Lina has never been one to catch the eye of men. She is, by her own admission, rather plain and disinterested. She had resigned herself to the life of an old maid until she is charmed by a suave and handsome Johnnie Aysgarth–and his happy-go-lucky veneer is hiding some dark elements.
Carolyn agrees to act as the family representative at an old family home for a party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. She is amused to learn they want everything left in its charmingly cobwebby condition–and they want to be visited by a ghost. Much to her surprise, one does oblige. It turns out to be an ancestor.
I’m sure I’m like many people in that I’ve seen Hitchcock’s The Birds but I’d never read the story. In fairness, I’ve read plenty of of Du Maurier’s books and stories, but I sort of assumed it was a written version of the film. And as a cinema student, I’d also seen a couple dozen Hitchcock…
Images from The Lodger, a silent film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1927. It’s suspenseful and atmospheric, set in the London fog. You can already see Hitchcock’s personal stamp, even in this early film. Do you enjoy watching old movies before Halloween? How about silent films?