Downhill

Downhill (1927)

Runtime: 110 minutes

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Ivor Novello, Ben Webster, Norman McKinnel, Robin Irvine, Jerrold Robertshaw

From: Gainsborough Pictures

On the Criterion Channel this month, they introduced Hitchcock for the Holidays, which is 21 movies from his career. Most I had seen before but some I'll either rewatch and not mention it to anyone online or they will be reviewed here such as this silent that was one of Hitch's first ever films. It's a simple tale which thankfully was spiced w/ Hitch's flair—even back then his strong style helped elevate a script.

After all, the plot is not a Gordian knot impossible to untie; a college man named Roddy who is a star on the school's rugby team takes the fall for his friend when a young woman becomes pregnant out of wedlock-perish the thought but that was a scandal back then. Roddy does indeed have a downfall as his life goes downhill. does unsavory things to survive, whether explicitly shown or implied.

As typical for The Master of Suspense in the silent era, this did not have many intertitles, instead letting the visuals tell the story. When they do appear there is some creativity, such as “30,000 Pounds” that I won't spoil. Part of the visual storytelling involves such devices as metaphors and camera tricks/movement. Roddy does appear to be a fool for not revealing the truth much sooner but overall this was a fine tale, a little on the dry side (apparently for some on Letterboxd this is more effective than a Quaalude in making them doze off) yet due to the acting and the visual panache was good overall.