Hitchcock - The British Years [DVD]

First and foremost, one must acclaim the release of this boxed set - not least for it contains the first DVD release of either The Pleasure Garden or Downhill in either Britain or America as far as I am aware. What's more this set, together with the one from Optimum, collects together the vast majority of the pre-Hollywood Hitchcock's in generally excellent quality, especially when compared to the public domain releases we have had to put up with for so long.

Also on the plus side, there are some nice interviews with Hitchcock from the 1960s and some archival footage from both the 1930s and the shooting of 1972's Frenzy. The "to camera" introductions by Charles Barr are both concise and illuminating, giving enough information and opinions to please those familiar with this material and yet it is not done in technical or academic lingo that is likely to go over the heads of someone with no knowledge of film studies. It is also good to see Charles Barr giving a more positive view of the films most often maligned from this period, such as Downhill. Many of the prints look and sound very good indeed (particularly the later ones).

However, there are a number of downsides to this particular boxed set. I had "aquired" from sources not to be mentioned, copies of The Pleasure Garden and Downhill in the years that it was unavailable, and it is a pity to see here that neither of these films appear to have been restored. The Pleasure Garden, although watchable, is in the worst shape, with Downhill fairing slightly better. However, both Downhill and the restored version of The Lodger are here with no musical soundtrack, which seems a ludicrous state of affairs in a boxed set that retails for £50 and from a reputable label such as Network. Ironically, the "archive" version of The Lodger (also included) does have music. Even a cobbled together classical score would have been something, but selling 90 minute silent films that play IN SILENCE is just inexcusable in 2008. Buyers deserve and expect better than this.

The packaging also leaves a little to be desired. Although the slip-case idea is fine, it is made of very thin card and easily damaged. Sadly the booklet is also very small and contains just a very short essay (in very large writing) by Charles Barr. An essay is fine, but a longer one could have gone into more detail about why these films are worth our attention, as well as a more general overview of Hitchcock's "British years".

The essay does note that there is no good quality print of Easy Virtue known to exist. This may be the case, but it would have been nice if either this or the Optimum set had included the print that WAS available, even if it is the same one that has been released on the so-called Public Domain releases, if only as a bonus. These two sets should generally be applauded, but we are now left with a handful of Hitchcock's British films in limbo-land. Neither set includes Easy Virtue, Elstree Calling, Juno And The Paycock, the silent version of Blackmail, the German version of Murder (Mary) or Waltzes In Vienna. I understand that Waltzes is now available in in English in France - but not here! It would be a great shame if this handful of films are not made available to those who want to own all films of Hitchcock, but none of them have the commercial clout that might be necessary to trigger the production of a "what's left" box and that is a crying shame.

I had been waiting for years for the release in decent presentations of some of these great films, particularly The Lodger, available so far on DVD only in terrible transfers of very poor copies. So I was thrilled when I heard of this box-set and ordered a copy immediately. I won't repeat what previous customers wrote about the films and contents of this package, because I generally agree with them. But I must say I am very disappointed with the disc of The Lodger, for me the main attraction of this set. The picture looks very good in the new BFI restoration, considering the state of the film elements available, but how on earth Network and Granada considered acceptable for this release on DVD a mute presentation (with no soundtrack at all) of this gem o a film? Silent films were never silent! Was so expensive to record at least a simple piano score with out of copyright material? This is sloppy if not shameful. You only have to watch the archival copy of the film, included as a bonus, with much poorer picture and just a mediocre soundtrack, to realize how music improve the enjoyment of a silent film. I guess I'll have to wait for Eureka or any other responsible company to give The Lodger the treatment it deserves. Also, the box and all five individual cases share the same rush and cheap looking design. I cannot give this release more than 3 stars. What a shame.

Five stars for the films themselves, but it's a pity there are no subtitles, which is something unforgivable at this day and age, hence the overall four stars. The picture quality is very good, better than I would have expected, and documentaries on Mr. Hitchcock are always interesting. It's very refreshing to watch these films considering how everything is so formulaic nowadays.
To watch a black and white film, and a silent one as well, is such a wonderful experience. The non-intrusive soundtrack and a very different way of acting from what we see in these times of over-paid and pretentious actors and actresses make for a very rewarding experience indeed. It's so amazing that very old films like these can look and sound so innovative. Anyone who loves films should buy this collection. It's worth every penny.