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Eye on Sound: Blackmail (Alfred Hitchcock, GB 1929) (soundwave)

Blackmail

Alfred Hitchcock / GB, 1929 / 85 min.

A charming villain, a terrible murder, a chase through the British Museum, intelligent plot twists, deceit... Hitchcock’s suspense classic contains the essential ingredients of all his films to come. Featuring a new soundtrack that will be played live.

poster Blackmail (Alfred Hitchcock, GB 1929)

Hitchcock’s last silent film also become his first ‘talkie’ when Wardour studio’s assigned him to re-make the film using the recently invented sound technology. The very first British film with sound, Blackmail, became an immense box office hit internationally and opened Hollywood’s doors for the young director who went on to become one of the greatest directors in cinema history. Critics have always viewed the silent version of Blackmail as the better film and in recent years it has gained a reputation as one of the most important Hitchcock films with its masterful plot and furious tempo.

James Whale Orchestra: Oliver Parr (composition and cello), Panayiotis Ioannou (samples). Postland Ensemble: Jana Machalet (flute),Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer (clarinet) en Jelte van Andel (contrabass) with guest musicians: Martin de Ruiter (bandonion), Jellantje de Vries (violin) en Marianna Soroka (percussion).

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Details

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Production year

1929

Country

GB

Original title

Blackmail

Length

85 min.

Language

live music, no dialogue, English

Subtitles

NLD

Part of

Eye on Sound

With Eye on Sound, Eye focuses on the special relationship between image and sound. Expect live music to silent films, live bands from today to classics of yesteryear, brand new scores to films from the versatile Eye collection and special attention to the often neglected art of sound design.

Learn more
Eye on Sound: live music in Eye's arena (soundwave)
still Blackmail (Alfred Hitchcock, GB 1929)
still Blackmail (Alfred Hitchcock, GB 1929)
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