Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

• A Profile of Hitchcock the Early Years (24:02)
• Text Screens in Spanish
• Filmography
• Photo gallery

• The Lodger, another 1927 feature directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ivor Novello, in a 2K digital restoration and with a new piano score by Neil Brand
• New interview with film scholar William Rothman on Hitchcock’s visual signatures (32:54)
• New video essay by art historian Steven Jacobs about Hitchcock’s use of architecture (17:42)
• Excerpts from audio interviews with Hitchcock by filmmakers François Truffaut (1962 - 26:23) and Peter Bogdanovich (1963 - 19:42 and 1972 - 20:58)
• Radio adaptation of The Lodger from 1940, directed by Hitchcock (30:48)
• New interview with Brand on composing for Silent film (22:37)
PLUS: Essays on The Lodger and Downhill by critic Philip Kemp

Description: Ivor Novello, public school sixth-former, loyally takes the blame when a chum impregnates Mabel, the tuck shop temptress. Cast out of the family circle, he becomes a chorus boy in the West End, inherits some money, marries a gold-digger, goes broke again and works as a taxi dancer-cum-gigolo in Paris. Finally he is (or hallucinates that he is) transported back to London and into the apologetic arms of his family. The author of the source play - 'David L'Estrange' - was a pseudonym for Novello and Constance Collier, and this adaptation abounds in Novello-esque gay motifs: brutish father, voluptuous victimhood, bloody women. It's directed by Hitchcock with imagination and, especially in the first half, much comedy. Essentially though, this should be filed under 'Novello'.

 

The Film:

Excerpt from Niel Young's Film Lounge located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Hitchcock's Silent Downhill aka When Boys Leave Home arrives on Blu-ray from Divisa out of Spain. This appears to be the theatrical, 106-minute, version as opposed to the previously available 80-minute release - as found on most DVDs (ex. Hitchcock The British Years). It's single-layered with a modest bitrate but has some impressive moments in 1080P. There are smatterings of light damage and plenty of marks but generally I was pleased. the sepia tint dominates but there is some grey. It is in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio and contrast and detail seem to hold up well - age considered. This Blu-ray was obviously at the mercy of the 87-year old source but I enjoyed the presentation.

Note: It starts with the 'BFI Film Forever' logo intimating it is the restored 2012 version (as does the tinting).

This Criterion 1080P, part of The Lodger Blu-ray, looks like it may be from the same 2012 restoration  (same damage) but a darker sepia/brown tinting and is advertised as new and in 2K, but perhaps someone can tell us why it is over 5.5 minutes longer. The image is a bit darker and richer although less technically robust than the Divisa. I like the Criterion.

NOTE: Martin tells us in email: "In your comparison of "Downhill" you ask if someone can tell you why the Criterion version is 5.5 minutes longer than the Divisa version.

The main reason is the difference in speed. While Divisa's blu-ray version was speed corrected to 20 fps, the Criterion has been speed corrected to 19.2 fps. Another, but smaller, difference is that Criterion has longer company and restoration credits before and after the film." (Thanks Martin!)

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Divisa Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Criterion (The Lodger) - Region 'A' Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Divisa Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Criterion (The Lodger) - Region 'A' Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Divisa Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Criterion (The Lodger) - Region 'A' Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Divisa Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Criterion (The Lodger) - Region 'A' Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Divisa Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Criterion (The Lodger) - Region 'A' Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know much about the score - excepting it is heavily, and exclusively, piano-based and sounds beautifully crisp and tight via the DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 1629 kbps. I was quite impressed with the sound quality and depth. There are optional (yes, totally removable) Spanish subtitles - used on the intertitles and credits - and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE playable on Blu-ray players worldwide.

As an extra, Criterion only use a lossy Dolby audio transfer - it is a Neil Brand composition. The English intertitles are the same on both.   

Extras :

Criterion include Downhill as an extra on their The Lodger Blu-ray (reviewed HERE), also in a 2K digital restoration and with a new piano score by Neil Brand. Criterion add more extras with a new (2017), 32-minute, interview with film scholar William Rothman on Hitchcock’s visual motifs and themes evident in The Lodger that would come to define Hitchcock's style. I enjoyed the 17-minute new video essay by art historian Steven Jacobs about Hitchcock’s use of architecture, exploring space and setting, in The Lodger. There are excerpts from audio interviews with Hitchcock by filmmakers François Truffaut (1962 - 26:23) and Peter Bogdanovich (1963 - 19:42 and 1972 - 20:58) and a 1/2 hour radio adaptation of The Lodger from 1940, directed by Hitchcock. Criterion also add a new, 22-minute, interview with Brand on the process of composing a new score for The Lodger. The package has a liner notes booklet with essays on The Lodger and Downhill by critic Philip Kemp.

 

Divisa Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Criterion  - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
This was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting to see the theatrical 105 minute version of Hitchcock's Downhill in full 1080P... coming out of Spain?!? It snuck by our radar.  This was not at the level of The Lodger but I was struck by the HD visuals and appreciated the Master's deft touches.  Intriguing, funny (perhaps unintentionally)... and the Blu-ray seems 'okay' for the price. There is some value to be had here for the director's fan-base. Recommended!

A wonderful extra on Criterion's The Lodger. The supplements, alone, in that package make it an easy recommendation. Strongly endorsed! 

Gary Tooze

February 11th, 2014

May 25th, 2017