Blackmail (1929)

Blackmail (1929)

This film actually happens to take place quite a while before my previous entry Young And Innocent, and truthfully it does show in the quality.  However, this being made 8 years prior, that is very acceptable, as the quality of the story and technique on display may even surpass the previous film's stature.  

As the opening credits faded to display a car on a London road, I began to become interested in the notion that there may be no intertitles in this ostensibly silent film (cards showing dialogue, as there be no sound).  However, after about 10 minutes or so following an arrest with multiple characters including officers and criminals, dialogue and sound suddenly became existent (further research after the watch showed that Hitchcock changed his mind during the production to make it a "talkie", creating Great Britain's first picture with diegetic noise).  Finally overcoming my shock, I continued to watch with a greater intrigue than previously imagined, as silent pictures are great, but honestly can sometimes drag (I'm looking at you Wings).  As the plot builds towards an unexpected climax, we see many of the Master's well-regarded traits not only surface, but flourish with wonderful freshness. 

The main plot moves at a pace patient enough where you think all is clear; a young shopkeeper Alice (Anny Ondra) ditches her boyfriend Detective Frank Webber (John Longden) for a mysterious artist (Cyril Ritchard).  However, after she ends up at his apartment, and with no inkling as to why she has pursued him, tragedy strikes.  I feel as though this is the point that I should tell you what happens… but why spoil the genuine surprise that I had?

While this movie may appear dated, it truly has Hitchcock's youth apparent throughout.  Even though it has been over 80 years since this was made, I can't deny a freshness that permeates (along with Young and Innocent) yet watching it next to one of the director's future works, you can see so much in common: themes of mystery, betrayal, and building suspense all the way to the climax.  That isn't to say all of his films are the same by any means, but that many do share one or more of these traits, and you can discover a film is of his hand without any prior knowledge of such. 

As I expected this to be a "decent" or "satisfactory" entry in his filmography, color me surprised as I'm still slightly in awe of what I witnessed.  Issues of morality, truth, and fidelity (this being directly intertwined with the first two) surround the unexpected nature of what we see.  The fact that the story itself only involves a few characters solidifies one of Hitchcock's masterful traits: taking what could be a small story in another's realm, and making it grand.  

Make sure you watch out for the trademark cameo!