Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Hitchcock review: Blackmail

Blackmail, Hithcock's first "talkie" from 1929.

This movie, though early in Hitchcock’s career, clearly starts to establish the root of most of his work. The moment when everything turns worse when the main character stabs the man is a good switch; something you don’t see coming. There are some really good camera moments that if Hitchcock had made this film today could more easily have been portrayed. As it is, it is well ahead of its time. The plot was intriguing but could have been better. It’s almost that you expect there to be more. I think a new director and writer could really take this premise and basic formula and run with it.

While it is sometimes hard to watch these really old movies from what we are used to, it is well worth it, especially for any fan of film and Hitchcock.

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