Becoming Hitchcock: The Legacy of Blackmail

2024

Biography / Documentary

2
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 285 285

filmmaking 1920s alfred hitchcock

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Plot summary

Narrated by historian, critic and filmmaker Elvis Mitchell, this documentary reflects the development of the iconic filmmaker's signature style, through the making of one of his benchmark films, Blackmail. The documentary highlights the birth of the "Hitchcock Touch" at a period when talking pictures first emerged and explores his trademark themes, like such as murder, suspense and cool blondes. While focusing on Blackmail, the documentary reveals how this film also foreshadows the director's later masterpieces, from Psycho to North by Northwest and from The Birds to Frenzy.

Director

Laurent Bouzereau Photo
Laurent Bouzereau

Top cast

Janet Leigh Photo
Janet Leigh as Marion Crane in Psycho
James Stewart Photo
James Stewart as L.B. Jefferies in Rear Window
Alfred Hitchcock Photo
Alfred Hitchcock as Self
Eva Marie Saint Photo
Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall in North by Northwest
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
632.35 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
us  
25 fps
1 hr 8 min
Seeds 10
1.27 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
us  
25 fps
1 hr 8 min
Seeds 17

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by boblipton 7 / 10

A Nice Introduction To Hitchcock

Elvis Mitchell talks us through Hitchcock's first sound feature, and discusses how to view Hitchcock's later works by repeated themes and techniques.There is a conflict in looking at artists in any medium. Do we value them for their protean ability or for their particular style? Do we admire William Wyler, who could work in many, disparate genres and produce great movies, or the specialist, like Hitchcock. Hitchcock worked mostly with thrillers, his themes murder, death, pursuit, and flight. Yes, yes, his morbid wit was always on display, and he directed several straight comedies, and even one musical. But is anyone going to claim greatness for MR. AND MRS. SMITH or WALTZES FROM VIENNA? I think not.The best thing to do is to admire both Wyler and Hitchcock when they are on their games. We admire Hitchcock for his constant visual inventiveness. Yet , as Mitchell points out, he reused stuff constantly, from the blonde leading lady to the mirror shot. Was this the first time Hitchcock used these? Frankly, I couldn't say. But Mitchell claims it, so for the sake of argument, I will concede the points. Does this lay hob with the assertion of his constant inventiveness?Yes. In fact, it argues a particular style. Critics love style, because it offers them a cheat-sheet approach to a work of art. Pointing out style can make someone look clever, like being able to identify a particular painter. Us less exalted audience members enjoy them because they work. They're a technique that works. Unless they're used at every opportunity until they become lazy and cloying Look at one Margaret Keane painting, and you may appreciate them. Look at a thousand of her big-eyed subjects and they become monstrous and lazy. Hitchcock may have been monstrous. I think he enjoyed that. But he was never lazy.
Reviewed by cgvsluis 8 / 10

Excellent set up for watching either version of the Hitchcock film Blackmail.

This is a wonderful documentary that I think Hitchcock fans will enjoy. I watched it on TCM in conjunction with watching both the silent version of Blackmail and then the talkie version and it was the ultimate set up allowing me to enjoy Blackmail in a way I wouldn't have otherwise. The clips and images in this documentary were my favorite part as the narrator cycles through the common themes of Hitchcock's films. Food, Sex, the cameo, the blond, the villains, the music, iconic locations, the big chase scene, and murder weapons...all discussed with cross film comparisons and mostly starting right here in the first Hitchcock talkie, Blackmail.My favorite part of this documentary was the side by side comparisons between the Silent and Talkie versions of Blackmail. Absolutely worth watching.
Reviewed by blanche-2 8 / 10

The master at work

Becoming Hitchcock... the Making of Blackmail is a 2024 documentary I just saw on TCM.It takes a look at the first Hitchcock talkie, Blackmail, also released as a silent film, and how he framed moments differently in each.The documentary also traces back those Hitchcock touches and how he applied them to his various films - his use of landmarks, types of murders, food, artwork, screams, etc., all fascinating, some less obvious than others until you see them brought together in a documentary.At one point, the narrator directed the viewer to a partial sign in one scene that read sex to come - we don't know what the rest of it said, but it was deliberate on Hitch's part.I'd like to point out some other subtle sexual references- the obvious train going into the tunnel at the end of North by Northwest is one. However, the best is the magazine Grace Kelly is reading at the end of Rear Window: Himalayas.In Blackmail, there is a scene where Anny Ondra is undressing as Cyril Ritchard plays the piano and sings about a date night. Very reminiscent to me of Kim Novak, now transformed back in James Stewart's vision, emerges from the bathroom. Hitch described that as a man waiting to make love to a woman.These moments, so many captured in this documentary, help us appreciate the subtleties in Hitchcock's work, sometimes missed as we watch the attractive villain, the normal man in unusual circumstances, the bomb we but the characters don't know is about to go off.Highly recommended.
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