The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934).

Now we're getting somewhere!  This is starting to feel like the Hitchcock we all know and love.  Spies, assassination attempts, expert sharpshooters on vacation in the Swiss alps, torture alluding visits to the dentist, Peter Lorre... what more could you want?

4 out of 5 stars.

Easy Virtue (1928)
A limpid silent film about a divorcee (scandalous!) who tries to escape the shame of divorce by running away to the Mediterranean, marrying another man, and then divorcing him.

I'm too close to this subject to find any pleasure in watching other people deal with it.  Especially when it's wrapped in societal stigma of the 20s.

1.5 ( Read more... )

It took two tries and I still couldn't finish it.

Sabotage was pretty good, and it was six years after this one.  There are 12 more to go before we get into the real Hitchcock era.

*sigh*

Another silent film.  Some elements of suspense, but overall not nearly as interesting a story.  Hitchcock does best when he's dealing with murder and mayhem, not just cheatin' spouses.

1 out 4 stars.

All of the hallmarks of Hitchcock are there, even this early on in his career.  And it has my favorite element: the twist ending.

4 out of 5 stars.

It's really a study piece for the Hitchcock aficionado more than anything.  A fine little silent film, with a good measure of suspense built in (although tame by today's standards.)
Especially interesting to note that Hitchcock's obsession with blondes starts as early as this.

3 out of 5 stars.