![The Lodger [Blu-ray] [1927]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71biz42d-1L.jpg)
Product Description One of the film-making industry's greatest auteurs, Alfred Hitchcock undoubtedly earned his title as "The Master of Suspense", with his thrilling films loved by the viewing public over a career spanning many decades. Widely regarded as the first true "Hitchcock film", The Lodger is a masterclass in tension, displaying all the trademarks of what was to become known as the typical Hitchcock thriller. Newly restored in High Definition, this release features a brand new orchestral soundtrack by acclaimed musician and composer Nitin Sawhney, performed by the world famous London Symphony Orchestra. On hearing reports of the seventh murder by "The Avenger", Daisy decides to stay with her parents. She is being courted by Joe, a detective, who gets suspicious when her mother rents a room out to a lodger - to whom Daisy is attracted. While the lodger is out Joe takes the opportunity to search his room - there he finds a gun, press clippings of the killings and a map of the murders... SPECIAL FEATURES [] 2 Disc Soundtrack CD by Nitin Sawhney and the LSO [] Image Gallery (HD) [] Commemorative Booklet by Hitchcock scholar Professor Neil Sinyard From .co.uk Widely regarded as the first big screen thriller to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock, The Lodger was made back in 1927, and has been beautifully restored for this Blu-ray release. It's a fine way for people to discover the movie for the first time, as a result. The film itself is a suspenseful thriller, as you might expect, telling the story of a young woman called Daisy, who takes in a lodger. Her other half, Joe, is a detective, and he gets suspicious of the aforementioned lodger, not least because a serial killer is on the loose. And even though the film was made very early in Hitchcock's career, the telltale signs, the mastery of suspense, and the wonderful framing, is all evident. One particular addition to this Blu-ray transfer, and a very strong one, is a brand new orchestral soundtrack. The Lodger is a silent film, and thus Nitin Sawhney has, with the aid of the London Symphony Orchestra, composed and recorded a soundtrack for the film. It's a fitting, glorious piece of work, that compliments the film extremely well. The Blu-ray also boasts the soundtrack CD itself, as well as a commemorative booklet. And it's a fitting package for an important, rarely talked-about film, that's ripe for rediscovery. After all, any film that can still impress, over three quarters of a century since it was first screened, really deserves support. --Jon Foster
A**E
That music...
The BFI's restored version of "The Lodger," Hitchcock's first suspense movie and one of the most famous British silent pictures, looks good in this restoration. Unfortunately it is saddled with the worst score I've ever heard for a silent movie. At first it is simply heavy-handed and occasionally incongruous. However it is almost tolerable until, at around the 20 minute mark, a cringey song suddenly pops up on the soundtrack. It is, to put it kindly, not good. And more to the point it is incredibly distracting, undermining and changing the mood of the film. There is a special kind of vanity to doing this to a silent movie, and unfortunately it is the only score available on the disc. It reminded me of the time when, as a spaced-out student, I watched The Wizard of Oz while listening to Dark Side of the Moon. Only that was more fitting.After stopping the movie in the wrong kind of horror, I eventually compromised by turning the TV sound off and hooking my speakers up to my laptop, and simultaneously playing a different version of the film available on Youtube, with a more fitting soundtrack. That way I got the superior picture of the blu-ray with a score that didn't make my ears bleed.As I said it's the only score available on this reasonably bare-bones release of the film, although the BFI has helpfully included a double CD of the new soundtrack in this set to give you an alternative way of not listening to it.The film itself is well worth watching for fans of Hitchcock, or of silent cinema. It isn't close to his classics, as he was still to hone his style and technique, and the suspense is less pointed than in his later movies: it's a Jack-the-Ripper-inflected tale of a stranger who moves into a boarding house, and the suspense largely comes down to 'Is he or isn't he?' If that sounds too suspenseful for you to take don't worry, as the BFI has also handily included a list of chapter titles on the inside sleeve that literally gives away the end of the movie.
J**Y
Don't turn the lights off with this one, turn the sound off instead...!
The film itself is excellent, with Hitchcock's story telling style stamped all over it in clever, well orchestrated shots. My problem is with this version of the film, the score over powers the story telling instead of enhancing it. You become aware of repetitive rhythms and bold or comical sounds which are inappropriate and distracting. When the song started, about 20 minutes in, I started to laugh before I realised it was being serious. I turned off off after that, who authorised this score?! Hitchcock would be turning in his grave!
J**A
GREAT RESTORATION......GO GET IT.
I have to agree with many of the reviews here regarding the new soundtrack to this Hitchcock classic. Overwhelming is indeed the word.First off, the restoration is tremendous, tinting superb and picture quality very clean.The score is another matter. As a piece of music I can certainly see myself listening to it in isolation, and probably liking it more with each play. There are definite nods to both Psycho and especially North by Northwest, which is no bad thing. But as an accompaniment to a silent film it is just too constant and in-yer-face (or ears). At times more subtlety was needed, especially during the quieter and slower paced moments. All this I could just about live with. Lowering the entire volume does work, especially with no dialogue to consider.Unfortunately, that dreaded love song is really out of place here. Not needed and very jarring, when it did kick in, I was reminded of the start to an '80's pop video, set to images from a long forgotten silent movie. Composer Nitin Sawhney seems to have changed, or at least added something unintentional to the original film which to my mind is a big no-no. Thankfully, it doesn't last too long; just grin and bear it.Watching the interview with Sawhney before seeing the film, and listening to his thinking and work processes did seem to justify the end result. But seeing the movie as a whole, the score really does dominate for much of the time, which has to be a mistake.It would also be a mistake for anyone to judge this release solely on the negative reviews regarding the score. Buy it, watch it and decide for yourself.This is still a Hitchcock classic, and deserves to be seen.
Trustpilot
2 months ago
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