the british film resource
    
 
the british film resourceEarly Hitchcock
the british film resourceAuthor:Matt Pearson 
 
 
Introduction Introduction
Blackmail Blackmail
Sabotage Sabotage
The Aberrant Woman The Aberrant Woman
Sex and Violence Sex and Violence
Crime and Punishment Crime and Punishment
The Transfer of Guilt The Transfer of Guilt
Masculinity Masculinity
Subjective Misinterpretation Subjective Misinterpretation
 
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Introduction
Hitchcock was never one to disguise his obsessions. His themes carry right throughout his career, from the early British films to the later Hollywood fare. The consistency he shows across his entire body of work rightfully earns him auteur status. Here I intend to focus on a few of Hitchcock's themes in their infancy, in two of his early British films, Blackmail (1929) and Sabotage (1936).

Both films have similarities in both theme and structure. They both focus on the aberrant women, involve complex issues of guilt and punishment and have implied sexual and violent content. Also, they are both presented within the detective/spy genre, a genre Pam Cook describes Hitchcock as using for 'exploring the predatory aspects of human behaviour'.

 
Blackmail
 
 
 
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