The third feature from Alfred Hitchcock is the first that might accurately be termed "Hitchcockian." Based on the 1913 novel by Marie Belloc Lowndes, which was inspired by Jack the Ripper's reign of terror, the 1926 thriller tells the tale of a mysterious lodger (played by music hall singer and composer Ivor Novello) who takes up a room in the home of a middle-class family at a time when a serial killer is on the loose. This odd young man keeps suspiciously late hours and shows a romantic interest in Daisy (June Tripp), daughter of the landlords, which makes him an object of attention for her police detective boyfriend (Malcolm Keen). This is Hitchcock's first film to explore themes of suspicion, jealousy, and guilt, a visually thrilling and narratively inventive work with striking images and dramatic camera angles influenced by German expressionist cinema, as well as experimental storytelling techniques to suggest what characters are thinking. Climaxing with a tension-filled chase through the foggy streets of London, The Lodger is a landmark of British silent cinema and an essential film for Hitchcock aficionados and students of film history. Criterion presents the American debut of the BFI's superb 2012 restoration featuring an orchestral score by Neil Brand. Extras include the BFI restored 1927 Hitchcock silent drama Downhill (also starring Novello), new and archival interviews, a video essay by art historian Steven Jacobs, a 1940 radio adaptation directed by Hitchcock, and a booklet. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
The Lodger
Criterion, 90 min., not rated, DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95 Volume 32, Issue 5
The Lodger
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