Number 17 (1932)

A gang of thieves gather at a safe house following a robbery, but a detective is on their trail.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Joseph Jefferson Farjeon (as J. Jefferson Farjeon), Joseph Jefferson Farjeon (play) (as J. Jefferson Farjeon)

Stars:

Leon M. Lion, Anne Grey, John Stuart

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leon M. Lion	...	Ben
Anne Grey	...	Nora Brant - the Girl
John Stuart	...	Barton - the Detective
Donald Calthrop	...	Brant - Nora's Escort
Barry Jones	...	Henry Doyle
Ann Casson	...	Rose Ackroyd
Henry Caine	...	Mr. Ackroyd
Garry Marsh	...	Sheldrake

Storyline

Detective Gilbert is searching for a necklace robbed by a gang of thieves. In the beginning, the gang is in a house in London, then they are running away from police. It will not be easy for the detective to recover the jewel.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | necklace | expressionism | two word title | impersonating a police officer | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1932 (UK)

Also Known As:

No 17

Filming Locations:

Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British International Pictures (BIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

66 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alfred Hitchcock did not want to make this film. He had wanted to direct a prestige production of John Van Druten's play "London Wall," but to punish Hitchcock for the financial failure of his previous film East of Shanghai (1931), British International Pictures head John Maxwell took him off "London Wall" and put him on this film instead. Hitchcock himself has referred to the film as "a terrible picture . . . very cheap melodrama".

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Goofs

Barton and Nora's hands are tied to the railing behind them, but after they fall backwards through it they're hanging with their hands in front of them.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ben: Oh! Oh, Gawd! Oh, Gawd! Oh, Gawd! Oh!
Fordyce/Barton: How do you feel? Now, where's that candle? Here, have some of this.

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Connections

Featured in Agatha Christie's Poirot: The ABC Murders (1992)

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Soundtracks

I Don't Need a Television
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Shalson
Lyrics by John Malvern

User Reviews

Not a Hitchcock classic but still a decent film

This really is far from top form for the great Alfred Hitchcock but is an interesting, sometimes exciting film with Hitchcock touches which lift it above its average origins.

It is important to remember that this is in keeping with most early talkies in appearing odd and over acted. People don't always take into account the introduction of sound meant screen acting became a whole new skill which made it hard to provide consistently good performances. Cameras with sound equipment meant directing took a backward step as cameras had to be kept more in a fixed position and actors and directors suffered new limitations. Camera shots and outdoor filming was made more difficult and sound was poor.

The 'classic' Frankenstein directed by James Whale is more over acted and has more bizarre dialogue than this, both that film and this one have enough qualities to overcome the dated nature of nearly all early talkies though.

The plot is interesting and strange but is not fully thought through. The dialogue is of mixed quality, some funny and sharp, some poor. The acting too is of mixed quality. However, there is wit, charm and some spooky and suspenseful parts throughout. Its opening is very effective indeed and I found the fight scenes amazingly dynamic and exciting despite or perhaps because of primitive techniques that had to be used.

The climactic chase scene is really thrilling and Hitch uses models brilliantly. It is like old fashioned CGI really, you can see it isn't real but used properly it works well.

Hitch didn't take it seriously and it is largely tongue in cheek with some nice humour. It is atmospherically shot with some great camera shots, moments of suspense and thrills. A good film but not the usual Hitchcock classic.