[Daily Dose #2: To-night Golden Curls (Opening Scene of The Lodger)]

1. Compare the opening of The Lodger to the opening of The Pleasure Garden - what similarities and differences do you see between the two films? 

The Lodger is more intense with its pace of happenings. The PG is more static.

2. Identify elements of the "Hitchcock style" in this sequence? Please provide specific examples. Even if you are not sure if it is the "Hitchcock style," what images or techniques stand out in your mind as powerful storytelling? Or images that provide an excess of emotion? 

The route of the communication of the murder highlighting technology is reminiscent the steps he takes in shaping the emerging main idea of the mystery in later movies when he uses scene steps.  

3. Even though this is a "silent" film, the opening image is one of a woman screaming. What do you notice in how Hitchcock frames that particular shot that makes it work in a silent film even though no audible scream that can be heard. And what other screams like that come to mind from Hitchcock's later work? 

​The scream in Psycho when she discovers the mother.  You have a split second to wonder what she sees before you do, and is it worth that scream? 

[Daily Dose #1: Spiralling into View: The Pleasure Garden (1925)]

1. Do you see the beginnings of the "Hitchcock touch" in this sequence? Please provide specific examples. 

One of his signatures is to show different vantage points from the different characters in the scene.

2. Do you agree or disagree with Strauss, Yacowar, and Spoto assessments that this sequence contains elements, themes, or approaches that we will see throughout Hitchcock's 50-year career? 

Maybe. Without being a better student of silent films, this would be hard to nail down not being able to consider the filming norms of the time.

3. Since this is a silent film, do you feel there were any limitations on these opening scenes due to the lack of synchronous spoken dialogue?

As with most silent films, much of the dialogue is assumption being associated with the pantomime acting.  The director had to make harsh judgements on what to display in text.