Review of The Lady Vanishes (1938) by Dave H — 12 Oct 2013

This is fine, one of Hitch's lesser- efforts, but still head-and-shoulders above the work of most film-makers. It's basically an Agatha Christie-type drawing-room mystery on a train, disparate characters with their own secrets and agendas, yada yada, you know the drill.

The two dudes obsessed with cricket are hilarious. Nothing that special in the mystery story, really, but Hitch keeps a nice, light vibe throughout, with nice reveals like the tea packet on the window, and cute little vignettes/character bits/technical tricks throughout.

Not the Master yet, but you can almost feel Hitch learning/teaching himself stuff here than would translate later into more eternal Hollywood classics. Certainly worth a look.