The restoration of Alfred Hitchcock’s nine surviving silent films has been the biggest and most complex restoration project undertaken by the BFI National Archive to date. Decades of damage and wear have been removed; the sharpness of the images restored; new shots discovered and intertitles and tinting restored. The BFI used film elements borrowed from seven international archives in the restoration process. Hitchcock’s silent films are essential to an understanding of his later work and these restorations now enable them to be seen afresh and discovered by new audiences across the world. They have been traveling to cities across the globe and now they’re coming to Toronto for the exclusive Canadian premiere.

For our closing film, we present the jewel of the BFI National Archive collection and the first "true Hitchcock film"

The Lodger 1926

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Ivor Novello, Malcolm Keen, June Tripp, Arthur Chesney

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog was Hitchcock’s first thriller and his first critical and commercial success. Made shortly after his return from Germany, the film’s Germanic expressionist styling is evident throughout. Based on a best-selling novel and loosely based on the real life Jack the Ripper murders, it gave crime fiction fan Hitchcock an opportunity to feature what was to become a favourite theme throughout his career—the hunted man. The young actress June Tripp, was the second of a long series of actresses who were blonde or became blonde for the director. The film is also distinctive for its bold use of visual devices such as the glass floor through which we can see the lodger anxiously pacing. This is also the first of Hitchcock’s cameo appearances in is films.

This screening will utilize the specially commissioned and recorded musical soundtrack.

Director/Producer & Blood in the Snow founder Kelly Stewart will introduce the film

Single Tickets: $15 in advance online or at the door

Revue Screening Pass (3 films Easy Virtue, The Manxman, The Lodger): $40 in advance online or at the door

Full Hitchcock 9 Screening Pass (all 9 films): $100 in advance

The Hitchcock 9 runs from November 1-16 see website for details.