Review of The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927) by Harpreet S — 18 Apr 2010

I will admit that I was not too terribly interested in watching it at first, being that it is a silent film, after all. I mus say, however, that this film on its own quite changed my opion of silent films.

I am not normally one to enjoy a movie that doesn't have major action, but this film didn't and I still found myself on the edge of my seat. It is classic Alfred Hitchcock, and the acting is superb.

One of the great things about silent film is that it makes you actually think about what's going on, and that draws you into the story. The Lodger employed that expertly. I loved the attention to lighting in this and the beautiful shots, though many of the scenes were cut choppily and there were gaps.

Many of the shots were also cheesy, and the dialogue wasn't the strongest, but it was a brilliant film nonetheless. Ivor Novello was magic; he had that vibe that we have come to associate with Johnny Depp, and I think the chemistry between the characters of the Lodger and Daisy was excellent.

There were many predictable points to this film, but also many unpredictable and surprising moments, and the tension was thick and pervaded the whole film. My only complaint is the speed of the scenes- many were too short while others were far too drawn out- and the music, which did not fit the action for much of the film.

This is an amazing film that deserves more recognition and publicity than it got. Unfortunately, most people will toss it off based on the fact that the only sound is repetitive background music, but when watching please try to keep an open mind.

Silent film is a vast and important part of the history of the world of modern film, and The Lodger is, in my opinion, one of the greatest examples of silent film out there.