Very early Hitchcock is very interesting with its display of some Human Oddities like Homosexuality and Race Mixing. The Director interweaves these Fringe elements disdained and Hush-Hush in Polite Society and puts them in front of a backdrop of the British Caste System where everyone grovels at the feet of a "Sir".
There are many Flamboyant touches that help propel this along with enough Showcasing to exploit its mixed Theme of Theatre Folk, Circus Performers, Stuffy Aristocrats, and the Criminal Justice System. It weaves Hamlet and Vagner with Vaudeville and the Big Top.
The Director's Heavy Visual Hand is not as evident here, it seems more restrained and subtle, although they are at work nonetheless. Not the best of Hitchcock, even His two preceding Films, one Silent and one a Silent/Sound Hybrid were better. But even Midland Hitch is always a bit different and intriguing than the Midland of His Contemporaries.
There are many Flamboyant touches that help propel this along with enough Showcasing to exploit its mixed Theme of Theatre Folk, Circus Performers, Stuffy Aristocrats, and the Criminal Justice System. It weaves Hamlet and Vagner with Vaudeville and the Big Top.
The Director's Heavy Visual Hand is not as evident here, it seems more restrained and subtle, although they are at work nonetheless. Not the best of Hitchcock, even His two preceding Films, one Silent and one a Silent/Sound Hybrid were better. But even Midland Hitch is always a bit different and intriguing than the Midland of His Contemporaries.