An early film from director Alfred Hitchcock shows that he had quite a way to go before becoming the Master of Suspense. 1932’s “Number Seventeen,” which tells the story of a police detective’s search for a stolen necklace, suffers from a poorly written screenplay, a confusing storyline, and disjointed action sequences.
Hitchcock, Alma Reville (Mrs. Hitch), and Rodney Ackland adapted the script from a 1925 stage play by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon. The Hitchcock’s would go on to produce, direct, and write some of Hollywood’s best films. They had some practice on early pictures like this one, which did show some signs of Hitch’s cinematic genius, such as use of shadows and props, good editing, humor in stressful situations, and some realistic special effects, like the use of train models in a runaway locomotive scene.
The cast includes mostly UK actors like Leon M. Lion, Anne Grey, John Stuart, Donald Calthrop, Barry Jones, Ann Casson, and Garry Marsh. “Number Seventeen” was an Associated British Picture Corporation production, a quick view at a 64 minute running time, and an interesting look at the legendary career of Alfred Hitchcock.
Number Seventeen (1932)
cinema
My Review
An early film from director Alfred Hitchcock shows that he had quite a way to go before becoming the Master of Suspense. 1932’s “Number Seventeen,” which tells the story of a police detective’s search for a stolen necklace, suffers from a poorly written screenplay, a confusing storyline, and disjointed action sequences.
Hitchcock, Alma Reville (Mrs. Hitch), and Rodney Ackland adapted the script from a 1925 stage play by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon. The Hitchcock’s would go on to produce, direct, and write some of Hollywood’s best films. They had some practice on early pictures like this one, which did show some signs of Hitch’s cinematic genius, such as use of shadows and props, good editing, humor in stressful situations, and some realistic special effects, like the use of train models in a runaway locomotive scene.
The cast includes mostly UK actors like Leon M. Lion, Anne Grey, John Stuart, Donald Calthrop, Barry Jones, Ann Casson, and Garry Marsh. “Number Seventeen” was an Associated British Picture Corporation production, a quick view at a 64 minute running time, and an interesting look at the legendary career of Alfred Hitchcock.