Twenty-six-year-old Hitchcock cut his directorial teeth on this seedy but stylistic melodrama about a pair of chorus girls with opposing moral compasses. 

The film shifts from slightly frothy backstage shenanigans to full-throttled pulp fiction as we follow the evolving relationship between provincial social-climber Jill (Carmelita Geraghty) and kindly vaudeville-veteran Patsy (Virginia Valli).  Hitch revealed that he was nervous to be directing these established Hollywood leading ladies as such a newcomer himself, finding much encouragement from his future wife – Alma Reville – to whom he became engaged on set, and from whom he sought constant guidance to ensure he was “doing the right thing”. 
 
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock | UK | 1925 | N/C 12A | b&w, tinted & toned | English intertitles | 1h 32m + short

With: Virginia Valli, Carmelita Geraghty, Miles Mander, John Stuart
 
Performing live: Jane Gardner (piano), Hazel Morrison (percussion)

Screening material courtesy of the BFI National Archive
Online programme notes by Caroline Young

CONTENT ADVISORY: Contains murder, domestic abuse