The late 1920s were a turbulent and uncertain period for the film industry due to the rapid advent of sound, which threw a wrench into a well-oiled machine that made silent films exclusive for almost two decades. Studios, whether they liked it or not, were forced to confront these new technological challenges and expectations head-on. Thanks to the two versions that were ultimately created, Blackmail has the unique distinction of being both Hitchcock's last silent film and his first talkie. Blackmail was first a successful play on the London stage in 1928, written by Charles Bennett. John Maxwell, the head of British International Pictures with whom Hitchcock had signed a contract for several films in 1926, quickly bought the rights to his star director. Hitchcock was looking to make a good thriller, and Blackmail fit the bill. When production of Blackmail began, it was initially a purely silent film. However, with the inevitable wait for sound technology beginning to seep into the film industry, the brass of the ...