Hangover Square (1945)

I haven't rad the book, but from what I understand the story was radically altered for the film.

The film has some brilliant moments, notably a bonfire sequence and the finale at a concert hall.

He was actually 31. Sees a bit young to be lying about your age -- especially as he came across on screen as so much older.

I see there was another version, also American, in 2009. Has anyone seen that?

It is a very English story. Shame that it was made with American actors and director. It is well worth seeing but I would have liked to have seen what a great English director like David Lean, or more likely Robert Hamer or Carol Reed, could have done with it.

Another Hamilton story was made into the classic movie Gaslight (1947) directed by the great English director Thorold Dickenson and starring Anton Walbrook, Diana Wynyard and Robert Newton.

Also very good was a Brit TV series called The Charmer based on Hamilton's novel Mr Stimpson and Mr Gorse. Conman (and worse) Mr Gorse was beautifully played by Nigel Havers of Chariots of Fire fame. He was usually cast as an amiable toff, but did well as a sociopath. Maybe a rare case of the screen version being better than the original novel. It is available on DVD but a bit pricey for me.

Laird Cregar is best known for his supporting role in This Gun for Hire (1942). I assumed he was at least mid-forties in that and was shocked to discover he was only 28 at the time. He died too early. Hamilton made it to the ripe old age of 58 but was unproductive for his last decade because of the alcoholism which ultimately did for him.

There seems to be some dispute as to Laird Cregar's actual age when he made Hangover Square. I've read thirty-one and twenty-eight. Either way, he could have passed for forty or older. He was perfect as the deranged or, more fairly, mentally ill composer in my opinion, and while not British he could play Brits convincingly. Though born in Philadelphia, that his father was Scots helped.