To follow up on my earlier post, I was not able to attend the full Hitchcock 9 event. However, nothing could keep me from the rare chance last Sunday to see The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1926) as it was meant to be seen. Not only was it on the big screen in a movie palace, but the musical accompaniment was provided by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
On top of that, there was a large and appreciative crowd. How many of them had attended all eight of the previous films, I don't know, but the sad feelings that accompany the last film of a festival were palpable.
Was it worth the cost of the $20 ticket? Absolutely. When I watched the (unrestored) film on dvd at home some years back, there were times when my attention wandered. That doesn't happen in the theater. This film kept me focused throughout.
The Lodger was Hitchcock's first critical and commercial success and the first film to convey his unique style. It was the first of his films to center around a "hunted man," and it was also the first of his films in which he made a cameo.
But, unlike the version Hitchcock did for Suspense in 1940, this film does have a distinctly happy ending.
So, if you get the chance to see The Hitchcock 9 or even just The Lodger--take it.
In the meantime, here is a video of all of Hitchcock's cameo appearances, starting with The Lodger:
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