Tuesday’s Overlooked: Hitchcock Silents

This week’s selection(s) is a preview of what’s to come at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The Hitchcock 9, is a touring series of the entire surviving collection of Hitchcock films from the silent era. From Jun 29—Jul 3, 2013, the series makes its stop here in the greater New York City area.

When most people think of Hitchcock, it is the Hollywood classic suspense thrillers. What I find so fascinating about these little-seen British silents is that while many of the titles would not be considered typical of the “Master of Suspense,” there are cinematic techniques and conventions that would later end up in many of his signature movies to be seen.

Check out the BAM trailer for the week-long screenings here:

My recommendations?

• THE LODGER (considered the most “Hitchcockian” of his silents)
• MANXMAN
• BLACKMAIL

I for one am going to catch The Lodger and the 1927 Hitchcock adaptation of the Noël Coward play Easy Virtue. The most exciting bit? The opportunity to catch these films with live music accompaniment.

For more information, The New York Times published an in-depth piece on the film series last week.

Lastly, special thanks to the British Film Institute who curated the extensive restoration project and chronicled it in their “Restoring Hitchcock” website:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3