Hangover Square (1945)

Hangover Square is a 1945 American film noir directed by John Brahm, based on the 1941 novel Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton. The screenplay was written by Barré Lyndon, who made a number of changes to the novel, including transforming George Harvey Bone into a classical composer-pianist and filming the story as a turn-of-the-20th-century period piece.

Director – John Brahm

Writers – Barré Lyndon (screenplay), Patrick Hamilton (novel), Marian Spitzer (contributor to dialogue)

Cast –
Laird Cregar as George Harvey Bone
Linda Darnell as Netta Longdon
George Sanders as Dr. Allan Middleton
Glenn Langan as Eddie Carstairs
Faye Marlowe as Barbara Chapman
Alan Napier as Sir Henry Chapman
Michael Dyne as Mickey
Frederick Worlock as Supt. Clay
Clifford Brooke as Gas Company Watchman
Ted Billings as Pub Patron
Charles Coleman as Man at Bonfire
Francis Ford as Ogilby
Eric Wilton as Waiter
John Goldsworthy as William – Chapman’s Butler

Watch “Hangover Square” (1945)

Plot

In Edwardian London in the summer of 1903, a Scottish shop owner in Fulham is stabbed to death and his shop set on fire by distinguished composer George Harvey Bone, who stumbles out onto the street in a stupor. George eventually makes his way back to his basement flat at 12 Hangover Square in Chelsea to find his girlfriend, Barbara Chapman, and her father, Sir Henry Chapman, inside. George admits privately to Barbara that there is “a whole day missing” from his memory. The newspaper has stories of the murder and fire, and George goes to see Dr. Allan Middleton, who works at Scotland Yard. Bone tells Middleton that when he is stressed or overworked he suffers from periods of amnesia brought on by discordant sounds.

On August 29, at a smoking concert at a working-class pub, George meets ambitious and conniving singer Netta Longdon, through his buddy, Mickey. Although Netta, who also lives in the square, is a mediocre talent, George becomes enamored of her. Netta finds George boring, yet for months she mercilessly manipulates him to extract money, dinners, drinks and all kinds of favors. Meanwhile, Barbara is put off by George’s interest in Netta, and Middleton tries to get closer to her. George is driven to another amnesia episode and almost strangles Barbara to death.

George finally kills Netta on Guy Fawkes Night. He carries her wrapped body through streets filled with revelers and deposits it on top of the largest bonfire. Having no memory of the killing, George is able to convince the police that he is innocent, but Middleton remains suspicious. He confronts George on the night of his concerto premiere and insists that he be taken in for his own protection. However, George locks Middleton in the flat and performs the concerto as planned. Middleton’s banging is heard by a local workman, and he is freed. Midway through the performance, he enters the music salon with several other policemen, causing George to experience one of his episodes. He stops playing and asks Barbara to carry the performance; however, when police question him in a separate room, he attacks them. In the fracas, a gas lamp is knocked over, setting the building on fire. George goes back to playing the piano while the audience and musicians flee, unmindful of the fire around him and ignoring Barbara’s pleas to escape. As Middleton, Barbara and Sir Henry look on from outside the burning building, Sir Henry asks why George didn’t try to get out. Middleton replies, “It’s better this way, Sir.” Cut to the concert hall, filling with flame and smoke, as George plays the last notes of his concerto.