Hitchcock - The Beginning Blu-Ray

WI T N E S S T H E B I R T H O F A C I N E M A T I C L E G E N D For the first time on Blu-ray, with new restorations and film music, you can experience 10 of Alfred Hitchcock's early works. From the silent era to the first talkies, this 11-disc set also includes a newly commissioned full-length documentary, Becoming Hitchcock, which explores the director's first sound film, Blackmail. In 1929, Hitchcock directed Blackmail, the first British sound film, which was hailed as a film that "used sound and dialogue with more emotion and imagination than any Hollywood or European film of the time." Hitchcock's inventive and expressionistic use of sound demonstrated that the new technology opened up a new world of possibilities. THE RING (1927) A knockout score: Neil Brand on The Ring Hitchcock/Truffaut: Audio interview from the archives

Introduction by director/film historian Noel Simsolo

Gallery of still images

THE FARMER'S WIFE (1928)

Hitch in the countryside: Neil Brand on The Farmer's Wife

Excerpt from BEHP's audio interview with Ronald Neame

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archive

Introduction by director/film historian Noel Simsolo

Gallery of still images

CHAMPAGNE (1928)

Hitch & Champagne: Neil Brand on music for silent films

An intoxicating cocktail: Charles Barr on champagne

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archives

Audio commentary by film historian Farran Smith Nehme

Introduction by director/film historian Noel Simsolo

Gallery of still images

THE MANXMAN (1929)

Melodrama à la Manx: Stephen Horne on making Hitchcock

Hitch's Leading Ladies by Davina Quinliven

Audio commentary by film historian Farran Smith Nehme

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archive

Introduction by director/film historian Noël Simsolo

Still image gallery

BLACKMAIL (1929)

From Silence to Sound: Neil Brand on Blackmail

Anny Ondra's screen test

Excerpt from BEHP's audio interview with Ronald Neame

Audio commentary by film historian Tim Lucas

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archive

Introduction by director/film historian Noël Simsolo

Gallery of still images

JUNO & THE PAYCOCK (1930)

Hitch & The Irish Players - An interview with Charles Barr

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archives

Still image gallery

MURDER! (1930)

MARY: 1931 German version of "Murder! '

Alternative ending

Audio commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archive

Introduction by director/film historian Noël Simsolo

Gallery of still images

THE GAME OF SKIN (1931)

Alma Reville: Jo Botting & Natalie Morris in conversation

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archives

Introduction by director/film historian Noël Simsolo

Gallery of still images

THE RICH AND STRANGE (1931)

Unexpectedly personal: Charles Barr on “Rich and Strange

Audio commentary by film historian Troy Howarth

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archives

Introduction by director/film historian Noel Simsolo

Gallery of still images

NUMBER SEVENTEEN (1932)

From silent film idol to Superman: John Stuart by Jonathan Croall

Audio commentary by film historian and critic Peter Tonguette

Hitchcock/Truffaut: audio interview from the archives

Introduction by director/film historian Noel Simsolo

Gallery of lobby cards

BRAND-NEW DOCUMENTARY - BECOMING HITCHCOCK THE LEGACY OF BLACKMAIL (2024) Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, Narrated by Elvis Mitchell, Produced by Studiocanal in association with Nedland Films, 72 min. BECOMING HITCHCOCK - THE LEGACY OF BLACKMAIL, a brand new 72-minute documentary from award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau (Faye, Music by John Williams, Five Came Back) and narrated by Elvis Mitchell, historian, critic, and filmmaker, reflects on the development of Alfred Hitchcock's distinctive style through the making of one of his most important films, Blackmail (1929). The documentary highlights the emergence of the "Hitchcock Touch" during a period when sound films first appeared and explores his characteristic themes, such as murder, suspense, and cool blondes. While focusing on Blackmail, the documentary reveals how this film also foreshadows the director's later masterpieces, from Psycho to North by Northwest and from The Birds to Frenzy. / Running time: 70 min.