Watch Early Hitchcock Films Accompanied By Live Score

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 143 months ago
Watch Early Hitchcock Films Accompanied By Live Score

As part of the mammoth Genius of Hitchcock season this summer, some of the master director's early silent films are to be screened with live scores.

A newly-restored print of Blackmail (1929), the story of a detective's girlfriend blackmailed over the murder of an artist, will be shown in the forecourt of the British Museum on July 6th, 2012. The version shown will be the rarely-seen silent one: half-way through production Hitchcock decided to convert it into Britain's first 'talkie', resulting in two distinct films. Though the sound version was a huge hit, critics have long favoured the silent. It will be accompanied by a score from Neil Brand.

Screening it at the British Museum is appropriate: many of the film's scenes take place there, with a finale atop the central dome. The clip below shows the Museum's Reading Room and Ancient Egypt Hall:

In addition, Hitchcock's first film, The Lodger (1926), will be screened at the Barbican, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra on 21 July, and one of the director's less well known films, Champagne (1928) will be shown at BFI Southank, with live accompaniment by Mira Calix.

Tickets to all events are available now.

Last Updated 19 April 2012