This month, The Horror Film Club watched Hangover Square, a film noir about a composer who suffers from frequent blackouts. As the film progresses, he becomes increasingly unstable, making for a film that is utterly chilling and deeply unsettling. But, what really makes this film is the stunning performance by actor Laird Cregar. While not one of the “big names” of Hollywood, or even of 1940s and ’50s horror, it would be a crime not to include his name on the list of actors who left their indelible mark on the genre (and as the library’s Horror Hostess, I think I should know!)
Today, my job is not to tell you about Cregar, but to point you in the direction of this actor’s work. (If you want to learn more about Cregar’s life and career, keep reading–I have a book for that!) The list of Cregar’s acting credits is painfully short, with only 16 titles listed on IMDB.com. Sadly, Cregar died at the very young age of 30, after complications from an extreme weight-loss diet. But, despite this tragedy, the best way that we can honor and remember this brilliant actor is to enjoy his work. Keep reading for a list of films featuring Cregar that you can get from your library!
Laird Cregar: A Hollywood Tragedy (Gregory W. Mank)
If you’re interested in classic horror films and their actors, you’ve probably come across Gregory Mank’s name at some point during your research. My introduction was his book about Dwight Frye (he played the crazed lunatic Renfield from Bela Lugosi’s Dracula). This time, Mank tackles the life and story of Laird Cregar, a hulking actor who was best known for his portrayal of psychopaths and villains. This is the first biography of Cregar, that tells a heartbreaking story of a brilliant, but doomed actor.
Blood and Sand (1941)
Juan is the naive son of a once-famous bullfighter who tries to recapture the glory of his family’s name. Though he is branded fifth rate, he soon becomes Spain’s greatest matador and returns home to marry his childhood sweetheart. But when a beautiful, passionate aristocrat seduces him, Juan succumbs to her temptations, only to see his own success and happiness crumble.
Cregar certainly isn’t the main focus of this film (that would be Tyrone Power in the role of Juan), but for the film completionist who wants to see everything, this adventurous story is not to be missed. And what a star-studded cast! In addition to Cregar and Power, film fans can enjoy the performances of Rita Hayworth and Linda Darnell, as well as horror greats such as J. Carroll Naish and John Carradine!
This Gun For Hire (1942)
Changing gears slightly, we go from a romantic drama to a film noir. Cregar plays Willard Gates, an unscrupulous nightclub owner to sets the story in motion after double-crossing the hit-man he hired to take out notorious blackmailer Albert Baker. With another star-studded cast including names such as Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, and Robert Preston, This Gun for Hire is a gritty tale of revenge as hit-man Phillip Raven sets his sights on killing his former employer. I haven’t seen this one myself, but it sounds like a juicy cat-and-mouse story as Raven pursues Gates and detective MIchael Crane pursues Raven.
Heaven Can Wait (1943)
This premise is a bit of a strange one, but if the rest of the film is as charming as the clip I saw on TCM, then we’re in for a real treat! Henry Van Cleve has just died and prepares to enter “the bad place”. But, Satan himself stops him, admitting that Henry’s qualifications might not actually allow him into Hell. So, in a somewhat startling turn of events, Henry decides to convince the devil that he’s come to the right place. The rest of the film is his “defense” as Henry goes through all the “scandalous” details of his dissolute life. In case you hadn’t guessed, Cregar plays “His Excellency”.
The Lodger (1944)
This was my first introduction to Cregar’s work, and woooo is it a doozy! A landlady in Victorian England becomes convinced that there is something sinister going on with her strange new lodger. In fact, she believes he’s none other than Jack the Ripper. But, what is really going on? Is Mr. Slade just a harmless eccentric, or is he a ruthless killer who needs to be stopped at all costs? You’ll have to watch the film to find out! Also, for the curious, there’s another version of this film in our collection. It was produced about two decades earlier and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, but that version is a silent film, while the Cregar version is not. All that being said, the Cregar version remains, so far, my favorite title on this list.
Hangover Square (1945)
And now for our final film on this list (which is also, coincidentally, Cregar’s final film performance, as he died a few months afterwards). This chilling movie (which some would argue is horror and others film noir) features Cregar as George Bone, a brilliant, but slightly unstable composer who struggles with frequent blackouts during which he cannot remember anything he has done. Since each blackout seems to coincide with a horrific crime taking place somewhere nearby, Bone becomes convinced that he’s an unwitting killer, but those around him are always able to prove that he was innocent. Things come to a head when George finds himself caught in the midst of a love triangle, struggling between his loyalty to his girlfriend, Barbara, and his newfound feelings for Netta, a duplicitous dance-hall singer.
More to Enjoy:
I mentioned earlier that Laird Cregar has 16 film credits, but we only have five of them in our collection. Below are links to the titles that can be borrowed through InterLibrary Loan via SearchOhio and OhioLink. There will still be a few titles missing, unfortunately, but you might be able to find those online.
