January 26th is Australia Day and starting that day will be a special
event dedicated to Australian film and Australian-printed memorabilia.
This auction will be featuring some of the most rare, highly desirable
and much sought after movie posters ever assembled with many pieces
never seen at auction before. Now is a great time to register
<http://bidll.com/Account/Register>.
*Blackmail (1929) - An Original Australian Long Daybill*
<http://bidll.com/Account/Register>
*Some trivia about this movie:*
* There were two versions made and released - a silent one and a sound
one, the silent one was released for those theatres that weren't yet
equipped for sound.
* Interestingly the 'talkie' version was banned in Australia when
first released in October 1929 - this was appealed by the
distributors Cinema Arts Films Ltd.
* In April 1930 Hitchcock was quoted: "RIDICULOUS," says . Mr.Alfred
Hitchcock, British International Pictures producer, commenting on
the statements relative to British films in the report of the
Commonwealth Chief Censor (Mr. O'Reilly)."It is often complained
that British films do not contain sufficient sex appeal. The censor
bans scenes in British films which he permits to pass in American
films of a similar type." Mr. Hitchcock adds that British films are
particularly clean compared with American. He recalls that Australia
alone took exception to the talkie "Blackmail," which was accepted
throughout the rest of the world.
* I believe I have found evidence that the talkie was released in
1930, but I have yet to 100% cross check and confirm this.
* The silent version of Blackmail actually ran longer in theatres and
proved more popular.
* The film is often cited by film historians as the first truly
British "all-talkie" feature film
* The silent version is with Sam Livesey as the Chief Inspector and
the sound version with Harvey Braban in the same role
* It was Hitchcock's first sound/talkie movie as a director
* The co-star villain was one Cyril Ritchard born Cyril
Trimnell-Ritchard in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia.
You might like to view some clips here:
1. Sound test with Alfred Hitchcock - not quite PC
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGQC109RnAA>
2. The murder scene with musical score added by Neil Brand
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3sOL_30nbw>
3. The murder after which we follow the shocked killer through London -
pretty special stuff.
<http://videos.criticalcommons.org/transcoded/http/www.criticalcommons.org/Members/kfortmueller/clips/blackmail-1929-the-murder-and-the-aftermath-1/video_file/webm-high/blackmail-m4v.webm>
Don't forget to register!
<http://bidll.com/Account/Register>
--
regards,
*David Rew
[mob] 0402 925 158*
bidll.com
for serious collectors
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