The Lodger Blu-ray 1927

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UK 1927

All of London is in an uproar due to recent attacks by a Jack the Ripper-style serial killer known as "The Avenger" who targets blonde women. During this time, a pale, hypersensitive stranger arrives at a family-owned boarding house to take up lodging. He becomes attracted to the proprietor's pretty blonde daughter Daisy, who is already engaged to a policeman. Daisy, in spite of her parents' objections, returns the lodger's overtures. When the trail of the killer leads to the same district in which the boarding house is located, the lodger's strange behavior places him under suspicion by the family.

In his book-length interview with Alfred Hitchcock, Francois Truffaut notoriously stated that there is "a certain incompatibility between the terms 'cinema' and 'Britain.'" The fact that many would be inclined to disagree with that point today is due in no small part to Hitchcock's own contributions to British cinema, starting with his third feature film and his "first true Hitchcock film," The Lodger (1927). Hitchcock, who was an avid moviegoer as a young man, was especially keen on American cinema. In particular, he has acknowledged the influence of D. W. Griffith's epics The Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916) and Way Down East (1920). During this time, British screens were dominated by American product; native British productions had a difficult time competing with the more technically polished American films and received hardly any exposure outside their own country. Indeed, when promoting Hitchcock's directorial debut The Pleasure Garden (1925), the film's producer Michael Balcon is said to have boasted of its "American look."

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

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Theatrical Release: February 14th, 1927

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Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers		Also available on Blu-ray from Network in the UK:
Distribution	MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC	Criterion Region 'A' - Blu-ray Spine # 885
Runtime	1:39:24	1:30:24.627
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.37 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,857,785,230 bytes Feature: 22,492,704,768 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.36 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	1999 Score (Dolby Digital 5.0) , 1997 score (mono)	LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	French, Spanish, None (Intertitles are in English)	Intertitles in English
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary with Patrick McGilligan • "The Sound of Silence: The Making of The Lodger" (23:36) • "Hitchcock 101" (3:22) • Audio segments from Hitchcock's interviews by Peter Bogdanovich, and Francois Truffaut • 1940 radio play of the story (audio only) • Stills gallery • Restoration comparison DVD Release Date: February 10th, 2009 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Criterion 1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,857,785,230 bytes Feature: 22,492,704,768 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.36 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Downhill, another 1927 feature directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ivor Novello, in a 2K digital restoration and with a new piano score by 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 Blu-ray Release Date: June 27th, 2017 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 11

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - May 17': The Criterion is not from the same restoration as the 2009 DVD and hence has different, less prominent, tinting (no blue, golden yellows etc.) and the running time is also different. The Criterion has a bump in detail and it looks strong in-motion. Personally, I'm not as keen on tinting for The Lodger.

Audio is liner PCM with a new score by Neil Brand, performed by the Orchestra of Saint Paul’s. It sounds excellent in the uncompressed and the intertitles are in original English, The Criterion Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked.

Criterion include Downhill, another 1927 feature directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ivor Novello, in also 2K digital restoration and with a new piano score by Neil Brand. We have compared 5 captures and made a few comments in a separate comparison HERE. 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.

With the inclusion of Downhill, this is a fabulous Blu-ray package. Hitchcock fans shouldn't miss this. Essential Silent era thriller - our highest recommendation!

***

NOTE: This DVD was originally available in MGM's Premiere Collection of Hitchcock films - but extremely poorly packed as described by Lars HERE. MGM still have not made a statement rectifying the faulty packaging and we therefore suggest purchase of this title via a stand alone DVD case as available HERE. This individual DVD seems to be the extract same and we review the lone DVD below.

This MGM DVD starts with the caveat:

But as far as I am concerned it looks exceptionally good. There is some obvious boosting and the contrast flickers but considering the age this looks quite remarkable. It is tinted for highlighting location effect - a standard practice. While there is some haziness I don't doubt that this is the best rendition of this Silent classic (Hitch regarded it his first 'real film!) presently available. It gives a marvelous presentation - along with the audio options discussed below.

We are given choices of two music scores. Ashley Irwin has one composition played in 5.0 channel and there is a newer piece by Paul Zaza in mono. I preferred the latter but have no qualms with either. Quality was quite strong - a super bonus to the viewing.

Extras give us a factual, professional commentary by Peter MgGilligan, a 23 minute historical 'Making of...' with a lot of individual input, audio only segments from Hitchcock interviews by Peter Bogdanovich, and Francois Truffaut - plus Hitchcock's granddaughter, Mary Stone hosts a short Hitchcock 101 piece. Augmenting the DVD supplements are also an audio only 1940 radio play of The Lodger story, a stills gallery and a restoration comparison. These comprise an excellent selection of addition features for this release.

Check out the price on this - $13 - giving it incredible value. For those who didn't get rooked with the Premiere Collection this is an essential DVD for Hitchcock fans, Silent era fans and anyone else who loves film. Immensely recommended!

Gary W. Tooze

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