



Kino: Two Early Alfred Hitchcock Films Detailed for Blu-ray Posted May 25, 2019 08:11 PM by



Blackmail (1929) and Murder! (1930). The two releases will be available for purchase on August 13.



Murder!



Synopsis: From Alfred Hitchcock, the legendary director of Number Seventeen, Shadow of a Doubt, Rear Window and The Birds. Hitchcock's third sound film was a return to the crime genre, adapted by Hitchcock and Walter Mycroft (Champagne) from the play Enter Sir John, written by Clemence Dane (A Bill of Divorcement) and Helen Simpson (Sabotage). An actress, Diana Baring (Norah Baring, A Cottage on Dartmoor) is convicted of the murder of another actress in the same touring company. But the distinguished actor Sir John Menier (Herbert Marshall, The Letter), who served on the jury at her trial, becomes convinced of her innocence and decides to solve the case. Beautifully shot by Joel E. Cox (The Lady Vanishes). This special edition also includes Mary, the 1931 German version of the film also directed by Hitchcock and starring Alfred Abel as Sir John Menier and Olga Tschechowa as Mary Baring.



Special Features and Technical Specs: RESTORED BY THE BFI

Audio Commentary by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton

Hitchcock/Truffaut: Icon interviews Icon (Archival Audio)

MARY: 1931 German version of 'Murder!' also directed by Hitchcock (Up-res)

Introduction by Noël Simsolo

Alternate Ending

Hitchcock: The Early Years - Documentary (52:22)

Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature Blackmail



Synopsis: From Alfred Hitchcock, the legendary director of Notorious, Lifeboat, North by Northwest and Psycho comes this thriller about a woman fighting off a sleazy blackmailer. Blackmail was Hitchcock's first full-length sound film and was only his second foray into the suspense genre. A grocer's daughter, Alice White (Anny Ondra, The Manxman) kills a man in self-defense when he tries to sexually assault her. Her policeman boyfriend, Detective Frank Webber (John Longden, The Skin Game) covers up for her, but she has been spotted leaving the scene by a petty criminal who starts to blackmail her. Based on a play by Charles Bennett (Foreign Correspondent, The 39 Steps) and co-starring Sara Allgood (The Lodger).



Special Features and Technical Specs: RESTORED BY THE BFI

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas

Hitchcock/Truffaut: Icon interviews Icon (Archival Audio)

The Silent Version of the Film - Score by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra

Introduction by Noël Simsolo (6:12)

Anny Ondra's screen test (0:57)

The Knife Scene - silent version (1:15)

The Knife Scene - sound version (1:30)

Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature





Source: Blu-ray.com | Permalink | [Country settings]



Sort by popularity Sort by date



Top contributor

Top contributor 4000dvds2many May 25, 2019 I have admittedly low exposure to early Hitchcock. Are his early films -- before The Lady Vanishes -- any good? maombsit May 25, 2019 The more Hitchcock the better. These earlier works are finally getting the blu ray treatment. Thank you KL. henry001 May 25, 2019 Wow, I am totally impressed with the lineup that comes up every a couple of weeks from Kino this year ,and these are certainly a surprise.



Aside from Hitchcock, my deep wish is that Kino or Classicflix would release John Ford's "Kentucky Pride" that Joseph McBride talks highly of in his book "Searching for John Ford".



"Kentucky Pride" has never been released even in DVD format and it is impossible to watch this movie at this point. What a shame. I sincerely hope some company would come up with blu ray release of the movie someday.

Brycemasterjedi1 May 25, 2019 I hope the audio on Murder is ok, every time I watch it the dialogue sounds muffled.

And Im sooo happy the silent version of Blackmail is included, Ive never seen it

vanscottie May 25, 2019 YES YES YES! Although both could easily have been on one disc! Anyone buying one would buy the other too

phillyfilmbuff May 25, 2019 YAY!!!

GuyBrushwood9000 May 26, 2019 Pre-Ordered!!!

kedavis May 26, 2019 Where did you pre-order them? I can't find a link to buy them.

Top contributor

Top contributor theater dreamer May 26, 2019 Gimme gimme gimme!!!!!! These will be mine!!! Thank you, KL! Any early Hitch on blu-ray is a gift. Now, if we could just find a copy of The Mountain Eagle somewhere in the world..... tomricci May 26, 2019 So wish they would of got the Criterion Laser disc commentary by the writer on Blackmail.

thisis2 May 26, 2019 ..since these were restored by BFI i wonder whether they will release them themselves eventually with their usual booklets...there is some interesting info and also photos from these movies in the classic Truffaut/Hitchcock interview book.. coachlynn May 26, 2019 Great, but where is Stage Fright?

Nafoty May 26, 2019 Both releases look fantastic. Thank you Kino! jamesbobo May 27, 2019 Blackmail will be a definite purchase. I hope Sabotage will be available one day.

phoenixandrew May 27, 2019 YES! I have been waiting patiently for both to be released on Blu-ray! I'll get them both. J___T May 27, 2019 Stage Fright for me too, though any Hitch new to Blu-ray is good news. benskelly May 31, 2019 I third on Stage Fright. Love that movie and its ripe for a remastering.

phillyfilmbuff Jun 01, 2019 did they change the cover of Blackmail? why color? hope they leave the cover art of murder alne its terrific totheworkshed Jun 02, 2019 I was lucky enough to see Blackmail with a live scoring and it was really enjoyable! I'm going to get it for sure.

Add comment



Please login to post a comment.





