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:

With The Jazz Singer (1927) doing spectacular business, the producers decided that the last reel of this predominantly silent film should have sound. Alfred Hitchcock thought that this was an absurd idea and so he secretly filmed the whole thing with sound.

Goofs:

Continuity: Alice's hair is different on multiple occasions on switching camera angle close-ups. Most noticeable when Crewe is attempting to assist Alice button the back of her dress...and in Scotland Yard right before Alice and Frank stroll down a long hallway.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in Silent Britain (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Best Things in Life Are Free

Pretty good for its time

I watched Blackmail last night on BBC Four having hard it was Britain's first 'talkie' and an Alfred Hitchcock classic. A really good thriller for the early-mid 20th century and is obviously directed by Hitchcock. Not to mention a good opportunity to see London as it was in 1929! Quite a simple story lines with Anny Ondra who stars as our sweet timid heroine, Alice White, who is blackmailed after she killed man who tried to rape her.

The beginning is rather weird as you'll see when watch it and because of this, for one reason or another, I failed to understand it. Hitchcock performs a similar trick as he did later on in his career in Psycho, introducing Alice after he introduces the supporting characters.

The film sadly lacks action scenes as there is a pretty long build up and after the murder takes place we are more focused upon the psychological damaged inflicted upon Alice as she deals with the fact that she has taken another man's life. It is very obvious she is being dubbed, as her mouth and Joan Barry's flawless, girly English accent do not clash at some points during the movie. Ondra was may I add a very pretty lady for her time and I couldn't help but notice a jaw-resemblance to Meryl Streep. Most people won't know what I mean, but I could see it.

Hitchcock was a perfect choice to direct and did it considerably well, taking advantage of all the possible SFX's that were available in the late 20s. He also has a very clear cameo appearance – on a train being annoyed by a child early on in the picture.

A real treat and an enjoyable way to spend my Saturday night!