Alfred Hitchcock – Two Early Films

Madman

R4

We often forget that even the biggest name producers and directors had to start their careers somewhere and it interesting to see what their early work was like. These two films show us some of Hitchcock’s early work in the period he worked in Britain and before he honed his experience in the suspense films that became his forte. His British output was prolific.

The 39 Steps

1935

This cleaned up reissue of Hitchcock’s 1935 film is based on John Buchan’s classic suspense novel. Based very loosely unfortunately. At this time in his career Hitchcock felt the need to have the book rewritten to make it more of an action film than suspense. Whole slabs of the plot were changed and if you have read Buchan’s novel, itself a brilliant suspense work, you will probably be disappointed. Buchan could have taught Hitchcock a thing or two about suspense. Nevertheless it is still regarded as one of Hitchcock’s better pre-Hollywood films and helped him to establish his reputation in the U.S.

The menacing man with the hooded eyes is gone, as are most of Hannay’s survival skills learnt in South Africa. Instead of the plans being smuggled to Germany on paper we get a music hall turn, Mr Memory, who has the details embedded in his mind. The tragic agent Scudder is replaced with a Mysterious Woman.

Most importantly, instead of a competent self-reliant Hannay we get Robert Donat as some sort of lounge lizard with a surprising sense of humour for a man on the run. The effect is less convincing than the novel.

On the positive side it is fairly good as an action film anyway. There is some first class acting, including some great moments from a very young Peter Lorre. For its time the cinematography is remarkably good as is its transfer to DVD.

The Man Who Knew Too Much

1935

This is Hitchcock’s early version starring Leslie Banks and Edna Best, not the later 1956 remake with Doris Day and James Stewart. Although the latter was regarded by Hitchcock as the better film, its use as a vehicle for Doris Day’s singing rather confused the issue of whether it was a suspense thriller or just another silly semi-musical. The early version had no such problems. It was pure action and suspense, showing what Hitchcock would become as he gained experience. It had a good plot and Banks and Best made the best of it. Once again Peter Lorre turned in a great performance as leader of the bad guys.

Bob and Jill Lawrence and their daughter Betty are holidaying in Switzerland with their French friend Louis. Louis is shot and dies but only after telling Bob of a plot to kill a leading French politician. The evidence is hidden in the handle of his shaving brush. Before Bob can pass this information on to the authorities they are warned that if they tell anyone their daughter will die.

A desperate search for Betty’s captors follows, with a final showdown in the street outside the Albert Hall.

The film is great suspense / drama, mercifully free of singing and just concentrating on good acting and a good plot. Of Hitchcock’s early films, this could be one of the best.

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