1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_lodger_still.jpg]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:350:Not creepy at all.]] |
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4 | It all has to start somewhere. |
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6 | ''The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog'' is a 1927 silent film adapted from a [[Literature/TheLodger 1913 novel]] by Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes. It was the debut feature of Creator/AlfredHitchcock (sort of, see below). |
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8 | As the story opens, London is in the grip of a serial killer called "The Avenger". At the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Bounting's inn gets a new lodger by the name of Jonathan Drew (Ivor Novello). He fancies the Bountings' daughter, the blonde Daisy, who is already engaged to Joe, a detective. Over time, it's discovered that Jonathan has a few eccentric habits, including a preference for strolls on foggy evenings. Since The Avenger's favorite victims are blondes, Joe starts to suspect that Jonathan is the killer himself. |
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10 | This was actually the third film Hitchcock directed, but his first two, ''Film/ThePleasureGarden'' and ''The Mountain Eagle'', were both shelved after the producers reacted unfavorably. ''The Lodger'' was the first Hitchcock film to be released, and it was a huge hit, leading to both of his first two films being released and kick-starting his career. |
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12 | Other film versions of the story were released in 1932 (also starring Novello), 1944, 1953 (as ''Man in the Attic''), and 2009 (set in the modern day). |
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14 | Not to be confused with the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E11TheLodger 2010 Doctor Who episode of the same name]]. |
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16 | !!This work features examples of: |
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18 | * AdaptationalHeroism: The film's "lodger" turns out to be a heroic amateur detective trying to catch the killer. In the original novel, it is very strongly indicated that he genuinely is the killer. |
19 | * BathtubScene: One scene features Daisy taking a bath while Drew looms outside the door to the communal bathroom. This scene is more than a little bit reminiscent of ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. |
20 | * CallingCard: A piece of paper, with a Triangle, and "The Avenger" written inside. |
21 | * ConnectTheDeaths: The murder locations were starting to form a pattern that allowed the police to guess the next location. |
22 | * CreatorCameo: This film features Hitchcock's first cameos. Hitchcock and a few other crew members got on camera for a scene where not enough extras were available, and the practice soon became a trademark of his. He can be seen early in the film, from behind, taking a call at police headquarters, and at the climax when he's right next to Detective Joe as Joe pulls Drew off the fence. |
23 | * DeusExMachina: The Lodger is saved from a lynch mob by a paper boy delivering the news of the real killer's arrest. Somewhat justifiable in this instance--the killer strikes on Tuesday nights, Drew is arrested and subsequently escapes on a Tuesday night, and the cops had previously guessed where the killer would strike again. They guess correctly, and catch the real killer red-handed (offscreen) while a mob is chasing after Drew. |
24 | * ExtraExtraReadAllAboutIt: The avenger was caught 10 minutes ago, and the newspapers had the story out just in time for the lynch mob. |
25 | * AFoggyDayInLondonTown: The story is subtitled ''A Story of the London Fog''. A SerialKiller is stalking the foggy streets of London, and the new lodger at Mrs. Bounting's rooming house might be him. |
26 | * GuiltByCoincidence: The Lodger was spotted leaving the rooming house shortly before an Avenger murder and returning soon after. He is later discovered to have a collection of Avenger news clippings in his valise, along with a picture of an Avenger victim. It turns out that the woman in the picture is his sister, and he's been trying to catch the Avenger. |
27 | * HollywoodBoardGames: TabletopGame/{{Chess}}, played between The Lodger and Daisy. In the game depicted, Black (played by Daisy) is well developed but somehow lost a bishop against White who only developed the king's pawn one square and the king's knight --also, the king and queen positions are reversed. [[https://www.belgianchesshistory.be/cipc-120-the-lodger-a-story-of-the-london-fog/ As shown in the analysis and film]], white starts with d4. Black captures with exd4 which would lead to a knight exchange, but white doesn't see the obvious capture and responds with [=Qd2=]. Black does h3 (ignoring a free capture or defensive play), White replies with g3 (blundering the rook away and ignoring a capture), and the pieces get accidentally knocked over. Daisy returns the pieces to the wrong position (black king in the corner). |
28 | * LightsOffSomebodyDies: The first murder is depicted where the lights were shut off. |
29 | * LoveTriangle: Detective Joe likes Daisy but she has eyes for the handsome stranger that's taken a room at the inn. [[GreenEyedMonster Joe doesn't like this one bit, and it seems to influence his investigation.]] |
30 | * NoNameGiven: Though some filmographies give the Lodger's name as "Jonathan Drew", it's never actually revealed in the film itself. |
31 | * OminousFog: As mentioned in the subtitle. It's foggy every time the Avenger strikes, and Drew escapes from the mob into a foggy London night. |
32 | * ThePeepingTom: Has one as per Hitchcock's favored themes. |
33 | * POVCam: Used when the Lodger first comes to the front door of the inn. |
34 | * RedHerring: The Lodger's not the killer. |
35 | * RippedFromTheHeadlines: The Avenger's killings bear a certain resemblance to the murders committed by [[UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper a certain individual who was busy in Whitechapel in 1888]]. |
36 | * SerialKiller: Who only kills blondes and only on Tuesdays. |
37 | * TorchesAndPitchforks: A lynch mob chases after the Lodger. |
38 | * TheUnreveal: We never see the real killer or learn his identity. |
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