This is the one that the Master of Suspense liked to think of as the first true Alfred Hitchcock film, though it took a while for him to make good on its promise. This is his strongest candidate for the best British silent, but- Anthony Asquith apart- that's not much of a contest.
An unknown serial killer is murdering blondes in London. Handsome superstar of UK silents, Ivor Novello, plays the jittery innocent man who the police and the public figure for the killer. So, he establishes the Hitchcock archetype of the wrong man who must clear his name. And the focus on blonde victims is unmissable.
It's full of riffs and motifs and that we would see continually over the years (including a cameo from the director). The story is told with great clarity and suspense, with moments of humour. And for the first time, his camera truly comes alive.
Hitch returned from Germany obviously influenced by expressionism. And we see many memorable visual images, like when the family of the landlord are discussing their new tenant, and the ceiling disappears to reveal the agitated lodger pacing in the room above. And there's the first of many thrilling climaxes.
Terrible video quality on the DVD. Frame jumping around like a Unsteadicam wielded by a suffering crackhead. Nasty!
I'll give the Blu-ray a go instead.