Clearly the work of an assured talent – and Hitch was only 27 when he made it. Beautifully shot and atmospheric, excellent visual story telling, pure cinema. In hindsight you can see some of the Hitch trademarks early up – an attraction to kindy sex (early shots of models and actresses in under-garments), tormenting of blondes (the Avenger likes to kill them)
Ivor Novello’s lead is very much a pretty boy, all nervous ticks and torment, like a ballet dancer. The film is full of gay moments – “don’t worry, he’s not interested in girls”, “I don’t care if he is queer”, Novello can’t get it up for Daisy. Even watching it when you know he’s innocent, he’s down right creepy, buying Daisy dresses and panting over her. Quite frankly mum and dad are right to be worried about him, even if he isn’t a killer.
Because we don’t know Novello’s innocent until towards the end, there’s no real hero, except for Daisy I guess, but we don’t focus on her point of view that much. Daisy’s boyfriend is a creepy middle aged man who really had no business going out with her in the first place. So it lacks the traditional Hitchcock hero.
Still worth watching. The best thing about it is the climax, with a mob chasing Novello, then attacking from on top and below has he’s hanging by his handcuffs off a fence.
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