Blackmail 1929
"A romance of Scotland Yard"
Alfred Hitchcock's gripping silent thriller *Blackmail (1929)* plunges viewers into the shadowy underbelly of 1929 London, where a detective's obsession with justice clashes with his girlfriend's restless heart.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast
Anny Ondra
Alice White
Sara Allgood
Mrs. White
Charles Paton
Mr. White
John Longden
Detective Frank Webber
Donald Calthrop
Tracy
Cyril Ritchard
The Artist
Hannah Jones
The Landlady
Harvey Braban
The Chief Inspector
Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop
The Detective Sergeant
Alfred Hitchcock
Man on Subway (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blackmail (1929) about?
*Blackmail* follows Alice White, a young woman in 1929 London whose dissatisfaction with her detective boyfriend's neglect leads her into a dangerous liaison with an artist. When the night takes a violent turn, she becomes entangled in a web of blackmail and murder, forcing her to confront the consequences of her choices.
Who directed Blackmail?
The film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the legendary filmmaker whose innovative techniques revolutionized suspense cinema.
Who stars in Blackmail?
The cast features Anny Ondra as Alice White, Sara Allgood as her mother, and John Longden as Frank Webber, the Scotland Yard detective grappling with love and duty.
Is Blackmail (1929) worth watching?
As one of Hitchcock's earliest masterpieces, *Blackmail* offers a gripping blend of crime and drama with timeless themes of guilt and secrecy. Its silent-era visual storytelling and suspenseful narrative make it a must-watch for fans of classic cinema.
How long is Blackmail?
*Blackmail* runs for 86 minutes, a brisk runtime that keeps the tension high from start to finish.
🎥 Trailer
About Blackmail (1929) — Hitchcock's Silent Thriller of Love, Crime, and Moral Dilemmas
Alfred Hitchcock's gripping silent thriller *Blackmail (1929)* plunges viewers into the shadowy underbelly of 1929 London, where a detective's obsession with justice clashes with his girlfriend's restless heart. When Alice White, neglected by her Scotland Yard beau Frank Webber, accepts a charming artist's invitation to his lavish studio, her curiosity turns to dread as the encounter spirals into a crime she can't ignore.
Hitchcock masterfully weaves tension into every frame, blending crime and romance against a gritty backdrop of police corruption and moral ambiguity. With its striking silent-era cinematography and suspenseful pacing, *Blackmail* remains a defining early work from the master of suspense, where one impulsive decision unleashes a chain of events that could destroy lives—or careers.
