Rich and Strange (1931)

One of Hitchcock's earlier talkies, Rich and Strange stars Henry Kendell and Joan Barry (who had previously provided a dubbed voice for Hitchcock's Blackmail [1929]) as couple Fred and Em who, after receiving some inheritance money embark on a cruise, first to France and then on to the Orient.

Whilst traveling on an ocean line to the Orient, Fred becomes ill and Em begins to spend increasing amounts of time with Gordon, an older bachelor who is traveling alone. By the time Fred recovers, Em has already decided she has strong feelings for Gordon; but Fred then becomes enamored by a German princess, leading to the couple spending virtually the entire journey apart.

There are plenty of Hitchcock traits that we see expanded upon in his later work, most notably in the shot composition of the opening sequence showing office workers leaving their job at the end of a day, which is shot using a continuous pan shot and is dialogue free. Indeed plenty of Rich and Strange is devoid of dialogue, but that results in you being drawn into the film still further, feeling like you're on a voyage with the main characters.

Although the first two thirds are playful and are reminiscent of plenty of Hitchcock's work, the film is a tragicomedy with the final quarter being particularly bittersweet; and although up until this point I hadn't warmed particularly to the characters, I ended up sympathising somewhat with their final predicaments.

Rich and Strange is another fascinating insight into early Hitchcock, and if you can track it down it's very much worth your time. 6.9/10