Early Nineteenth Century and the Invention of Moving Images
Early nineteenth century saw the invention of the moving images, which were produced on revolving disks and drums. However, it took over seven-decade after the design of the moving pictures for the first entertaining film to be premiered. The first three decades of the filmmaking history was dominated by silent movies although, especially silent comedies. Nonetheless, sometimes the silent movies were coupled with live musical performances and occasional spoken comments, but the characters were typically silent as they performed. It was not until the mid-1920s that the film industry incorporated sound techniques into their performances. Some of the first films that featured talking actors included the Jazz Singer, Blackmail, and The Lights of New York for many years (Dancyger np). Since then, film producers have embraced sound synchronization techniques in their film production leading to the fading away of silent films. Based on this background, this essay intends to review various aspects of the Blackmail Movie including themes, characters, and the cinematography aspects and their efforts in forging the core themes of the film. The Blackmail is extremely melodramatic with excessive movie techniques to foster the narration themes.
The Creation and Transformation of the Blackmail Film
Directed, written, and premiered by Alfred Hitchcock, the Blackmail features all the hallmarks of classic Hitchcock ranging from murder, tension to romance. Adopted from the Charles Bennet's play and originally conceived as a silent movie, Blackmail is a stylish film that many audiences and filmmakers crowned as the master of suspense among the ancient talkie movies. The director, Hitchcock was forced to reshoot the movie to convert the film from silent to talkie. Consequently, this resulted in a movie with some scenes synchronized with sounds while other scenes are coupled with directional texts. Apparently, during the talkie transition, the producers were required to produce both the silent and the sound versions of the movie.
Themes of Duty, Crime, and Love
At the outset, the film features Detective Frank Webber arresting a suspect who then fingerprinted before being thrown into the police cells. However, during the arrest, the detective makes the arrest looks like a routine event. He washes his hands casually and remarks to the college that he is late for a date with his girlfriend, Alice White. From this first scene, it is clear that there are two notable themes, namely the theme of duty and crime. Detective Frank Webber facilitates these two themes through his work as a detective he apprehends a crime suspect. By using the fingerprint device while arresting the suspect is a clear indication that might have committed a felony crime. In the second scene, features Frank and her girlfriend quarreling in the restaurant over visiting the movies. For Alice, she believes she has everything worth seeing, but Frank wants to watch the Film Fingerprints, which is based on police work. The argument leads to Frank getting angry and leaving Alice at the restaurant. Markedly, this scene features the theme of love between Alice and Frank. Seemingly, the couple has reached the climax of their relationship where they are getting on one another's nerves (Glancy 199). Despite loving Frank, Alice views Frank as a boring and impatient man while Frank thinks that Alice is a fickle ad Flighty; however, he can still make time for her since he loves her.
The Climax and Themes of Romance and Violence
Probably, the third scene is the climax of the film. Immediately after Frank left the restaurant, Alice surprisingly accepts an offer from strangers, Crew, to visit his artist studio. A flat, shady, and shabby man approaches them, but Crewe shoos him away as they enter the studio. Once in the Studio, the photographer employs shooting techniques to illustrate the different intentions between Crew and Alice. The photographer, Jack Cox, shoots a blank canvas, a palette, and proceeds to capture Alice painting a silly face of indeterminate gender, but Crew is captured giving the drawing a nude and curvy body. From these shots, it is clear that Alice intended to make fun for a few laughs with her new friend, but Crew intended something more carnal. Apparently, Crew takes advantage of Alice's naivety to seduce and lure her into the studio's bedroom. Feeling safe, Alice proceeds to kiss with Crew, and she confesses that he is more manly than her date, Frank. Hitchcock uses this scene to showcase the romance theme. Arguably, there is strong affection between Crew and Alice and by kissing, the duo shows that they are in love.
The Aftermath and the Guilty Conscience
The next scene features the sort of suggested violence as Alice defends herself against Crew intends to rape her. Unfortunately, Crew succumbs to Alice's frenzied stabbing. Here, the sound directors, Harold, Harry, and Dallas employ captivating musical tones to make the scene more intense and horrifying. Rhetorically, this scene exposes the audience to several questions including will Alice remember to erase her name that had been signed on the canvas as they were painting and is there no other person hearing them from outside? The following scenes make many critics believe that Hitchcock teased the audience perceptions.
The Legacy and Impact of the Blackmail Film
The rest of the film concerns Alice's guilty conscience. After discovering the corpse, Frank is assigned to investigate the case. On the case, he quickly discovers Alice's gloves at the scene. Frank decides to hide the gloves for the sake of saving his love, Alice, from going to jail. However, he is not the only one who knows of the scenario, the dubious ex-con Tracy apparently overheard and witnessed the scene. Tentatively, he resorts to remain silent on the issue to make it worth for a while. At this point, the director reveals the rationale behind the film title, Blackmail. From a personal viewpoint, Hitchcock spoiled the final act of the film. He should have an elaborative ending that perhaps could have featured how Tracy blackmailed Frank and Alice.
Hitchcock's Film Achievements and the Impact of Blackmail
The director Alfred Hitchcock directed some of the most acclaimed Hollywood masterpieces such as Psycho, Vertigo, and Strangers on a Train. Precisely, the Blackmail was a milestone in the British Film Industry as it was the first talkie movie in Britain. Indeed, Hitchcock directed the film in two versions, sound and silent. For film critics, the latter is more difficult to understand compared to the silent movie.
Hitchcock's Skill in Storytelling and Suspense
From the film, it is vivid that Hitchcock was interested in the transition towards sound films. Hitch explores the new technology to relay the themes of the film, but he also knows that his audience value images compared to sound. In response, he employs imagination skills in engaging and capturing the audience's attention. Even though the Blackmail may not have the polish of later Hitch's classics, such as Rear Window, Psycho, and Vertigo, because of poor lighting and sound systems, it is the most interesting film regarding Hitch's beginnings. Overall, this indicates that even ancient filmmaking also had an incredible talent for storytelling, suspense, and melodramatic drama.
The Significance of the Blackmail Film
In my regard, the Blackmail is a standout film throughout Hitch's career; the mis-en-scene shows that Hitch matured by 1929. The film is thoroughly interesting and provides the platform for the future of his films through plot developments and narratives (Belton 231). In that connection, the Blackmail acts as a significant foundation for the following Hitch's films. Besides, from this film, Hitch derived the audience to review and critics' comments that helped him shape his future movies. Despite poor film ending, the careful, controlled approach and closure on Alice gives the impression that there is more than what one might see in another or situation. In that case, the movie teaches the audience to be careful with people they meet in their daily endeavors. The movie may be just a reflection of the current status of the world where the level of human beings has significantly deteriorated.
The Outstanding Features of the Blackmail Film
Compared to other earlier talkies, the Blackmail is extremely outstanding in that it was the first talkie film released in alternate silent and sound versions to suit various audiences. Besides, Hitch creatively employed cinematography aspects ranging from clear camera shots to effective sound and musical synchronization. Apparently, the themes exploited by Hitch are relevant to the 1920s, especially after the Great Depression. Markedly, after the Great Depression, British endured tough times that were marred by an increase in violent criminal activities and controversial love relationships that often lead to divorce. In this regard, it is clear that Hitch and other crew worked hard to premiere the British talkie film. Personally, I am impressed by their hard work to display the core issues that have consistently affected society over the years. Based on the above aspects, I prefer the Blackmail Film to other earlier talkies such as the Jazz Singer and the Light of New York as well as other earlier silent comedies.
Works Cited
Belton, John. "Awkward Transitions: Hitchcock's" Blackmail" and the Dynamics of Early Film Sound." The Musical Quarterly 83.2 (1999): 227-246.
Dancyger, Ken. The technique of film and video editing: history, theory, and practice. CRC Press, 2014.
Glancy, Mark. "Blackmail (1929), Hitchcock and Film Nationalism." The New Film History. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2007. 185-200.
