Would you rent a room to this man? Image: The Record
Even though it’s a silent film, you can tell it’s directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
It’s cheeky and tense, the way many of his films are, with unexpected twists.
We’re talking about The Lodger: A Film of the London Fog (1927), based on the 1913 novel by Marie Belloc Lowndes. The story is about a strange and antisocial man (Ivor Novello) who rents a room in a London lodging house while a serial killer is terrorizing the city. It’s a story loosely based on the Jack the Ripper murders in 1888.
The lodging house is run by a middle-class couple (Marie Ault and Arthur Chesney), whose daughter, Daisy (June Tripp), is a fair-haired fashion model. Unluckily for Daisy, her appearance is exactly the type the killer hunts. What’s more unlucky, the killer seems to be operating in her neighborhood and, with each murder, is moving closer to her home.
Daisy’s boyfriend, Joe the Policeman (Malcolm Keen), has been assigned to catch the killer. You might think this is a happy news, but the killer is one clever customer. Each Tuesday, the murderer slays a fair-haired woman and leaves behind a taunting note with the words “THE AVENGER”.
So the movie becomes a web of questions: Will Daisy be stalked by the killer? Will Joe the Policeman find the murderer in time? And who on earth is that weirdo renting the room in lodging house?
This early Hitchcock film has many of the compelling elements of his Hollywood films. Here’s a quick overview:
The Smart, Suspicious Woman
The woman who owns the lodging house notices her reclusive lodger sneaking out of his room at night. At first, the landlady is perplexed by this behaviour, but soon realizes the lodger is establishing a curious pattern. Of course, when she points this out to others, no one believes her.
The Dark Humour
In one scene, Joe the Policeman visits with Daisy in the kitchen, where her mother is rolling out cookie dough. Joe takes the heart-shaped cookie cutter and stabs it into the dough, as though he’s plunging a knife into someone. Just see if you don’t wince when you watch this scene.
The Clues
Hitchcock shows us everything the police (and the landlady) discover but, alas, it’s not enough to make an arrest. However, Alfred Hitchcock is a tricky one; some of the clues he reveals point us in the wrong direction.
The Tension
The murders occur Tuesday nights, as in, every Tuesday night. Each new week brings a new Tuesday – and a new murder. But the police are unable to capture the killer – until they do, and what a surprise it is!
Joe the Policeman (Malcolm Keen, centre) describes the latest murder. Image: YouTube
Alfred Hitchcock was 28 years old when The Lodger was released. Many critics regard it as the film where he developed his signature style.
He began his career as a title designer, before becoming an assistant director in 1923; The Lodger was his third feature film as Director. Hitchcock would make 23 films in England before being lured to Hollywood by David O. Selznick in 1939.
The Lodger is not a perfect film, but it is suspenseful and boasts elements of German Expressionism. If you are an Alfred Hitchcock fan, you’ll want to see the film that helped define his style.
Notes:
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog starring June Tripp, Ivor Novello, Marie Ault. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Scenarios by Eliot Stannard. Vintage Films, 1927, B&W, 80 mins.
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I love watching early Hitchcock and imagining that fertile brain cutting loose in his true medium. Also, creepy or not, Ivor Novello is quite pleasant to behold.
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A splendid account of one of Hitchcock’s greats – many thanks! After my first watching of The Lodger I realized I hadn’t properly recognized that the movie was silent: the important scenes seemed so full of, well, bustle that I’d reacted to them as if I’d heard them.
Hard to explain, really.
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I know exactly what you mean about it not seeming like a silent film. I have to remind myself that it’s pre-sound. The characters are so vivid.
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Great review, Ruth. Thanks for taking part. This is one of his best films. It is dripping with atmosphere and Ivor Novello is marvellous. Thanks for discussing one of his Silent era films, they sadly don’t get discussed as much as his sound films and that is a real shame.
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You’re right – Hitchcock’s silent films aren’t talked about much these days…but, admittedly, I myself have seen only The Lodger so far.
You said it re: the atmosphere in this film. It’s haunting and mysterious.
Thanks for organizing this blogathon! I’m looking forward to what everyone else has in store. 🙂
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Haha! Ivor Novello is indeed pleasant to behold!
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Oooh, I have this on my to-watch list and it sounds marvelous! I watched the 1944 version and am curious are similar or dissimilar they are in story. I’ve not seen a silent Hitchcock yet…looking forward to it more than ever!
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Christina, I think you’ll like this one. I especially want to know what you think about the conclusion.
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Ah, does it have a surprise ending? That will be fun to look for!
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It does, and I was surprised.
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I recently translated my review of The Lodger to English and could remember a few Hitchcock touches that I had forgotten with time. I also watched a bit of it at the Hitchcock 50 course. The Lodger is not perfect, but it is a very nice film, indeed! I loved your review.
Kisses!
Le
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Is this translation a recent post on your site? I’ll look for it.
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Wow!! Wow!!! I just have to see this. Interesting analysis!!
Heard of this flick, but never seen it.
So this is inspired from the Jack the Ripper murders, but I suppose it’s been forward to the roaring 20’s; as the costumes don’t seem Victorian!!
There truly will never be anyone as great as Hitchcock!!
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I think you’re right. It’s hard to imagine another Alfred Hitchcock. And yes, YOU must see this! Although it’s based on the Jack the Ripper murders, Hitchcock set it in “present day” in the 1920s.
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Such an interesting read! I consider myself a Ripperologist of a sort, and am really into dark humour, so this film is right up my alley. It is really fascinating to see those early films of Hitchcock where he began to plant his “trademarks”.
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Oh yes, if you’re a “Ripperologist”, you ought to see The Lodger. I’m not familiar with Jack the Ripper, so I don’t know how how closely the script matches actual events… But it’s one of those things where the movie is so enjoyable you don’t care how close to the truth it may (not) be.
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I’m a fan of HItch’s early British pics and this is a good one. Actually, though, I think the remake with Laird Cregar is a better movie overall.
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The remake is one I’ve yet to see. Laird Cregar is a fabulous choice, I bet.
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Ooh! I’ve never heard of this. I have to watch it. Sounds horribly delightful.
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It’s not as tightly structured as Hitchcock’s later films, but still engrossing. The Lodger himself is a fairly creepy fellow…
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I want to see the creepy fellow… 😉 My husband is intrigued, as well.
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