Hangover Square (1945)

 

A promising classical musician finds his life poisoned by a music hall dancer -- and by the strange gaps in his memory.

Unusual Noir melodrama nicely staged in period London has a quite unconvincing plot, but Laird Gregar is fascinating as the madman musician, and Bernard Herrmann's score is excellent as always.

Halliwell*: "This rather empty melodrama has almost nothing to do with the book from which it is allegedly taken, but the Hollywoodian evocation of gaslit London is richly entertaining and good to look at."

Maltin***: "Cregar (in his final film) is delicious...result is still entertaining, with superb Victorian London sets and evocative Bernard Herrmann score." 

Bernard Herrmann

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Herrmann

The Trouble with Harry (1955)

The trouble with Harry is that he's dead, and everyone seems to have a different idea of what needs to be done with his body.

Likable, but not too malicious black comedy; quite slow-paced and light-weighted which is remarkable considering it's a Hitchcock movie.

Halliwell**: "Black comedy that never quite, despite bright moments, catches the style of the book; however, it is finely performed and the autumnal backgrounds are splendid."

Maltin***: "Offbeat, often hilarious black comedy...Gwenn is fine as usual, MacLaine appealing in her first film. Beautiful autumn locations, whimsical score (his first for Hitch) by Bernard Herrmann."