Rent The Ring (1927)

Hitchcock misfire. - The Ring review by Steve

This is Alfred Hitchcock's only sporting drama, though he would stage an extended tennis match in Strangers on a Train. It's a boxing film which doesn't land too many punches, yet is admired by critics. This is the only release for which he has sole writing credit.

But if he signed with British International Pictures in search of greater creative control, he fluffed it. This is his follow up to his breakthrough hit with The Lodger but not a suspense film. It's a love triangle which concludes in the ring with the two rivals literally fighting over the girl (Lillian Hall-Davies).

Former real life boxer Carl Brisson lends his scenes some welcome charisma. Gordon Harker makes yet another appearance in a Hitchcock silent as his trainer. The Australian adversary (Ian Hunter) is a bit unscrupulous, so there is someone to root for. Though there isn't much star quality to lift the drama.

The climactic bout is well edited but the boxing choreography doesn't stand up. We get some impressionistic point of view shots when one of the fighters takes a punch and loses focus. There is some period interest, but it drags all too often and is too long.

Unusual fare for the master of suspense - The Ring review by RS

If I didn’t know who the director of ‘The Ring’ was I would not have thought of Hitchcock. This is not a drama of crime and suspense. Instead we have a love triangle between a fairground boxer, his wife and the heavyweight champion of Australia. Hitchcock makes effective use of the expressionist techniques he learned in Germany. And there is much to admire in the storytelling. It’s one of the best British silent films of its time.