tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post6383983589937287259..comments2024-02-10T04:53:42.121-05:00Comments on Tales of the Easily Distracted: THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY: Dig That Crazy Grave!DorianTBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-22380854685731438592013-10-28T21:53:22.181-04:002013-10-28T21:53:22.181-04:00Oops! Ignore my repeat posts, please. I thought so...Oops! Ignore my repeat posts, please. I thought some were lost in cyberspace, and as I resubmit, I see my original pop up. Did this twice. Sorry for the confusion.TomCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314969483408874114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-33572201010220272092013-10-28T21:27:18.930-04:002013-10-28T21:27:18.930-04:00I hope digging deeper yields some results, but I a...I hope digging deeper yields some results, but I am not optimistic. I've dug into it, and some others have done so, and no one has found anything. If you have read the TCM message boards, I started some discussion of this, and the following may be redundant. I think the long years that the movie has been off the market may have something to do with a loss of information, but then it may have been a closely held secret from the beginning. Here's why I feel that way. You may or may have not noticed that after the song scene, Mildred Natwick asks John Forsythe, "Whats that song you sing, you sing it so well?' Since you dont think the voice is Forsythe's, it would be odd that Hitchcock, the perfectionist, would not have changed that line. Also, the available soundtrack for the movie lists Forsythe as the singer. And we see the captain, the doctor, the tramp and Forsythe in the song scene, but not close enough to see their lips moving or not. The song ends and we see Dano, for the first time, who was on the set but not viewed in the scene. This all seems very well planned to me, and in keeping with the rest of the film, where we are challenged to find the Hitchcock cameo, and to find all of the jokes in the dialog. I'm convinced that he was using a favorite theme of his, which portraying a world, calm and orderly on the surface, but something unsettling is going on, and its not easy to figure out why. He used the voice in the song to tease the viewer, but the joke was so subtle that it got by most everybody. My guess is that those people who were in on it when it was filmed are now long gone, and the proof of the identity of the singer was lost over the time the movie was off the market. So my take on it is if you can see the planned prank in the scene, then who else would have been the singer, other than Dano. One thing I did do, is run it by a couple of vocal music teachers. They listened to the sung and spoken voices, and feel certain it was Dano. His voice is so unique. So I'm looking for input on this, wondering if this is a real undiscovered Hitchcock gag, or maybe I'm just seeing something that isnt there. Hope you have some fun with this.TomCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314969483408874114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-58186038575615566402013-10-28T21:00:08.215-04:002013-10-28T21:00:08.215-04:00Tom, you've given us a lot to chew on! I thin...Tom, you've given us a lot to chew on! I think you've got something there with your suggestions about what's behind the far-away shots. After all, Hitchcock was a bit of a playful imp, after all. In any even, it sure sounded like Royal Dano to me. This is as much of a quirky mystery as the end of THE QUIET MAN -- but at least these are fun, playful mysteries! Thanks for your thoughtful theories, Tom!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-75692583318754807902013-10-26T15:14:01.705-04:002013-10-26T15:14:01.705-04:00Glad to hear that the discussion of Harry isnt ove...Glad to hear that the discussion of Harry isnt over. Did you think it sounded like Royal Dano before I mentioned it? Just curious. I hope your research sources are better than mine, because I came up with nothing on this item. Since the movie was off the market for so long, I fear that some information about it is lost forever, and proving who sung the song will not be done without the aid of voiceprinting technology. But I enlisted the help of a couple of vocal music professionals, and we feel that it is most certainly Dano's voice. Maybe a bit extreme, but being sure about it goes along with understanding what Hitchcock is doing in the scene in question. In the movie, he showcases his unusual sense of humor, and challenges the viewer to grasp what he dishes out. The barely visible cameo, the subtle jokes, such as Miss Gravely's first name, that we dont hear until the end of the movie. Ivy, like what grows on graves. In the scene with the song, I believe he planned to give the viewer an unsettled feeling, and challenged us to figure out why we werent completely comfortable with the pastoral scene and the easy listening that went with it. He didnt let us see anybody's lips move, because the characters were too far away. He gives us a sung voice, deep and unlike the voices of any of the characters seen so far. After the song ends, we meet Dano, and then inside the store Mildred Natwick asks John Forsythe, "Whats that song you sing, you sing it so well?" Making matters worse, the available sound track lists Forsythe as the singer. I think that what Hitchcock has done here is no coincidence, but a carefully planned joke on the audience, making it very difficult to figure out. In light of this, it would make sense to me that he had Dano sing it, since he was there on the set, but unseen, and the voice was completely different from the others. Seeing this as a well planned prank, along with the input from the vocal expert, leaved me convinced its Dano. I cant imagine it being anyone else. For a little bit of extra help, he has a singing role as a chaplain in The Right Stuff. If you're interested, you may want to watch The Right Stuff, and listen to the voices in Harry again. Anyway, I hope you can find confirmation in somebodys archive, but I suspect few people knew the story when the movie was filmed, and the passing years, many with the film off the market, the story is lost forever. TomCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314969483408874114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-59997672730280634402013-10-25T23:48:06.645-04:002013-10-25T23:48:06.645-04:00Glad to catch up with you, Tom! Now my husband Vi...Glad to catch up with you, Tom! Now my husband Vinnie and I are are manning TALES OF THE EASILY DISTRACTED (TotED for short), but please feel free to drop by and chat! I agree that it sure sounds like Royal Dano. We'll have to dig deeper, but hey, that's part of the fun! Thanks for joining the TROUBLE WITH HARRY fun and frolic!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-82945533568564813242013-10-25T07:55:05.116-04:002013-10-25T07:55:05.116-04:00Dorian, Mary, its Royal Dano singing the song.Dorian, Mary, its Royal Dano singing the song.TomCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314969483408874114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-10490826874707263982013-10-24T22:15:50.042-04:002013-10-24T22:15:50.042-04:00Just ran across this forum, and hoping Mary and Do...Just ran across this forum, and hoping Mary and Dorian are still out there after a year and a half. I've been obsessed with the voice in the song for quite some time, not the question of who is singing it, because it is obviously Royal Dano. But what I cant figure out is why nobody else seems to know about it. I've got more to add to this, so if I hear back from you, we can resurrect the discussion.TomCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314969483408874114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-80073419807617944222012-02-16T17:32:17.948-05:002012-02-16T17:32:17.948-05:00Mary, it's nice to meet you -- glad to have me...Mary, it's nice to meet you -- glad to have met you here at TotED! Fear not, over the years, THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY seems to be happily discovered by movie lovers like you and me and all of us here! <br /><br />How cool that you're a Vermont native yourself! Alas, I haven't been able to find out who sings "Flaggin' the Train from Tuscaloosa," either, though I know the song was the work of Mack David and Raymond Scott. Wouldn't it be great if it turned out John Forsythe was the uncredited singer after all? You never can tell!<br /><br />Thanks to the TCM Web site, I found more info about the movie locations from writer Paul Tatara:<br /><br />"Hitchcock intended to film all of THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY on location,in the towns of Stowe, Morrisville, Craftsbury, and Sugarbush. Unfortunately, the weather didn't always cooperate, and the shoot became a headache. Many scenes were staged on sets that were built at a local gymnasium. Even that was tough, however, as rainfall regularly echoed off the building's tin roof, ruining takes. Later, the woods had to be partially reconstructed on a Hollywood lot, so that Hitchcock could get a few more shots of Harry lying in the leaves. To make it even more difficult, the actor who played the corpse (Philip Truex) was in New York City, so a double was cast and his head was hidden by a bush to maintain continuity. As a finishing touch, one character's reference to Daniel Boone was changed to Davy Crockett in post-production, to take full advantage of the Crockett-mania that was then sweeping the nation. All in the name of art."<br /><br />Hope that helps, Mary! Thanks for joining the ...HARRY conversation, and feel free to drop by TotED any time!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-88723414151644338562012-02-16T14:51:41.030-05:002012-02-16T14:51:41.030-05:00Hi all,
I enjoyed reading your posts on TTwH. I a...Hi all,<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your posts on TTwH. I always thought I was the ONLY one who enjoyed this Hitchcock sleeper! I'm originally from a small Vermont town like the one in the film. I've always wondered where in Vermont the on site shots were taken. Anyone know? Also, the song sung by John Forsythe's character, who actually sang it? NOT John Forsythe I'm assuming (it just didn't sound like it could be his voice!!) I can't find anything on the web about who gets the credit for singing "Flaggin' the Train to Tuscaloosa". Anyone have any ideas? It is driving me crazy every time I see the film. Thanks!<br /><br />Mary in Boston, MAMary in Bostonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273898975584536682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-6836623258112265822011-09-26T10:59:28.677-04:002011-09-26T10:59:28.677-04:00Jim, thanks for your praise; I'm so glad you e...Jim, thanks for your praise; I'm so glad you enjoyed the TROUBLE WITH HARRY links! When things go well, modern technology CAN be our friend! :-) I got a kick out of your quip about finally having proof that the Mildreds Dunnock and Natwick are indeed two different women.<br /><br />According to the IMDb, ARTISTS AND MODELS did come out before AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, but I can only take their word for it. If anyone else here has more info, I'd be interested, too!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-16402146937018889942011-09-26T03:40:27.334-04:002011-09-26T03:40:27.334-04:00Delightful post, Dorian! Thanks for linking me to ...Delightful post, Dorian! Thanks for linking me to it. One thing I'd forgotten (it's been a while since I've seen it): <i>TTwH</i> is the movie that proves once and for all (for those of us who always kind of wondered) that Mildred Natwick and Mildred Dunnock are, in fact, two different people. <br /><br />Thanks too for the link to the trailer over at TCM; it's also a riot, with that ersatz travelogue opening. <br /><br />Finally, I may be mistaken, but I've always understood it to be the case that <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> was actually Shirley MacLaine's first movie -- it's just that the post-production took so long that <i>Harry</i> and <i>Artists and Models</i> hit theaters first. Can anybody confirm?Jim Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981196894914646656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-23171597469866333762011-04-14T10:18:50.476-04:002011-04-14T10:18:50.476-04:00Very Good, Dorian. It is, indeed, ARTISTS AND MOD...Very Good, Dorian. It is, indeed, ARTISTS AND MODELS. If you wish to see the Hitchcock parody I mentioned, the whole film is currently available at YouTube. You'll find the scene beginning at 1:21:10.Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-38619951946644955542011-04-13T23:00:28.352-04:002011-04-13T23:00:28.352-04:00Thanks so much for your praise, Becky! I especial...Thanks so much for your praise, Becky! I especially appreciate what you said about Bernard Herrmann. It's ironic that he won an Oscar for THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (a.k.a. ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY), but not for any of his Hitchcock scores. Wish we could travel in time and stuff the Academy's music nomination ballot box! :-) And you've hit the nail on the head about why Hitchcock's beloved cool blondes, wonderful though they were, just weren't quite right to play Jennifer Rogers. "Brunettes and redheads do come in handy, too, Hitch" - as a gal with hair on the reddish side, I couldn't agree more! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-20861617509271574172011-04-13T22:06:14.224-04:002011-04-13T22:06:14.224-04:00Great stuff, Dorian! It has been so long since I&...Great stuff, Dorian! It has been so long since I've seen TTwH that your article reminded me of how much I like it and want to see it again! I am one of Bernard Herrmann's biggest fans -- I think he was the greatest movie composer of all the greats. I didn't realize, however, that this was his first Hitchcock score. <br /><br />I cannot IMAGINE Grace Kelly in Shirley's role, nor indeed any other of Hitchcock's famous cool blondes. The movie would have fallen flat as a pancake with any of them. Brunettes and redheads do come in handy, too, Hitch!<br /><br />Loved your post!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-24360846998476242422011-04-13T20:38:59.220-04:002011-04-13T20:38:59.220-04:00*D-OH!* Hmm, what else -- ooh, wait, Uncle Mikey, ...*D-OH!* Hmm, what else -- ooh, wait, Uncle Mikey, I think I know! ARTISTS AND MODELS? :-) And yes, for a freckle-faced redhead of Irish descent, Shirley MacLaine showed a remarkable talent for playing Asians and Eurasians. My dear mom would've said Shirley must've been Asian in a past life! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-2703446810841775932011-04-13T20:32:13.283-04:002011-04-13T20:32:13.283-04:00Oops, Dorian. Not quite recalling correctly here....Oops, Dorian. Not quite recalling correctly here. Our Miss MacLaine did go on to enchant audiences as the Princess Aouda in AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS (this, MY GEISHA and GAMBIT demonstrated, at least to my satisfaction, that Shirley possessed an interesting talent for Asian roles), but in between that role and THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY, there was yet another film.<br /><br />Tick tock tick tock tick tock . . .Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-7269624428549736232011-04-13T19:33:07.782-04:002011-04-13T19:33:07.782-04:00Indeed, Michael, in Hitchcock Land, murder and rom...Indeed, Michael, in Hitchcock Land, murder and romance always seem to be inevitably intertwined! As for your trivia about "our leggy heroine" Shirley (loved your quips about her screen debut!), if I recall correctly (mind you, I said "if"), her follow-up film was the Oscar-winning extravaganza AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, with former Hitchcock supporting actor Peter Lorre doing a cameo. Anyone second that emotion? :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-38840623561493517362011-04-12T19:30:52.450-04:002011-04-12T19:30:52.450-04:00Ah yes! What is the Fall without the season being...Ah yes! What is the Fall without the season being filtered through Hitchcock's discerning eye? There's obviously something about the addition of a dead body which enhances the color of autumn leaves (I refuse to give any of the credit to Jerry Mathers).<br /><br />I can't watch this film without shaking my head a bit (and usually mentally) at Shirley MacLaine. I mean, how would you like for your first film director to be Alfred Hitchcock? Yes, I understand it's an honor an all, but whatever happened to giving a girl a chance? Whatever happened to starting out with, say, Fred C. Bannon, or William Beaudine? Oh noooo, not for our leggy heroine. She has to endure the sly humor of Sir Al (and some excellent anecdotes can be found in DON'T FALL OFF THE MOUNTAIN). Obviously her experience on the stage served her well as she managed (at least to my eyes) to move coolly through the role. Perhaps the Blu-Ray version will allow us to hear her knees knocking.<br /><br />(Interesting bit of trivia: Shirley's next film would not only have her the only Hitchcock grad in the cast, but would also feature a brief reference to yet another Hitchcock film. Anyone? Anyone?)<br /><br />As with you, Dorian, I would've been happy had the film spent more time with Gwenn and Natwick, but Where's Sara . . . Where's Sara? Is anyone else besides me fascinated by the fact that Hitchcock had a genius for enhancing both Murder and Romance? Almost as if one couldn't occur without the other.Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-56046939319956970592011-04-12T16:09:14.986-04:002011-04-12T16:09:14.986-04:00Hey, everyone, you simply must read our own
Natha...Hey, everyone, you simply must read our own <br />Nathanael Hood's stirring, heartfelt review of one of his "Forgotten Classics of Yesteryear," Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi's 1949 drama MY LOVE BURNS. If you like the review, by all means see the film!<br /><br />http://forgottenclassicsofyesteryear.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-love-burns.htmlDorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-64421232548029347412011-04-12T15:42:23.743-04:002011-04-12T15:42:23.743-04:00Goodness gracious, this small world gets ever smal...Goodness gracious, this small world gets ever smaller, albeit in a good way! :-) Our crew and yours will have to map out a plan to get together for a meet-and-greet some month soon. It's always busy here at Team Bartilucci H.Q. (you only THINK I'm kidding!), but we'll all come up with something that'll work with everyone's schedules before the year is over! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-8405089373397528402011-04-12T14:23:43.249-04:002011-04-12T14:23:43.249-04:00Lehigh Valley?
I reside in Bucks County!
I would...Lehigh Valley?<br /><br />I reside in Bucks County!<br /><br />I would love meeting up sometime!<br /><br />By the way, have you checked out my latest blog entry? It's kind of important.........Nathanael Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08959797971471060052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-72029636487061380452011-04-12T08:21:48.742-04:002011-04-12T08:21:48.742-04:00No kidding? Great googly moogly, it's truly a ...No kidding? Great googly moogly, it's truly a small world after all! We live in the Lehigh Valley, a mere hop, skip, and jump from Allentown -- about 2 hours' drive from my hometown, New York City, which we visit as often as we can, time and finances permitting. Perhaps we of Team Bartilucci can meet up with Team Hood in NYC for a friendly lunch sometime! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-46987038071454515412011-04-11T21:56:42.077-04:002011-04-11T21:56:42.077-04:00Wait...you live in NE PA? I live right outside Ph...Wait...you live in NE PA? I live right outside Philadelphia!Nathanael Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08959797971471060052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-32206675445523594192011-04-10T17:35:54.471-04:002011-04-10T17:35:54.471-04:00*Pshaw* my friend, no apologies or weak smiles are...*Pshaw* my friend, no apologies or weak smiles are necessary! :-) We're all busy people, and none of us can keep everything at the forefront of our brains. By the way, if you're attending school in NYC, you might want to subscribe to Time Out New York (TONY) if you don't already. This weekly magazine has valuable info on every aspect of life and fun in NYC, including lots of tips on where to find cheap or free eats and entertainment. Even though I live in NE PA, I've kept up my subscription because we visit NYC every chance we get. Check it out and enjoy!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-50177594987184322562011-04-10T16:17:01.839-04:002011-04-10T16:17:01.839-04:00Ugh...I completely forgot!
I'm sorry....it...Ugh...I completely forgot!<br /><br />I'm sorry....it's been a long week.<br /><br />*smiles weakly*Nathanael Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08959797971471060052noreply@blogger.com