Creation of a master

Hitchcock is famously known as the Master of Suspense .. even though a
good number of his films are more melodramatic than 'thrilling'
(so-to-speak).

When he started out, it was with just such a melodrama. In fact, of the
nine films from 'The Pleasure Garden' (1925) through to 'The Manxman'
(1929), only one, 'The Lodger' (1927) is a bona fide thriller. The rest
are all films that chart the downward social trajectory of an
individual (usually as a result of another's ignorance or
maliciousness).

Then, after the suspenseful *and* melodramatic 'Blackmail' (1929),
Hitchcock went on to make five films, two of which ('Murder!' (1930)
and 'Number Seventeen' (1932)) might be called suspense thrillers ..
before he eventually made his so-called 'Big Six' ('The Man Who Knew
Too Much' (1934), 'The 39 Steps' (1935), 'Secret Agent' (1936),
'Sabotage' (1936), 'Young and Innocent' (1937) and 'The Lady Vanishes'
(1938)), all thrillers.

Its because of the Big Six that Hitchcock's reputation at home and
abroad was concretised and almost all of his films up until his death
were thrillers.

Fergal #.