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IMDbPro

Blackmail

  • 19291929
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Blackmail (1929)
  • Crime
  • Thriller
After killing a man in self-defense, a young woman is blackmailed by a witness to the killing.After killing a man in self-defense, a young woman is blackmailed by a witness to the killing.After killing a man in self-defense, a young woman is blackmailed by a witness to the killing.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett(from the play by)
    • Alfred Hitchcock(adapted by)
    • Benn W. Levy(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Anny Ondra
    • John Longden
    • Sara Allgood
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett(from the play by)
    • Alfred Hitchcock(adapted by)
    • Benn W. Levy(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Anny Ondra
    • John Longden
    • Sara Allgood
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 107User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos194

    Anny Ondra in Blackmail (1929)
    Anny Ondra and Cyril Ritchard in Blackmail (1929)
    Anny Ondra in Blackmail (1929)
    Donald Calthrop, John Longden, and Anny Ondra in Blackmail (1929)
    Anny Ondra in Blackmail (1929)
    Harvey Braban and John Longden in Blackmail (1929)
    Blackmail (1929)
    Blackmail (1929)
    Blackmail (1929)
    Blackmail (1929)
    Anny Ondra in Blackmail (1929)
    Anny Ondra in Blackmail (1929)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anny Ondra
    Anny Ondra
    • Alice Whiteas Alice White
    John Longden
    John Longden
    • Detective Frank Webberas Detective Frank Webber
    Sara Allgood
    Sara Allgood
    • Mrs. Whiteas Mrs. White
    Charles Paton
    Charles Paton
    • Mr. Whiteas Mr. White
    Donald Calthrop
    Donald Calthrop
    • Tracyas Tracy
    Cyril Ritchard
    Cyril Ritchard
    • The Artistas The Artist
    Hannah Jones
    Hannah Jones
    • The Landladyas The Landlady
    Harvey Braban
    Harvey Braban
    • The Chief Inspector (sound version)as The Chief Inspector (sound version)
    Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop
    • The Detective Sergeantas The Detective Sergeant
    • (as Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop - Late C.I.D. Scotland Yard)
    Johnny Ashby
    • Boyas Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Barry
    Joan Barry
    • Alice Whiteas Alice White
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Butt
    • Sergeantas Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    Alfred Hitchcock
    Alfred Hitchcock
    • Man on Subwayas Man on Subway
    • (uncredited)
    Phyllis Konstam
    Phyllis Konstam
    • Gossiping Neighbouras Gossiping Neighbour
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Livesey
    Sam Livesey
    • The Chief Inspector (silent version)as The Chief Inspector (silent version)
    • (uncredited)
    Phyllis Monkman
    Phyllis Monkman
    • Gossip Womanas Gossip Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Percy Parsons
    Percy Parsons
    • Crookas Crook
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett(from the play by)
      • Alfred Hitchcock(adapted by)
      • Benn W. Levy(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Much of this movie was originally shot silently. When sound became available during the course of shooting, director Alfred Hitchcock re-shot certain scenes with sound, thus making it his first talkie. There was one complication with this change, however. Leading lady Anny Ondra had a thick Czech accent which was inappropriate to her character, Alice White. Joan Barry was chosen to provide a different voice for her, but post-production dubbing technology did not exist then. The solution was for Barry to stand just out of shot and read Alice's lines into a microphone as Ondra mouthed them in front of the camera. This is generally acknowledged as the first instance of one actress' voice being dubbed by another, even though the word "dub" is technologically inappropriate in this case.
    • Goofs
      When Alice "unlocks" the door to the building where she lives, it starts to open as soon as the key reaches the door. It was clearly not only not locked, but not even latched. However, she goes through with the motion of unlocking it.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Det. Frank Webber: Well, we finished earlier tonight than I expected.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally filmed as a silent movie, running 75 minutes; Hitchcock later added newly shot scenes and had other existing footage dubbed to create a talkie version, running 86 minutes.
    • Connections
      Edited into Der Zinker (1931)
    • Soundtracks
      Miss Up-to-Date
      (1929) (uncredited)

      Words by Frank Eyton and music by Billy Mayerl

      Performed by Cyril Ritchard

    User reviews107

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Not a disappointment at all
    I have seen most of Alfred Hitchcock'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 Mamoulian's "Applause") as a successful example of the transition between the silents and talkies in all the references I'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 "lip-synch" was genial. Francois Truffaut's interviews with Hitchcock about working with Ms Ondra were enough to stimulate anyone's appetite to see her (and to hear Joan Barry) at work. The music - at least in the beginning - is excessively burdensome and "busy" and frankly irritating. However, when the characters finally began dialogue, it calmed down considerably and actually worked out well until the ending. We're seeing a hybrid here: a talkie and a part-talkie. When the talking itself finally happens, the characters aren'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 "Vertigo" or "Psycho" as well as the chase in a public monument (North by Northwest" 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...

    Curtis Stotlar
    helpful•11
    0
    • cstotlar-1
    • Jul 9, 2011

    FAQ3

    • Are the first eight minutes supposed to be silent?
    • Why are the picture and sound so bad?
    • Is this film really in the U.S. public domain?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 1929 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ucena
    • Filming locations
      • British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British International Pictures (BIP)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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