Jack!

THE LODGER-1926-This silent suspense drama established Alfred Hitchcock as a director who was going places. It’s based on an English novel and the real Jack The Ripper. It doesn’t use that many title cards and instead relies mostly on visual effects. Ivor Novello portrays a mysterious stranger who comes to room in a London boarding house when a killer is on the prowl in the foggy streets. Is he the killer? Very well done but the print I saw was very worn (gee…I wonder why?).

The future Sir Alfred makes the first of his many cameos too (I’ve read he appears twice but I must have missed one!). Novello also starred in a 1932 British remake (somehow he also wound up writing dialogue for TARZAN OF THE APES in 1932!). The 1944 US version starred Laird Cregar and MAN IN THE ATTIC (with Jack Palance in 1953) covered similar ground.

Thanks for reading!