“The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” is a silent film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1927. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Marie Belloc Lowndes and tells the story of a mysterious lodger who may be a serial killer.
The film is set in London during a period of time when a serial killer known as “The Avenger” is on the loose, targeting young blonde women. When a new lodger (Ivor Novello) arrives at a boarding house run by Mr. and Mrs. Bunting, he seems to fit the description of the killer, and Mrs. Bunting becomes increasingly suspicious of him.
As the lodger’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Mrs. Bunting becomes convinced that he is the Avenger and enlists the help of her policeman fiance to track him down. However, as they close in on the lodger, they begin to uncover evidence that suggests he may not be the killer after all.
The film is notable for its use of innovative camera techniques and its exploration of themes such as guilt, suspicion, and the dangers of mob mentality. It was one of Hitchcock’s earliest successes and helped establish him as a master of suspense. The film also marks the first of many collaborations between Hitchcock and actress Alma Reville, who would later become his wife and a key creative collaborator.
Directors:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writer:
Marie Belloc Lowndes, Eliot Stannard, Alfred Hitchcock
Stars:
June Tripp, Ivor Novello, Marie Ault
