Juno and the Paycock/Blackmail

Rating:
Summary: Framing Woes
Review: As a Hitchcock aficionado, I bought this DVD purely for "Juno and the Paycock." (The early masterpiece, "Blackmail," has long been available.) While the film is of interest to Hitchcock fans, beware this edition: sloppy framing cuts off the actors' heads in nearly half the shots. It won't prevent you from seeing what's good (and what's not so good) about the film, but you'll wish Whirlwind Media had been more careful in putting this package together.

Rating:
Summary: Framing Woes
Review: As a Hitchcock aficionado, I bought this DVD purely for "Juno and the Paycock." (The early masterpiece, "Blackmail," has long been available.) While the film is of interest to Hitchcock fans, beware this edition: sloppy framing cuts off the actors' heads in nearly half the shots. It won't prevent you from seeing what's good (and what's not so good) about the film, but you'll wish Whirlwind Media had been more careful in putting this package together.

Rating:
Summary: Framing Woes
Review: As a Hitchcock aficionado, I bought this DVD purely for "Juno and the Paycock." (The early masterpiece, "Blackmail," has long been available.) While the film is of interest to Hitchcock fans, beware this edition: sloppy framing cuts off the actors' heads in nearly half the shots. It won't prevent you from seeing what's good (and what's not so good) about the film, but you'll wish Whirlwind Media had been more careful in putting this package together.

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD LOOK AT EARLY HITCH
Review: Most of the very early Hitchcock films are not among my favorites--but perhaps only because his later work is so brilliant.... These two early works never fully succeeded on video, because of the exceedingly poor production quality. This DVD version improves the sound greatly, so that you don't have to strain just to make out the basic words. Hitch's take on the great Sean O'Casey play ("Juno and the Paycock") is well done, though it's a difficult work to render in film, especially during the era in which it was produced. "Blackmail" is, I think, a much better piece of work, and one that lies closer to the British director's heart. You see--in this grainy, miminal film--the seeds of his later brilliance. The plot and tone are definitely Hitchcock, although his skill as a director is still developing. The acting is pretty good, but the writing leaves something to be desired. As a whole, fans of Hitchcock and cinema history should thorougly enjoy this set.

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD LOOK AT EARLY HITCH
Review: Most of the very early Hitchcock films are not among my favorites--but perhaps only because his later work is so brilliant.... These two early works never fully succeeded on video, because of the exceedingly poor production quality. This DVD version improves the sound greatly, so that you don't have to strain just to make out the basic words. Hitch's take on the great Sean O'Casey play ("Juno and the Paycock") is well done, though it's a difficult work to render in film, especially during the era in which it was produced. "Blackmail" is, I think, a much better piece of work, and one that lies closer to the British director's heart. You see--in this grainy, miminal film--the seeds of his later brilliance. The plot and tone are definitely Hitchcock, although his skill as a director is still developing. The acting is pretty good, but the writing leaves something to be desired. As a whole, fans of Hitchcock and cinema history should thorougly enjoy this set.

Rating:
Summary: Juno And The Hitchcock
Review: Well, first off, this rating should be around 3 and 3/4 stars instead of just three. Hitchcock films the Sean O'Casey play just as it is. It is one of the first in a tradition of Hitchcock filmed plays. This tradition is that since the play was written for the stage and works best that way, why change the locales and "open" the play up as filmed versions of the play often do? Rope and Dial M For Murder are Hitchcock's greatest examples of this art. Juno and the Paycock is not the best of Hitch's films, but the actors are very good and the story is very interesting. It also shows Hitchcock's continuing transition to sound from just one year earlier. It is definitely worth checking out and is not great, perfect Hitchcock, but good Hitchcock showing his ability to utilize the fresh new sound technology in rather entertaining dialogue. It is worth a look.

Rating:
Summary: Juno And The Hitchcock
Review: Well, first off, this rating should be around 3 and 3/4 stars instead of just three. Hitchcock films the Sean O'Casey play just as it is. It is one of the first in a tradition of Hitchcock filmed plays. This tradition is that since the play was written for the stage and works best that way, why change the locales and "open" the play up as filmed versions of the play often do? Rope and Dial M For Murder are Hitchcock's greatest examples of this art. Juno and the Paycock is not the best of Hitch's films, but the actors are very good and the story is very interesting. It also shows Hitchcock's continuing transition to sound from just one year earlier. It is definitely worth checking out and is not great, perfect Hitchcock, but good Hitchcock showing his ability to utilize the fresh new sound technology in rather entertaining dialogue. It is worth a look.