"Blackmail" is more interesting than "The Lodger", but was just as ineffective at keeping my attention.I probably didn't concentrate on it for more than a few minutes at a time.I will describe the plot now, so that this review is long enough:A young lady has a man attempt to force himself on her and she kills him with a butter knife (which doesn't seem like a particularly lethal weapon).She gets away with the crime and is blackmailed by someone who knows what she did.The main actress was much better looking than the one in "The Lodger". I think she was also a more effective performer.

Alfred Hichcock could make a good movie. This is not one of the them. If you want to see a good Alfred Hichcock movie see Psycho. Do not see this. This has an awful story line. It has an awful ending. It is not a good movie.

Alfred Hitchock's first sound film, "Blackmail", is actually a part- talkie. In fact, it commences with a lengthy silent sequence which in fact has really nothing at all to do with the subsequent plot. This movie was once available on at least seven DVD labels. St Clair Vision had the best, a print as sharp and lustrous as the 35mm prints originally presented in theaters in 1929. I don't know if this print is still available, but hopefully it can still be purchased. Forsaking his usual style of utilizing lots of grays with little or no contrast, Jack Cox's effective camera-work makes great use of blacks and shadows. All told, the movie more than holds its own against similar Hollywood product at this time. True, Miss Anny Ondra does not always look super-attractive, but that fault likes mostly with her clothes, and particularly with her absolutely ridiculous cloche hat.The dubbing is very skillful. John Longden comes across okay as the hero, but as usual, the villains (Donald Calthrop and Cyril Ritchard) register with viewers with much more panache than the good guys.

not the typical love triangle you see today,, I'm glad that this was an older film, by a master of suspense. Alfred Hitchcock, knows how to make movies, instead of focusing on the love triangle between the woman her boyfriend,, and the guy she likes,, he focuses more on the task at hand and that would be the crime that takes place. after she and her bf have a fight over small potatoes,, she leaves restaurant with another guy... they had it pre planned,, now mind you the bf is a cop with Scotland Yard,, he follows her,, she goes up there, and well things don't go to well for her,,, apparently someone has heard or seen something thru the window,, and later confronts her and her Scotland Yard bf. this is where things just start to get interesting,, by the way Alfred's cameo was just wonderful on the Subway,, watch for it.. all in all great movie, lot's of suspense and thrills,,