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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Budding Genius..., November 22, 2002
This review refers to the LaserLight Special Edition Double Feature DVD.....A pair of gloves is the only evidence in a murder case. One is found by the detective working the case, the other by a sinister eyewitness who wants to "Blackmail" the killer. No, this is not a TV movie about OJ Simpson, this is early Hitch!(Only he could have known.) In 1929 Alfred Hitchcock was already displaying his innate senses of style, suspense, shadowy figures,sensuality and lets not forget his wonderful sense of humor. This film has all those qualities that makes his films so recognizable. Alice is bored,and steps out on Frank, her Scotland Yard boyfriend. Her "date" offers to paint her portrait. She agrees, but once in his apartment, he attacks her and she kills him in self defense. The investagation leads her Detective boyfreind to realize she is the killer, but keeps it to himself, There's another witness, one that can blow the lid off the whole case.Alice's guilt is getting the best of her(shades of "Tell Tale Heart" by Poe). Will she turn herself in before it's too late, or will they keep this secret buried.The film stars Anny Ondra (she's marvelous)as Alice,John Longden as Frank, and Donald Calthrop as the blackmailer. "Blackmail started out as a silent but with films like the "Jazz Singer" opening in the States, Hitch decided to add sound to this one making it the first British "Talkie". Looking for Hitch: I spied him in the first 10 minutes in quite a comical cameo, don't miss it! The 2nd feature is "Easy Virtue". This was a silent made in 1927. Don't look for suspense or horror in this one. It's a great drama though, and you'll still recognize Hitchcock's signature in it. Larita is an innocent woman whose name and reputation is dragged through the mud after a nasty divorce. The publicity of it all makes her infamous. She tries to start her life anew, marries and must deal with some very nasty mother-in-law problems while trying to live down her notoriety.It is based on a play by Noel Coward and the score is newly recorded. Isabel Jeans plays the misunderstood woman in question. Where's Hitch: You got me!. I can't say that I saw him in this one, although I did spy a portly man in a suit walking off a tennis court(very strange) but Only from the back so.... LaserLight delights us with this DVD of early work of Hitch, although the film's do show their age(really old), especially "Easy Virtue", they are totally watchable, nice black and white images, and the sound is very good. There is an introduction by Tony Curtis and an Original Theatrical Trailer of Rear Window for an extra added treat! Hitch fan's you gotta add this to your collection.Oh and everything is on one side, no need to flip the disc for the second feature! Have fun with this one......Laurie
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