Blackmail

Name: Blackmail
Genre: Mystery & thriller
Released: TODO_MISSING
Rating: 87

1929, Mystery & thriller, 1h 26m

23 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

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Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

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Blackmail Photos

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Movie Info

During a date, Alice White (Anny Ondra) has a fight with her boyfriend, Scotland Yard Officer Frank Webber (John Longden), and decides to leave with an artist named Mr. Crewe (Cyril Ritchard). Whey they get to the artist's flat, Mr. Crewe attempts to force himself on Alice, and she kills him to defend herself. Frank investigates the case and, after realizing Alice is the culprit, seeks to help her. However, a thief (Donald Calthrop) with blackmail on his mind complicates matters.

Genre:

Mystery & thriller
Original Language:

English
Director:

Alfred Hitchcock
Producer:

John Maxwell
Writer:

Charles Bennett, Alfred Hitchcock, Benn W. Levy
Release Date (Theaters):

Oct 6, 1929 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jul 18, 2000
Runtime:

1h 26m
Distributor:

Republic Pictures, LS Video, Criterion Collection, Sono Art-World Wide Pictures Inc.
Production Co:

British International Pictures
Sound Mix:

Mono

Cast & Crew

Anny Ondra
Alice White

John Longden
Det. Frank Webber

Donald Calthrop
Tracy

Cyril Ritchard
Mr. Crewe

Sara Allgood
Mrs. White

Charles Paton
Mr. White

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Critic Reviews for Blackmail

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (3)

Full Review… David Parkinson Empire Magazine

Full Review… Variety Staff Variety

Full Review… Mordaunt Hall New York Times

Full Review… Tony Rayns Time Out

Full Review… Dave Kehr Chicago Reader

Full Review… Hugh Castle Close Up

Full Review… Nathanael Hood The Retro Set

Full Review… Diego Galán El Pais (Spain)

Full Review… Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid

Full Review… Lauren Humphries-Brooks Citizen Dame

Full Review… Demetrios Matheou The Arts Desk

Full Review… TV Guide Staff TV Guide

View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for Blackmail

Apr 19, 2012

This film being from 1929 is the oldest movie I've seen in my life. It was one of Hitches early works and it was pretty good. Yes it was hard not to be bored at times but with an old movie like this you have to accept that if it happens. The story was mediocre but it was still so well paced it could give you the chill, especially that final scene.

Daniel D Super Reviewer
Nov 15, 2011

The master in his early days. Even for his first talkie, his visual style is just as brilliant in 1929 as it would be in later years. Whether it be the use of a curtain to disguise some foul play, his immaculate use of shadows, of the way his uses the lights to illuminate a characters overwhelming guilt, Hitch suggests more with a few frames than most directors do in an entire film. While the pacing isn't as streamlined as it would be in later films such as the 39 Steps, it is still fascinating to see just how ahead of his time he was even in the dawn of his career.

Reid V Super Reviewer
Dec 28, 2010

Nothing like a good Date-Rape movie. (Just Kidding). PS -Watch it for free on online ;)

Sean G Super Reviewer
Nov 29, 2010

On the one hand, the story is very simple, but slow and dragged out, which is kind of annoying, and the nothing is really resolved the way it should. On the other hand this movie is visually interesting, much like later Hitchcock films, and it's one of the first sound films too. Overall, it's interesting to see, but the story could be a lot better.

Aj V Super Reviewer