This week’s mystery movie has been the 1945 20th Century-Fox film “Hangover Square,” with Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Faye Marlow and Alan Napier, with a screenplay by Barre Lyndon from the novel by Patrick Hamilton. Music by Bernard Herrmann, photography by Joseph La Shelle, art direction by Lyle Wheeler and Maurice Ransford, set decorations by Thomas Little and Frank E. Hughes, costumes by Rene Hubert and Kay Nelson. Produced by Robert Bassler, directed by John Brahm.
”Hangover Square” is available from Amazon on a newly released Blu-ray and DVD.
An unsigned New York Times review (Feb. 8, 1945) said:
When he is not absorbed in composing a concerto, Laird Cregar is a hard-working homicidal maniac in “Hangover Square,” the period horror piece which opened yesterday at the Roxy. Twentieth Century-Fox burned up a plushy replica of a rich, turn-of-the-century English home to give the film a “hot” ending. It might be observed, too, that the studio also gleefully put the torch to everything except the title of the Patrick Hamilton novel in making this picture, for any resemblance between screen version and the original would be more than “accidental”—it would be miraculous.
For Monday, we have Mystery Cat Movie No. 1, a mystery Siamese cat on the lap of our mystery guest.
Update: This is a mystery Siamese on the lap of Laird Cregar as he plays the piano.
While we’re on the subject, here’s another kitty in Mystery Cat Movie No. 2 – and yes, there is a connection. (Don’t worry, I’ll get back to Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 soon enough).
Update: This is the cat befriended by Alan Ladd’s character in “This Gun for Hire.”
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 and mystery cat-loving pianist), Tucson Barbara (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 and mystery cat-loving pianist), Sarah (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1), Mark Vieira (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 and mystery cat-loving pianist), Sylvia E (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 and mystery cat-loving pianist) and L.C. (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 and mystery cast).
For Wednesday, we return to Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 for a mystery gent.
Update: This is Francis Ford, brother of director John Ford.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Mystery Cat Movie No. 2 and the connection to Mystery Cat Movie No. 1), Sheila (Mystery Cat Movie No. 2), Anne Papineau (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1, Mystery Cat Lover), Sylvia E. (Mystery Cat Lover) and Mary Mallory (Mystery Cat Movie No. 2).
For Thursday, we have a mystery chap with pince-nez glasses.
Update: This is Alan Napier.
We also have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Linda Darnell.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Alan Warren (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1), L.C. (Mystery Cat Movie No. 2 and mystery cast) and Dan Nather (Mystery Cat Movie No. 2).
For Friday, we have our mystery pianist, who is not playing the Moszkowski etude “Sparks” or Scriabin’s “Toward the Flame.”
Update: Laird Cregar plays Bernard Hermann’s “Concerto Macabre.”
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1, the connection to Mystery Cat Movie No. 2, and Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Don Danard (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1, Mystery Cat Movie No. 2, the connection between the two movies, and Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (Thursday’s mystery chap), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mandy Marie (Thursday’s mystery woman), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (Mystery Cat Movie No. 1 and Thursday’s mystery guests) and Ed (Thursday’s mystery woman).
ladailymirror.com 
Laird Cregar in HANGOVER SQUARE.
LikeLike
Laird Cregar in “Hangover Square”
LikeLike
THAT DARN CAT. My grandmother and I laughed and laughed through this film.
LikeLike
An interesting guess and a worthy feline. But THAT DARN CAT is in color, alas.
LikeLike
Wow . . . this is tough. Don’t know too many B&W movies with Siamese cats. My first guess would be THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS.
LikeLike
That is also a good guess. But alas I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Is it Pyewacket from “Bell Book and Candle” (1958)?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Hangover Square (1945).
LikeLike
Bell, Book, and Candle
LikeLike
Good guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
It is the unnamed cat who moves in with George Harvey Bone (Laird Cregar) in John Brahm’s Hangover Square (1945 – Twentieth Century-Fox)
LikeLike
The movie is Hangover Square and the lap the cat is sitting on belongs to Laird “Someone or other”. It also starred Linda Darnell. I’d never heard of the movie until you did this Movie Mystery. Thanks.
LikeLike
Following up, the lap belongs to Laird Cregar.
LikeLike
Kitty Argyle? (Socks not shown)
LikeLike
Ha! Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Hangover Square (1945) w/Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders & Alan Napier. Sorry don’t know the cat’s name 🙂
LikeLike
THIS GUN FOR HIRE is also graced by the refined menace of Laird Cregar.
LikeLike
Not really sure why, but today’s photo just screams “Criss Cross” to me.
LikeLike
Well you’re sort of on the right track. But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Is Tuesday’s cat from ‘This Gun for Hire’?
LikeLike
On Monday, Laird Cregar in “Hangover Square”
LikeLike
THIS GUN FOR HIRE today.
LikeLike
I MARRIED A WITCH with Veronica Lake on Monday.
LikeLike
Interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Francis Ford glimpsed in the first moments.
LikeLike
Hangover Square
LikeLike
Cat #2 is from This Gun for Hire (1942) w/Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and Laird Cregar, Robert Preston,….
LikeLike
Could Mystery Cat Movie #2 be THIS GUN FOR HIRE?
LikeLike
HANGOVER SQUARE. Faye Marlowe Monday, Alan Napier and Linda Darnell today, Harry Allen yesterday.
LikeLike
Alan Napier and Linda Darnell.
LikeLike
Thursday’s Mystery Folks are Alan Napier and Linda Darnell.
LikeLike
Alan Napier and Linda Darnell in HANGOVER SQUARE. Which makes the bonus photo a scene from THIS GUN FOR HIRE also with our soon to be seen star Laird Cregar.
LikeLike
And of course Laird Cregar is the connection between the two.
LikeLike
Is Thursday’s chap Alan Napier?
LikeLike
Alan Napier and Linda Darnell
LikeLike
Linda Darnell on Thursday.
LikeLike
Hangover Square with Alan Napier and Linda Darnell.
LikeLike
Thursday is Linda Darnell
LikeLike
A thin Laird Cregar.
LikeLike
Burn ’em up Laird Cregar.
LikeLike
I think today’s Mystery Pianist is Laird Cregar.
LikeLike
Laird Cregar
LikeLike
Oh now I get it. Laird Cregar in Hangover Square. It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed this brilliant Bernard Herrmann score.
LikeLike
Hmmm. I’m not even sure that she is Linda Darnell. Looks like she come in out of My Darling C. I remember the corral and the horses but I don’t recall any cats…or pianos.
LikeLike
Hangover Square
LikeLike
Friday – Laird Cregar
Thursday – Linda Darnell and Alan Napier
LikeLike
A film set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake & fire?
LikeLike
Well Thursday is Alan Napier and, I believe, linda Darnell. The only picture I remember that pair in was ‘Forever Amber’.
LikeLike