Review of Downhill (1927) by Camille L — 04 Feb 2012

It really is very rewarding to watch the silent Hitchcock films. He had a fine eye for setup right from the start and some of the camera shots (including an upside down angle) are very clever. It really doesn't matter too much about the plot (and there's nothing wrong with this one), because his films are just engaging to look at.

Ivor Novello, quite a remarkable actor, gets to use his face to every advantage, as his character falls from societal and family graces and goes on a spiral "downhill" as the title suggests. Isabel Jeans does a turn as a golddigger who contributes to his downfall, but the film belongs to Novello, and he is as fascinating in this as he was in Hitchcock's previous effort, "The Lodger".

The version of the film that I have on DVD has no accompanying music as well, so it is an interesting effect to watch an 82 minute film in silence. And Hitchcock keeps you engaged the whole time. Well done!