The Trouble with Harry story
The Trouble with Harry is a 1955 American Technicolor black comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay by John Michael Hayes was based on the 1950 novel by Jack Trevor Story. It starred Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, Mildred Natwick, Jerry Mathers and Shirley MacLaine in her film debut. The Trouble with Harry was released in the United States on September 30, 1955, then re-released in 1984 once the distribution rights had been acquired by Universal Pictures.
12 total · 1 choice · 5 major · 6 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| what if I killed someone by accident | choice | Albert, Jennifer, and Ivy each at a time thought they were responsible for the death of Harry. The entire plot hinges on what to do with the unfortunate corpse. |
| engaged couple | major | Sam and Jennifer agreed to get married. |
| husband and wife | major | Jennifer explained how she loathed her second late husband, and told briefly of her first. |
| obstruction of justice | major | The plot turns on the protagonists trying to quietly get rid of Harry's corpse. |
| painting | major | Sam was a painter and we saw him variously at work, explaining his work, and selling his paintings. |
| romantic love | major | Albert and Ivy were smitten with each other. Sam and Jennifer agreed to get married. |
| art discussion | minor | Sam explained things about art a couple of times and in a jovial or perfunctory manner. |
| law enforcement | minor | Deputy Sheriff Calvin Wiggs showed up now and then to make trouble. |
| mother and son | minor | Jennifer and Arnie. Mrs. Wiggs and Calvin. |
| poaching | minor | As shooting was forbidden on the land, Albert was hunting there illegally. Albert was an enthusiastic hunter. |