Champagne (1928)

We make our first visit to Hitchcock’s silent era with Champagne from 1928. It’s a star vehicle for British silent film star Betty Balfour. She plays an heiress who defies her father with an on-again-off-again romance. There’s also a mysterious gentleman who keeps crossing her path. It’s a riches to rags to riches story of sorts. Hitchcock himself hated it, listen in to hear what we thought of it. Details: Champagne released in 1928 by British International Pictures. Produced by John Maxwell from a Screenplay by Eliot Stannard, story by Walter C. Mycroft. Stars Betty Balfour, Jean, Bradin, Theo von Alten and Gordon Harker. Cinematography by John J. Cox. Ranking: 50 out of 52. Ranking movies is a reductive parlor game. It’s also fun. And it’s a good way to frame a discussion. We aggregated over 70 ranking lists from critics, fans, and magazines, and will be going through Alfred Hitchcock’s films from “worst” to “best.” Champagne got 327 ranking points.