The Lodger is Alfred Hitchcock's first film and the first that the famed director would have as an actor. His trademark cameo resulted when he did not have enough extras. Thereafter, Hitch would continue to make a subtle appearance in each of his films, which viewers look for to this day.
Another interesting bit of trivia for this first time director, was his ingenious, but persistent, vision for each scene. Alfred Hitchcock had stubbornly hounded Scotland Yard to allow him access in filming at night at the Thames with Charing Cross Bridge as the backdrop. Finally, after much ballyhoo from Hitchcock, Scotland Yard relented to look the other way for Hitchcock to film during the night at the bridge. However, upon getting his film returned from the developer's, Hitchcock looked at his rushes for the grisly midnight scene, and found the much desired opening - with the Avenger's murder victim was being dragged out of the river Thames - was undoubtedly missing! The mystery was quickly solved when it was learnt a most stupid cameraman had indadvertedly forgotten to replace the lens on the camera and Hitchcock's longed-for scene was never captured on film.
The Lodger was based on the book by Marie Belloc Lowndes. This would be the first book to offer a solution to the Jack The Ripper killings. Remarkably, it is supposedly based on what was reported to the painter Walter Sickert by the artist's landlady in which the previous tenant had been suspected to be Jack the Ripper. The painter, who would be a suspect in the Ripper murders himself, would go on to paint his own bedroom as being that of Jack the Ripper's.
| Release Dates: | ||
|---|---|---|
| UK | 14 February 1927 | |
| USA | 10 June 1928 | (New York City, New York) |
| Germany | April 1992 | (video premiere) |
| Greece | 26 October 2009 | (Panorama of European Cinema) |
| France | 17 November 2010 | (re-release) |
Have a cuddle with Grimsy and watch the film here !
