From his directorial debut in 1925 until his final production in 1976, Sir Alfred Hitchcock directed 53 feature films and worked on hundreds of other projects, including television thrillers featured on his groundbreaking program Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Dubbed “the master of suspense”, few directors have had such a broad and lasting impact on both genre and film culture. We still see frequent homages to the director’s work even now in 2025. When building a collection of titles by a director who worked in the industry for over 60 years, the sheer scale of the collected works can leave librarians with decision paralysis: Which of these silent films will people actually enjoy? Which version of The 39 Steps should we buy? What’s all that different between Topaz and Torn Curtain? Since I’ve written a comprehensive film guide on the director and seen all of his films, I’d love to offer my list of what I consider Hitchcock’s forgotten films.
The Ring (1927)
Not to be confused with the 2002 horror film of the same name, The Ring follows an upstart boxer named ‘One-Round’ Jack as he falls in love and enters the shady world of professional boxing. His life changes when he’s unexpectedly bested by Bob Corby, a visiting professional and reigning Australian Heavyweight Champion. Impressed by the young man’s grit, Corby recruits Jack into his boxing circuit. As Jack rises through the ranks, tensions brew when Mabel, Jack’s new wife, becomes infatuated with Corby. Manipulated by boxing promoter James Ware, who sees profit in the rivalry, Jack channels his heartbreak into ambition, battling his way through a string of impressive opponents. The emotional and physical toll builds as Jack inches closer to a title match with Corby. His prize: Mabel’s devotion.
If you’re deciding which of Hitchcock’s silent films to add to your collection, put The Ring near the top. Not only is it Hitchcock’s only sports film, in it we can see the formation of his “cold blonde” archetype in Mabel and his earliest successful attempts to build suspense through creative cinematography. Whether your patrons want a thrilling classic boxing film, a titillating love triangle, or a climax that will have them holding their breath, The Ring is a perfect choice for silent film shelves.
Stream The Ring on Prime Video here.
Family Plot (1976)
Fake psychic Blanche Tyler and her boyfriend George Lumley embark on a seemingly simple missing-persons case that spirals into danger and deception. Hired by elderly heiress Julia Rainbird, Blanche hopes to claim a $10,000 reward by locating her long-lost nephew, Edward Shoebridge. George’s investigation uncovers that Shoebridge faked his death years ago and now lives under the alias Arthur Adamson, a reputable jeweler in San Francisco. Unknown to the public, Arthur and his partner Fran are behind a string of elaborate kidnappings, trading hostages for jewels. When Arthur learns that someone is closing in on his true identity, he tasks accomplice Joseph Maloney with silencing the couple. The murder attempt fails, and Maloney dies instead. Blanche continues her search and stumbles upon Arthur’s home during the ransom of a kidnapped bishop. Drugged and imprisoned in the basement, she’s moments from death when George stumbles upon her car and enters the home.
The director’s final film, Family Plot is a unique dark comedy that serves as a perfect capstone for more than five decades of directorial experience. In many ways, it’s an archetypal 70s film, with classic cars, fashion, and the last gasp of the classic outlaw lifestyle all driving the storytelling and cinematography, but Hitchcock skillfully holding the wheel. Almost all of the director’s favorite plot devices are present, and the colliding worlds of Blanche’s amateur criminality with Arthur’s bloodthirsty anti-social attitudes make for some nail-biting suspense. I love that even in his last years, Hitchcock still had his finger on society’s pulse and was putting out titles that would give the likes of Spielberg and Kubrick a run for their money in the box office.
Get your copy of Family Plot on DVD here.
Easy Virtue (1928)
Larita, a sophisticated woman caught in a high-profile divorce case, is publicly shamed when a courtroom rules against her, declaring her guilty of adultery. Fleeing the judgment of British society and relentless reporters, she retreats to the French Riviera. There, she meets John Whittaker, a charming young man unaware of her past. The two fall in love, marry quickly, and return to his family estate in England.While John’s father receives Larita with warmth, his mother remains cold and suspicious, convinced she recognizes Larita from somewhere. Tension builds as Larita tries to adjust to the conservative household and win over a family eager to preserve their reputation. When a magazine photo finally links Larita to her scandalous past, Mrs. Whittaker moves to isolate her. But Larita, refusing to be silenced, appears at a formal dinner and publicly declares the end of her marriage.
This silent film is a classic drama focused on how society treats women. While not truly feminist in our understanding of the world, it is a unique piece of interwar culture focused on women’s rights. Hitchcock would make several romantic dramas, and often included romantic themes, but this one still stands out to me for its tragic nature and the way it pushes against the societal grain. If you’re looking to expand silent film shelves, consider Easy Virtue among the first.
Stream Easy Virtue on Prime Video here.
I Confess (1953)
Father Michael Logan, a devout Catholic priest in Quebec City, becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation after parishioner Otto Keller confesses to the crime during confession. Keller, a German immigrant working as a church caretaker, admits to killing lawyer Villette during a botched robbery. However, bound by the inviolable seal of confession, Logan refuses to reveal what he knows—even as circumstantial evidence mounts against him. Complicating matters is Logan’s past with Ruth Grandfort, the wife of a prominent politician. Through flashbacks, it’s revealed that Logan and Ruth were once lovers during the war and found themselves entangled in a compromising situation with the victim before his death. Though Ruth testifies to protect Logan, her account inadvertently deepens suspicion. Despite the jury’s not-guilty verdict, the judge voices disagreement, and public opinion turns against Logan.
Hitchcock’s only true religious film, I Confess is a stunningly suspenseful noir with twists and turns and courtroom drama that leave even repeat viewers feeling dizzy. And as an explicitly Catholic film, I Confess fits surprisingly well into religious collections. The struggle of faith versus self-preservation is a fascinating one, dripping with strong allegorical similarity to saints from the early medieval period, Logan made a martyr for his beliefs. For fantastic storytelling, dramatic twists, and some outstanding noir cinematography, I Confess is a must-have for classic drama shelves.
Get your copy of I Confess on DVD here.
Lifeboat (1944)
After a German U-boat torpedoes an American merchant ship off the coast of Florida, both vessels are destroyed. Only nine people survive—eight Allied passengers and crew, and one German sailor. Tensions simmer as the group debates what to do with the German, who claims to be an ordinary seaman. Despite suspicion, they decide to treat him humanely. Among the survivors is a wealthy journalist, a grieving mother who later drowns herself, and a man whose gangrenous leg must be amputated—an operation performed by the German, a former surgeon. As the days stretch on and supplies dwindle, the German subtly takes command. He reveals himself to be the U-boat captain and manipulates the group, even pushing a wounded man overboard in what he calls an act of mercy. When the others discover he’s hoarded supplies, they attack and kill him.
Often mischaracterized as “Hitchcock’s pro-Nazi film”, Lifeboat is a masterclass in minimalist filmmaking. Shot in a soundstage the size of an oversized swimming pool, Hitchcock captures the rigors of surviving a naval attack with an elegant narrative ease. The actors and actresses in this film all put on astounding performances, and the story perfectly mirrors the rise of the Nazis in the interwar period, from a fringe and untrustworthy other to support and dependency. As a unique piece of dramatic and anti-fascist film, Lifeboat belongs on any classic drama shelf.
Get your copy of Lifeboat on DVD here.
Waltzes from Vienna (1934)
Aspiring composer Johann “Schani” Strauss Jr. and his fiancée, Resi, live a typical upper-class life in Vienna, Austria. While they sing a love duet in the apartment above Resi’s father’s bakery and café, a small fire erupts, drawing a chaotic response from firemen and the bumbling but well-meaning Leopold, who attempts a heroic rescue. Nearby, Countess Helga von Stahl overhears Schani’s music and offers to sponsor him, commissioning a piece based on her poetry. He accepts, launching a creative collaboration that plants the seeds for what will become The Blue Danube. As Schani struggles to stay loyal to Resi, he tries working in her father's bakery, only to find musical inspiration in its rhythms. Meanwhile, the countess and music publisher Anton Drexler manipulate events to promote Schani's talent, arranging for him to conduct at his father's upcoming beer garden concert. When the audience demands “Strauss,” Schani takes the podium, dazzling the crowd with his iconic waltz.
Because so few sources deign to mention this film, I’d rank it the most forgotten Hitchcock. When writing the film guide on the director, I almost missed it because of a lack of broader discussion about the film online or references in text. One of his first real “talkies”, Waltzes from Vienna is a great for classic film or Hitchcock collections. It’s certainly a romanticized version of history, but it’s a lot of fun to imagine the famed Johann Strauss II struggling to choose between the woman he loves or a life filled with music. Here, the director really shows off his ability to accurately manipulate large crowds and complicated sequences. This hidden gem of Hitchcock’s is a perfect pick for historical drama and classic film collections. Also consider it if you put together lib gudes or collections for classical composers.
Stream Waltzes from Vienna on Prime Video here.
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