Hitchcock. Love him or hate him, there's no denying the legacy he left when he died on 29th April 1980. While many of us enjoy the works of Dario Argento and Mario Bava, it can be said that neither would have mastered the thriller genre had it not been for Hitchcock's influence but like them, Hitchcock seemed to embellish the work of his contemporaries and those that had come before him, as the illuminating extras on Network DVDs recently-released collection, HICHCOCK: THE BRITISH YEARS underlines. But more about that later, let's take a look at the contents of the set.

Taking the films chronologically, the first film in the set is Hitchcock's first feature, THE PLEASURE GARDEN, which is the tale of an unfaithful fiancee; not your typical Hitchcock fare, but some of the director's flamboyant hallmarks are present. Shot in 1927, the film is the first of three silent films included in the set. Picture quality is about as good as can be expected for a film of its age and is presented in the original fullscreen ratio. The film was written by Eliot Stannard; a collaborator who would make a significant contribution to Hitchcock's directorial skills, as it is thought he introduced the filmmaker to the works of Soviet luminaries Pudovkin and Eistenstein; it's easy to see their influence stamped upon Hitchcock's films, especially in their editing.

The second silent of the collection is THE LODGER, a film that is far more in the tradition of what a contemporary audience would expect from a Hitchcock film--as for all intents and purposes—is the director's first bona fide thriller and concerns a man (played by then-superstar Ivor Novello) who is suspected of being Jack The Ripper. Again, the print is as to be expected for a film of its age, even though this is a restored print (a comparison between this and the clips seen in one of the sets documentaries shows that the remastering has gone a long way to make the film look presentable). THE LODGER is essential viewing for fans or students interested in getting an idea of how Hitchcock developed as an artist and how far back many of the recurring films in his body of work started. There is also an archival version of the film included as an extra.

The last of the silents included in the set is DOWNHILL—also known as WHEN BOYS LEAVE HOME—a film, like THE PLEASURE GARDEN and THE LODGER that was made in 1927. The film concerns the story of a young school boy whose life falls to pieces when he takes the blame for something one of his peers is guilty of. Like THE PLEASURE GARDEN, the film isn't in keeping thematically with the lion's share of Hitchcock's films, but there are plenty of flourishes that serve as a taste of things to come.

Hitchcock's first talkie would be BLACKMAIL but it's not included in this set, so it is his original version of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH that serves as our entry point into the world of the films of Hitchcock with sound. Made in 1934, the film found the director collaborating with the prolific writer, Charles Bennett; a man whose work would have a significant impact upon Hitchcock and the themes—wrongfully accused man on the run, in particular—would become a staple of the great director's work throughout his career. THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH focuses on a couple who are warned of an imminent assassination conspiracy, only to find their daughter has been kidnapped as a way in which to keep them silent. This is classic Hitchcock of the highest order and the first film in the set that ticks all the boxes of what we expect from a Hitchcock film. The film is presented in its original fullsreen ratio, and looks sumptuously crisp.

Next up is THE 39 STEPS, again written by Bennett and like THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, is a first-class Hitchcock treat – the story of a Canadian tourist who inadvertently becomes embroiled in a conspiracy of murder and mayhem. Once again, Network has provided a great print that shows the film off in all its monochrome glory.

Hitchcock's next film would mark somewhat of a departure from his other work of the period, as THE SECRET AGENT is a film that is not set in a contemporary milieu, but instead during World War I. The story concerns a novelist who--after being enlisted by the secret service—finds himself in Switzerland on a mission to assassinate a German operative. The film's backdrop does little to disguise the Master of Suspense's use of the technical finesse and narrative devices that had been evident in the handful of talkies that had lead up to it. Ironically, THE SECRET AGENT shares nothing with the Joseph Conrad story, apart from the title but the Author's book would become the foundation of Hitchcock's next film, SABOTAGE. As one would expect, Hitchcock mines the premise of a foreign saboteur masquerading as the manager of a London cinema for all its worth, creating an unhinging aura of menace, and he employs the Soviet technique of montage editing to devastating effect.

Hitchcock followed SABOTAGE with the fairly low-key YOUNG AND INNOCENT (curiously known in the US as THE GIRL WAS YOUNG), which has been given yet another pleasing transfer from the folk at Network. The film concerns an actress who is murdered by her jealous husband and how her lover who is mistaken for the killer after discovering her body. While the film is a pleasant diversion, it does fail to reach the same heights of Hitchcock's better films of the period (say, THE 39 STEPS or THE LADY VANISHES). That said it would be churlish to dismiss the film, as it's unfair to compare it to those particular works of genius and ultimately, it is leaps and bounds above the majority of other, similar films of the period.

Speaking of the masterpiece that is THE LADY VANISHES, it is this that is next up for scrutiny and what would become the penultimate film of Hitchcock's British period. The film is the suspense-filled tale of the passengers on a train who encounter the mysterious Miss Froy who, as quickly she enters their lives, she disappears without a trace. THE LADY VANISHES is vintage Hitchcock and a masterclass in thriller mechanics. In THE LADY VANISHES—along with THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and THE 39 STEPS—Hitchcock sealed his reputation as the most bankable British filmmaker and in  doing so, bought himself a ticket to stardom and the start of a hugely successful career in Hollywood.

Unfortunately, Hitchcock was contractually obliged to complete another film in England before his trip across the pond, and his next film, JAMAICA INN alas it shows. Based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier (who's books REBECCA and THE BIRDS would serve as the springboard for future Hitchcock projects), JAMAICA INN is the tail of an orphan who begins to suspect her uncle of being a pirate. Like YOUNG AND INNOCENT, the film has a charm and is well above average, but pales by comparison to the master's better work.

This collection also features a selection of excellent special features. Each of the films is introduced by Charles Barr (author of 'The English Hitchcock'). Carr's contributions are a welcome addition, packed with trivia and anecdotes, he also manages to convey how each of the films fit into the overall body of Hitchcock's work. There are also a couple of 'On Location' documentaries in which Robert Powell revisits the areas in which some of THE 39 STEPS and SABOTAGE's most memorable scenes were filmed. Best of all however is the 'Aquarius' documentary, 'Alfred The Great'. Shot during the filming of FRENZY in the early seventies, the pieces goes behind the scenes of the film, as well as including lengthy interviews with the director himself. Rounding out the set are image galleries for each of the films included.

Network have out done themselves with this solid collection of fine feature films and it can be said that HITCHOCK: THE BRITISH YEARS is an essential purchase for fans and film students alike; the set brings together the best of the director's early work, but better still, each and every film illustrates how important Alfred Hitchcock has been on the evolution of cinema.

(Paul Alaoui)