Search - Number 17 on DVD

Great cinephotography, Hitchcock lighting triumphant

somewhere in England | england | 05/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The lovely shots of the steam engine Doncaster make this film a bit of a railway classic. Lots of atmospheric frames, dramatic lighting.
The story (was there one!) and acting are not strong points, but it is a chance to see Hitchcocks early work at a bargain price - then compare to say The Birds.
Number 17 was the house number where the story starts and mostly takes place in, apart from the lovely race between the train and the bus.
If the train looks vaguely familiar, it was a close relative of the Flying Scotsman, a Pacific- here owned by LNER."

ARCHETYPAL HITCHCOCK

drkhimxz | Freehold, NJ, USA | 12/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of course, my star rating is not a comparison between this and later Hitchcock films but rather to recognize that aside from being good fun and somewhat of an action film, it is filled with many of the Master's touches. In distinctive camera work, conception and characterization, it shows well the elements which later would be configured into one of the most important (and entertaining) bodies of work in film history. It is a simple story, a number of people come into a vacant house by one means and another, meet incongruously, and later are joined by others who may be jewel thieves we have learned are to meet in the house. The remainder of the adventure is comprised in the interaction of these characters some of whom may be on the side of the law, some of whom may be criminals and some of whom may be innocent bystanders. In the short span of an hour, Hitchcock generates many combinations from the simple group of elements."