Blackmail (1929)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Charles Bennett (from the play by)
Alfred Hitchcock (adapted by)
(more)

Release Date:

6 October 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

See and Hear It - Our Mother Tongue As It Should Be Spoken

Plot:

Alice White is the daughter of a shopkeeper in 1920's London. Her boyfriend, Frank Webber is a Scotland...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Blackmail | Detective | Knife | Glove

Cast

Anny Ondra	...	Alice White
Sara Allgood	...	Mrs. White
Charles Paton	...	Mr. White
John Longden	...	Detective Frank Webber
Donald Calthrop	...	Tracy
Cyril Ritchard	...	The Artist
Hannah Jones	...	The Landlady
Harvey Braban	...	The Chief Inspector (sound version)
Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop	...	The Detective Sergeant (as Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop - Late C.I.D. Scotland Yard)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johnny Ashby	...	Boy (uncredited)
Joan Barry	...	Alice White (voice) (uncredited)
Johnny Butt	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Man on Subway (uncredited)
Phyllis Konstam	...	Gossiping Neighbour (uncredited)
Sam Livesey	...	The Chief Inspector (silent version) (uncredited)
Phyllis Monkman	...	Gossip Woman (uncredited)
Percy Parsons	...	Crook (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Charles Bennett		(from the play by)
Alfred Hitchcock		(adapted by)
Benn W. Levy		(dialogue by) (as Benn Levy)
Michael Powell		uncredited

Produced by
John Maxwell	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jimmy Campbell		(musical score by) (as Campbell)
Reginald Connelly		(musical score by) (as Connelly)
Hubert Bath		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Jack E. Cox		(photography) (as Jack Cox)

Film Editing by
Emile de Ruelle		(film editor)

Art Direction by
C. Wilfred Arnold		(as W.C. Arnold)
Norman G. Arnold		(uncredited)

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

Sound Department
Dallas Bower	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Harold V. King	....	sound (uncredited)
Harry Miller	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronald Neame	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael Powell	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Derick Williams	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Hubert Bath	....	musical score arranged by
Hubert Bath	....	musical score compiled by
John Reynders	....	conductor: British International Symphony Orchestra
Harry Stafford	....	musical score arranged by
Harry Stafford	....	musical score compiled by

Other crew
Joan Barry	....	dubbing voice: Anny Ondra (uncredited)

Production Companies

• British International Pictures (BIP) (presents) (as British International Pictures Ltd)

Distributors

• Wardour Films (1929) (UK) (theatrical) (distributed by) (as Wardour Films Ltd)
• Sono Art-World Wide Pictures (1930) (USA) (theatrical)
• Quality Classics (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Timeless Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Laserlight Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Brentwood Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Jef Films International (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Nothing's New Video (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Suomi-Filmi (1931) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Studio Canal (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Castle Communications (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (5-disc Hitchcock Collection: The Early Years)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1976) (Finland) (TV)
• New Star (2011) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Arthaus Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• BCI Eclipse (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Brentwood Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Delta Expedition (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Expedition (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Expedition (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Echo Bridge Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Film X (????) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• LS Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Optimum Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• Rhino Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• St. Clair Vision (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Synergy Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Westlake Entertainment Group (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Whirlwind Media (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Whirlwind Media (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• British International Symphony Orchestra  music performed by
• Campbell, Connelly Ltd.  musical score by (as Campbell & Connelly)
• Elstree Film & Television Studios  made and recorded at (as Elstree, London)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (R.C.A. Photophone System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | Spain:T | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1989) | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 (1931) | Sweden:15 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-12 (1995) | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Bloomsbury, London, England, UK

Company:

British International Pictures (BIP)

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Alfred Hitchcock]being bothered by a small boy on the underground.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the artist is talking to the landlady, his walking stick is tucked under his arm. When he turns around, it is hanging on his forearm.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Det. Frank Webber:Well, we finished earlier tonight than I expected.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Shepperton Babylon (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sonny Boy

Silent Hitchcock.

Review for the silent version - What a treat to see Hitchcock exploit the visuals and string together a neat thriller. The final chase sequence at the British Museum and the Library is one of his best. Don't let the silent movie trademark of ham acting spoil it for you because that is part of the fun.