Hitchcock has great comedic timing and a wonderfully dry wit. The comedic moments Hitch puts into his films always seem to fit the scene without breaking the flow of the action and suspense. I think we see an attempt at that here, but because it is a silent film, it comes off as bad slapstick. I enjoy slapstick, but it should be left to the professionals like Chaplin and Keaton. For a Hitchcock film, it felt awkward to me. Perhaps if I had the context of the full film, my concerns would be lessened.
Daily Dose #1: Spiralling into View: The Pleasure Garden (1925)
in The Master of Suspense: 50 Years of Hitchcock
Posted
Hitchcock has great comedic timing and a wonderfully dry wit. The comedic moments Hitch puts into his films always seem to fit the scene without breaking the flow of the action and suspense. I think we see an attempt at that here, but because it is a silent film, it comes off as bad slapstick. I enjoy slapstick, but it should be left to the professionals like Chaplin and Keaton. For a Hitchcock film, it felt awkward to me. Perhaps if I had the context of the full film, my concerns would be lessened.