Blackmail

Synopsis

The first British full-length sound film, Blackmail was Hitchcock's second foray into the crime genre. The film displays many of the stylistic elements and themes with which he would come to be associated, in particular an interest in male sexual aggression.

Grocer's daughter Alice White (Anny Ondra) kills a man in self-defence when he tries to sexually assault her. Her policeman boyfriend covers up for her but a petty criminal spotted her leaving the scene and tries to blackmail her.

The studio gave Hitchcock the go ahead to shoot a proportion of sound footage, but the director shot almost the entire film in sound, back to back with a silent version for distribution to the many cinemas still not equipped for talking pictures.