Name: Blackmail Director: Alfred Hitchcock Studio: British International Pictures Starring: Anny Ondra, John Longden, Cyril Ritchard, Sara Allgood Release Date: June 30, 1929 (UK) Runtime: \~84 minutes (sound version), \~75 minutes (silent version) Format: Black-and-white, sound (with silent version also released) Country: United Kingdom Language: English Genres: | Crime | Thriller | Mystery | Drama --- Summary: *Blackmail* (1929) is a crime thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, often regarded as Britain’s first full-length talking picture. The story follows Alice White (Anny Ondra), the daughter of a shopkeeper, who kills an artist in self-defense after he tries to assault her. In the aftermath, she becomes the target of a petty criminal who witnessed the crime and attempts to blackmail her. The tension between guilt, morality, and justice unfolds with Hitchcock’s emerging signature style of suspense. --- Background: Originally shot as a silent film, *Blackmail* was reworked mid-production into a part-talkie to capitalize on the new sound revolution in cinema. Hitchcock pioneered creative techniques to adapt to the technology, including the famous “knife” scene, which highlighted sound design as a dramatic device. The film’s dual release in silent and sound versions ensured broad distribution across theaters not yet equipped for sound. It became a landmark in British cinema history and established Hitchcock as a leading innovator in the thriller genre. --- Trivia: * Anny Ondra’s thick accent posed challenges for the new sound technology, so her dialogue was dubbed live by actress Joan Barry during filming. * The British Film Institute named *Blackmail* one of the most important British films of the 20th century. * Hitchcock made a cameo in the film, seen reading a newspaper in the London Underground. * The silent version of the film, slightly shorter, is still preserved and studied for its visual storytelling. --- Hashtags: \#Blackmail1929 #AlfredHitchcock #BritishCinema #ClassicThriller #FilmHistory #FirstTalkie #CrimeDrama #SilentToSound