Downhill

About Downhill

"Downhill", also known as "When Boys Leave Home", is a British silent drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1927. The film narratively explores the downfall of a high-society boy, who is falsely accused of theft.

Making / Production

The production was led by Gainsborough Pictures and the screenplay was by Eliot Stannard, which was based on the play "Down Hill" by Constance Collier and David L'Estrange (Ivor Novello). Alfred Hitchcock's direction made extensive use of both point-of-view shots and mirror reflections to depict the main character's subjective experiences.

Actors

• Ivor Novello played the character Roddy Berwick, a schoolboy who is expelled from school when he takes the blame for a friend's theft.
• Ben Webster as Dr. Dowson, delivers an impactful performance of a respectable authority figure.
• Ian Hunter portrayed the character Archie, who was involved in the incident that led to Roddy's downfall.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This was the first of few movies that Alfred Hitchcock made with British star Ivor Novello.
• Robert L'Estrange, who was instrumental in the creation of the original play, was actually a pseudonym of Ivor Novello.
• Hitchcock's visual representation of Roddy's subjective state before he finally collapses in the dance hall is considered ahead of its time.

Awards

While the film “Downhill” did not win any specific awards, it contributed significantly to the body of work that led to Hitchcock's recognition as a master of suspense and film making.

Quotes

• “A theft has been committed. How terrible to know it is a schoolboy."
• “Remember, the honour of the school comes before anything else."

Music, Soundtrack

• Despite being a silent film, a musical score was created and played live during screenings.
• The score was handled by Ashley Irwin who also worked with Hitchcock on other silent film projects.