Young and Innocent (1937)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Young and Innocent (1937) – A. Hitchcock

Snappy British Hitchcock film made between Sabotage and The Lady Vanishes – that is, right in the middle of a string of exceptional thrillers (that also included The 39 Steps, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Secret Agent). One reason why this might be less well known is that the killer is finally discovered playing drums in a band…in blackface.  Setting aside this particular awfulness (if you can) does reveal a playful film with Hitch’s characteristically smart-ass use of sound, perfectly timed cuts and montages, and romantic banter between the leads (Nova Pilbeam and Derrick De Marney).  The MacGuffin is a missing belt from a trenchcoat which may or may not have been the murder weapon.  Of course, poor Tisdall (De Marney) can’t find his coat or the belt and thus is held on suspicion of murder…until he escapes…with the Chief Constable’s daughter (Pilbeam).  Rather a merry romp, all things considered with a great tracking shot near the end (only to be rivalled by Notorious’s later track from great heights into Bergman’s hand). On some days, I like the British Hitchcocks even more than the American ones.