--------------------
the lodger review
--------------------
the lodger buy dvd
--------------------
alfred hitchcock biography
--------------------
advertise this page
--------------------
search site
--------------------

movie review

Alfred Hitchcock once called this the first true "Hitchcock movie". In addition to being the first in which he explored his favourite theme of the innocent in danger, it also marked Hitch's debut before the camera in one of those celebrated fleeting cameos.

The action is based on a potboiling novel about Jack the Ripper and played with suitable extravagence by matinee idol Ivor Novello and a truly creepy cast.

Clearly reflecting the influence of German Expressionism, it showcases Hitchcock's technical virtuosity.

Having succeeded in preventing the release of Hitch's first features, Graham Cutts went to town on this one, convincing CM Woolf, head of W&F, that he had a disaster on his hands.

The producer Michael Balcon had spent over £12,000 in the making of the film, and he saw Hitchcock himself as an investment that was about to be squandered. He delayed the trade preview till the following September, then contacted Ivor Montagu, a renowned film critic and respected editor. He asked him to help shape the film into a more commercial release and so Montagu, assisted by E McKnight Kauffer, reduced the number of title cards from 300 to 80 while Hitchcock went about performing minor reshoots.

Though Hitchcock never referred to Montagu's contribution to the film, it undoubtedly saved his career.

personal thoughts

How old was Hitch when he made this film? 26, 27. Ridiculously young to make a masterpiece of cinema for even with the intervention mentioned above the results will stay with us forever and it will always have 'Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Moreover, there's enough typical Hitch trickery to suggest his fingerprints are all over the piece.

It's atmospheric, it's creepy and it's must see British Cinema.

buy dvd

£19.99
(Shipped from UK)
(Price includes UK postage & packaging only. To reserve please e-mail here (ihuppert5@aol.com). I will then e-mail you within 24 hours with methods of payment, special features for Dvd, subtitle info, cast details and technical details. From me to you, Hitch fan to Hitch fan, if there are Hitch questions or related to him then just ask and I'll do my best to answer, wherever you are...

Dvd Available Elsewhere: amazon.co.uk (direct link)