The Chestnut Hill Film Group will offer movie lovers a rare treat on Tuesday, Feb. 25, when the organization presents an early silent masterpiece by Alfred Hitchcock, “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog,” at Woodmere art museum. This silent film screening is made all the more special by live musical accompaniment from Not So Silent Cinema, which creates new film scores for silent films, offering an immersive element to one of Hitchcock’s formative works.
Hitchcock is always a crowd-pleaser, drawing audiences excited to experience the master of suspense, and “The Lodger” holds a particularly important place in his career. Released in 1927, it is widely regarded as the first true ‘Hitchcock’ film, showcasing many of the visual techniques and themes that would define his later works. It was also the first film in which Hitchcock made a cameo, a tradition he continued throughout his career. His wife and longtime collaborator, Alma Reville, also makes a brief appearance.
Based on Marie Belloc Lowndes’ novel, “The Lodger” is a chilling thriller inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders. It follows a mysterious lodger (played by silent film heartthrob Ivor Novello) who arrives at a London boarding house just as a series of gruesome murders terrorizes the city. The suspense builds as suspicion mounts. Could this enigmatic stranger be the killer? The murderer in the film exclusively targets blonde women, a preference for blondes that fans of Hitchcock knows he shares.
“The Lodger” was Hitchcock's first thriller and his first commercial success. Coming shortly after his return from working on film sets in Germany, “The Lodger” draws heavily on the German expressionist tradition established in films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1919) and “Nosferatu” (1922). These films used stylized, angular sets and high-contrast lighting to convey psychological disturbance, techniques that influenced Hitchcock visual style.
“The Lodger” may be silent but the evening’s screening won’t be. Not So Silent Cinema will be playing a live score to accompany the film. Led by Philadelphia-based composer Brendan Cooney, the group features some of the finest musicians from today’s Klezmer, Balkan, jazz, tango, and classical scenes. Cooney’s score for “The Lodger” takes inspiration from Bernard Herrmann’s iconic Hitchcock scores, including “Psycho” and “Vertigo." Not So Silent Cinema has previously performed their score to “The Lodger” at the American Film Institute, bringing their music to a prestigious national audience. Watching “The Lodger” with live music restores a sense of how silent films were originally experienced as communal events where music and visuals combined to tell the story.
For fans of classic cinema, this screening is an opportunity to see Hitchcock’s early artistry on full display. His use of shadows, dramatic camera angles, and psychological tension foreshadows the suspenseful style he would later perfect in films like “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” and “Rear Window.” Hitchcock’s fascination with mistaken identity and psychological tension are explored, as well as groundbreaking visual storytelling, such as an innovative use of a glass ceiling to shoot up from below. While later overshadowed by his sound films, “The Lodger” remains a foundational work in his filmography, setting for his recurring themes of guilt, voyeurism, and the pursuit of justice.
The film, at almost 100 years old, still holds up remarkably well. At times, it has a nearly frenetic pace, a mature sense of humor, and a true craftsmanship for suspense. It remains a thrilling and engaging experience, showcasing the early brilliance of a director who would go on to redefine the thriller genre.
The Chestnut Hill Film Group has long been dedicated to bringing great films to the community, offering screenings that range from beloved classics to hidden gems. Their partnership with Woodmere provides an intimate and inspiring setting for film appreciation, making this screening a must-see event for film buffs, Hitchcock aficionados, and anyone looking for a unique cultural experience.
The screening of “The Lodger” will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free, though donations to support the Chestnut Hill Film Group’s programming are welcome. Woodmere is at 9201 Germantown Ave.
