Erpressung (1929)

Erpressung: Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. With Anny Ondra, Sara Allgood, Charles Paton, John Longden. After killing a man in self-defense, a young woman is blackmailed by a witness to the killing.

“I have seen most of Alfred Hitchcocku0026#39;s films, silent and talking, and was saving this one for a special occasion. It was really quite good and although over-rated despite being cited so often (along with Mamoulianu0026#39;s u0026quot;Applauseu0026quot;) as a successful example of the transition between the silents and talkies in all the references Iu0026#39;ve consulted, it still has some distinct good qualities of its own. Annie Ondra is an excellent silent actress and this among several other films proves it. Her accent was very strong, of course, and employing Joan Barry to u0026quot;lip-synchu0026quot; was genial. Francois Truffautu0026#39;s interviews with Hitchcock about working with Ms Ondra were enough to stimulate anyoneu0026#39;s appetite to see her (and to hear Joan Barry) at work. The music – at least in the beginning – is excessively burdensome and u0026quot;busyu0026quot; and frankly irritating. However, when the characters finally began dialogue, it calmed down considerably and actually worked out well until the ending. Weu0026#39;re seeing a hybrid here: a talkie and a part-talkie. When the talking itself finally happens, the characters arenu0026#39;t even facing the camera but are photographed from behind! This is the famous Hitchcock we know and love in the heat of action. The view of the staircase is very Hitchockian as in u0026quot;Vertigou0026quot; or u0026quot;Psychou0026quot; as well as the chase in a public monument (North by Northwestu0026quot; comes to mind). Yes, the director made the move to talking pictures quite fluently and fluidly. One should keep in mind, too, that the film had already been completed as a silent before being converted into a talkie! All the more to admire…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCurtis Stotlar”