When Boys Leave Home (1927) Downhill (original title)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Constance Collier (play)
Ivor Novello (play)
(more)

Release Date:

1928 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Public schoolboy Roddy Berwick is expelled from school when he takes the blame for a friend's theft...

Plot Keywords:

Expelled From School | Schoolboy | Cigarette Smoking | Theatre | Bill

Cast

Ivor Novello	...	Roddy Berwick
Robin Irvine	...	Tim Wakely
Isabel Jeans	...	Julia
Ian Hunter	...	Archie
Norman McKinnel	...	Sir Thomas Berwick
Annette Benson	...	Mabel
Sybil Rhoda	...	Sybil Wakely
Lilian Braithwaite	...	Lady Berwick
Violet Farebrother	...	The Poet
Ben Webster	...	Dr. Dawson
Hannah Jones	...	The Dressmaker
Jerrold Robertshaw	...	Rev. Henry Wakely
Barbara Gott	...	Madame Michet
Alf Goddard	...	The Swede
J. Nelson	...	Hibbert
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daisy Jackson	...	The Seductive Waitress

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Constance Collier		play
Ivor Novello		play
Eliot Stannard		adaptation

Produced by
Michael Balcon	....	producer
C.M. Woolf	....	producer

Cinematography by
Claude L. McDonnell

Film Editing by
Ivor Montagu
Lionel Rich

Art Direction by
Bertram Evans

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Mills	....	assistant director

Production Companies

• Gainsborough Pictures

Distributors

• Wardour Films (1928) (UK) (theatrical)
• Sono Art-World Wide Pictures (1929) (USA) (theatrical)
• Network (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Passport Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Downhill" - UK (original title)

Runtime:

80 min | USA:74 min

Country:

UK

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Islington, London, England, UK

Company:

Gainsborough Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: While Sir Beswick is preparing drinks, you can see the guest and Roddy talking in the background, each with their hands at their sides. In the next shot when Sir Beswick walks over with the drinks, the guest's arm is around Roddy's shoulder.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Dawson:I wish you had more boys like Roddy to send us, Sir Thomas.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Paul Merton Looks at Alfred Hitchcock (2009) (TV)

A fine Ivor Novello performance.

I just watched this film which I purchased on Ebay. I am a fan of Ivor Novello primarily because of his operatic musicals of the thirties and forties. I saw The Lodger recently and was impressed with his performance, read a biography or two, enjoyed Jeremy Northam's portrayal in Gosford Park, and am hunting for other performances in the cinema. This movie is very well done and adds an interesting insight into Hitchcock's early career. The quality of the acting, photography, use of symbolism are undeniable. I thought the impression that women are a bit dangerous was a major point but at least his mother cared about him although she didn't seem to resist his father's impulsive banishment. This is a film which held my interest throughout and I highly recommend it.