The Pleasure Garden [DVD]

Although world famous for his suspense thrillers of later years, Hitchcock's early silent films are also of value and interest, especially the very first film he directed in 1925, namely "The Pleasure Garden". While not the same genre as his most famous movies of later years, this film has all the important qualities that made Hitchcock such a successful director. It is a drama about two young women working as dancing hall girls in a variety theatre called The Pleasure Garden, and although they look alike, their personalities could not be more different. One is a wholesome, honest girl of good, old-fashioned principles, and the other selfishly pursues fame, wealth and indulgent living, casting aside her fiancé from her old home town without a second thought. The story follows the fate of both, but in particular that of the nice girl who falls for a man who is no good. This is when some suspense and a few unexpected twists occur near the climax, culminating in a satisfying happy ending. Hitchcock balances the narrative of an interesting story with a study of human beings, their traits and personalities, as well as a playful dog that even has a small but significant and charming part. There are a few unusual and impressive camera angles or observations which show that Hitchcock had an eye for cinematography, as well as a good understanding of human nature and relationships already at this early stage of his career. The picture quality is quite good overall but does flicker somewhat and at times some images appear a little too light, which is common with films of this age. The music is a very good organ accompaniment in the traditional style for silent films, and adds to the enjoyment of this film. As a bonus, there is nearly one hour's worth of interviews with Hitchcock from mid to late 1960s television in which he talks about his early days and some of his first films. This DVD is very good value for money, and should be of special interest to both Hitchcock fans and general cinema enthusiasts, particularly because it is the first film by one of the century's greatest directors.

Hitchcock's first full completed film as a director is understandably a curiosity, and whilst The Lodger, which followed it, normally gets a more encompassing critical response for it's worth, The Pleasure Garden is an entertaining enough curiosity. Granted you are going to need to be either a Hitchcock obsessive or a huge fan of silent movies to get something from it, but if either of those descriptions match you, there is an hour or so of fun to be had.

The story concerns two dancers at The Pleasure Garden Theatre, in London, Patsy Brand (Virginia Valli)and Jill Cheyne (Carmelita Geraghty) and their problems with infidelity (Patsy's on the one hand, and the infidelity of her husband in Jill's case).

There are some pleasing touches within the film; the voyueristic nature of the dancing scenes (with the viewer seeing the scene through the opera glasses of an audience member) will raise a smile and its interesting to see that even at the very earliest stage of his career, Hitchcock is loading his film with sexuality (the scene where Patsy and Jill undress in their shared room is subtly done, but the tones are quite obvious).

Throw in a particularly shocking, for the time, scene of murder (which even now, over 80 years on, made me jump the first time I saw it) and some wonderfully light comic relief with the dog, Cuddles, and you have an enjoyable enough film, even without it's relevance as the first Hitchcock film.

As said before, it's definately going to be an acquired taste. But any Hitchcock fan, silent-movie lover or someone just interested in the early days of British cinema generally, this is well worth a watch.

IT'S SILENT BUT WATCHING THE SETS AND CUTTING, IT'S DELIGHTFUL. IN ALL ASPECTS THE CRAFT OF TODAY OWES ALOT TO HITCHCOCK.