Blackmail Synopsis

"Hitchcock's direction is rock-solid . . . He manipulates mood perfectly, bringing us from one extreme to the other with lightning dispatch."

- Jay Seaver, e-filmcritic.com

Blackmail is generally acknowledged as Britain's first full-length talking picture and legendary director Alfred Hitchcock's first use of sound.

Anny Ondra starts as Alice White, the daughter of a shopkeeper in 1920's London. Her boyfriend, Frank Webber (John Longden) is a Scotland Yard detective who seems more interested in police work than in her. The naive and demanding Alice finds him dull.

When Frank is late for their date at a restaurant, Alice attempts to ignite a spark in the detective by flirting with a handsome artist (Cyril Ritchard). After arguing with Frank, Alice agrees to go back to his flat to see his studio. with the other man.

Once he has Alice alone, the handsome predator attempts to rape her and, in defense, she stabs him to death with a bread knife. She flees the scene unwittingly leaving evidence behind.

When the body is discovered, Frank is assigned to the case and does his best to protect Alice from being identified as the murderer, but a shady witness to the crime begins to blackmail the haunted girl.

"Blackmail . . . demonstrates that the skills which would make Hitchcock arguably the twentieth century's greatest filmmaker."

- Jay's Movie Blog

Directed by

Alfred Hitchcock

Written by

Alfred Hitchcock

Charles Burnett

Produced by

John Maxwell

Cinematographer

Jack E. Cox

Film Editor

Emile de Ruelle

Sound Department

Dallas Bower ... sound recordist

Harold V. King ... sound

Harry Miller ... sound editor

Anny Ondra ... Alice White

Sara Allgood ...Mrs. White

Charles Paton ... Mr. White

John Longden ... Det. Frank Webber

Donald Calthrop ... Tracy

Cyril Ritchard ... Mr. Crewe (the artist)

Hannah Jones ... Mrs. Humphries (the landlady)

Harvey Braban ... The Chief Inspector (sound version)

Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop ... The Detective Sergeant