{"id":1615,"date":"2006-10-19T19:07:27","date_gmt":"2006-10-20T02:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1615"},"modified":"2020-12-28T00:14:58","modified_gmt":"2020-12-28T07:14:58","slug":"hangover-square-1945","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1615","title":{"rendered":"Hangover Square (1945)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Something&#8217;s happened lately &#8212; these moods are getting deeper and longer.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-31222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Poster.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nComposer George Bone (Laird Cregar) suffers from sound-induced blackouts, during which he commits crimes he can&#8217;t remember. When he&#8217;s jilted by a manipulative dance hall singer (Linda Darnell), he commits one murder too many, and a Scotland Yard doctor (George Sanders) is hot on his trail. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Composer<\/li>\n<li>George Sanders Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Dramas<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Laird Cregar Films<\/li>\n<li>Linda Darnell Films<\/li>\n<li>Multiple Personalities<\/li>\n<li>Serial Killers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, Laird Cregar gives one of his best, most sympathetic &#8220;psycho performances&#8221; in this &#8220;wildly stylized period noir&#8221; &#8212; released just two months after his premature death by heart attack at the age of 30. Cregar plays Bone as a quietly insecure, well-meaning artist whose physically imposing body functions as a scarily efficient tool for destruction while also belying a gentler nature. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-1024x737.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"461\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-1024x737.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-768x552.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-375x270.png 375w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar.png 1411w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cregar&#8217;s performance here shows ample evidence of his burgeoning talent; he masterfully combines broadly psychotic behavior with a range of subtle gestures a la Brando in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2971\"><em>On the Waterfront<\/em><\/a>. Watch the way he idly scratches a Siamese cat on its head with the tip of a fan, for instance:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty-1024x736.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"460\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty-1024x736.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty-768x552.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty-375x270.png 375w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Fan-Kitty.png 1417w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>or quietly adjusts his jacket collar when walking into the room where he recently &#8212; albeit unknowingly &#8212; tried to strangle his friend.  <\/p>\n<p>In addition to Cregar&#8217;s nuanced performance, <em>Hangover Square<\/em> benefits from both &#8220;wonderful period detail&#8221; and &#8220;bizarre direction&#8221; by John Brahm. The opening scene of the movie &#8212; in which Bone murders an antiques dealer, then flees in confusion &#8212; is filmed with &#8220;wild angles, camera distortion, [and] swooping crane shots&#8221;, thus immediately evoking the protagonist&#8217;s crazed frame of mind. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening-1024x757.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening-1024x757.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening-768x568.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Opening.png 1413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This stylized camera work is repeated each time Bone gets knocked into an alternate state of consciousness, and ultimately builds towards the film&#8217;s baroquely melodramatic ending &#8212; one which effectively conveys the misfortune of a genius betrayed by his own mind. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Laird Cregar&#8217;s excellent performance in what was tragically both his first <em>and<\/em> last top-billed role<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2-1024x749.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2-1024x749.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2-768x562.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar2.png 1423w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Linda Darnell as the seductively beautiful singer who meets a fiery fate<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2-1024x733.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"458\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2-1024x733.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2-768x550.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2-377x270.png 377w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography2.png 1431w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Creative camera work, lighting, and set designs<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3-1024x730.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"456\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3-1024x730.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3-128x91.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3-768x547.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3-379x270.png 379w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cinematography3.png 1433w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife-1024x742.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"464\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-60152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife-1024x742.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife-768x556.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife-373x270.png 373w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Hangover-Square-Cregar-Knife.png 1421w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Bernard Herrmann&#8217;s dramatic score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes. While not as renowned as Brahm&#8217;s 1944 flick <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3896\"><em>The Lodger<\/em><\/a> (another movie in which Cregar plays a psychotic serial-killer &#8212; Jack the Ripper), film fanatics will undoubtedly want to see Cregar in his final performance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0037761\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2434brah.html\">DVD Savant (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/hangover-square-1945.htm\">Moria Review <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/71683.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmmonthly.com\/Video\/Articles\/LodgerHangoverSquare\/LodgerHangoverSquare.html\">Film Monthly Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Something&#8217;s happened lately &#8212; these moods are getting deeper and longer.&#8221; Synopsis: Composer George Bone (Laird Cregar) suffers from sound-induced blackouts, during which he commits crimes he can&#8217;t remember. When he&#8217;s jilted by a manipulative dance hall singer (Linda Darnell), he commits one murder too many, and a Scotland Yard doctor (George Sanders) is hot on his trail. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Composer George Sanders Films Historical Dramas Horror Laird Cregar Films Linda Darnell Films Multiple Personalities Serial Killers&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1615\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1615"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60155,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1615\/revisions\/60155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}