cut her hair [chopping it off!] and telling her to wear more make-up!. I enjoyed Shirley MacLaine's debut as well - her tomboy-single-mother is far too good for the smug and annoying Sam Marlowe!
    Don't be too hard on The Trouble With Harry. It's not ALL bad - just don't go into it with high expectations and you won't be that disappointed.
  • September 30, 2007
    The only thing sharper than the colors is the wit.

    Reminds me of a Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to the Forum...only British
  • August 23, 2007
    Anything by Hitchcock is worth a look but this is a rather silly enterprise.

Critic Reviews


Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

This latest of Mr. Hitchcock's efforts is a curiously whimsical thing. Full Review

Josh Larsen
May 27, 2011
Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm

A spirited irreverence about the power of death pervades. Think of this as a relief valve compared to most of Hitchcock's other films. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 16, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

I love it. I've seen it more times than just about any other Hitchcock. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
February 6, 2006
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

highly entertaining romantic comedy that still has the Hitchcock touch--a dark comedy using a dead body as the central MacGuffin Full Review

Cole Smithey
December 12, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Beautifully subtle suspense with a sprinkle of black humor.

Dennis Schwartz
May 22, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It's not helped by the wooden performances of the leads. Full Review

Lori Hoffman
March 7, 2004
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

Hitchcock does comedy! MacLaine's film debut.

Ken Hanke
November 24, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Very underrated black comedy from Hitchcock is really one of his best works.

Jeremy Heilman
May 29, 2003
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com

Despite the artifice, or perhaps partly because of it, the film manages to be enjoyable. Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten
March 10, 2003
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

Hitchcock's comedic charms shine in this delightful story about a corpse that just won't stay buried. Full Review

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The Trouble With Harry Trivia


  • In what Alfred Hitchcock film did Shirley Maclaine have her first feature role?  Answer »
  • In The Trouble With Harry, who played Harry?  Answer »
  • In The Trouble With Harry, what WAS the trouble?  Answer »
  • Shirley MacLaine's big screen debut came in a 1955 film called "The Trouble with _________."  Answer »

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