THE RING (UK, 1927, Alfred Hitchcock)

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An excerpt from Alfred Hitchcock's THE RING (1927). Source: YouTube.

 
 

The fourth film from “the Master of Suspense” is an engrossing, if unconventional, entry in his oeuvre: a fraught romantic drama set in the world of English boxing.

THE RING (1927) follows previously undefeated fairground boxer "One Round" Jack Sander (Carl Brisson), who is beaten in the ring by enigmatic Australian Heavyweight champion Bob Corby (Ian Hunter). An intense rivalry develops between the two boxers — one that is complicated by Jack’s girlfriend (and soon-to-be fiancee) Mabel (Lillian Hall-Davis), who begins an affair with Bob.

Made at Elstree Studios, THE RING was the first film released by newly-established British International Pictures, which Hitchcock joined after making three films for Gainsborough Pictures.

A notable early effort by a 28-year-old director still finding his creative voice but nonetheless well on his way to cementing the auteurist style and vision that would make him a cinematic icon, THE RING forecasts the facility with structure, plotting, and character that would characterize some of Hitchcock’s best films, and is notable for being the only Hitchcock film to also feature a writing credit by the director. (He scarcely wrote the screenplays for his own film, instead opting to work with esteemed silver screen scribes like Ben Hecht, Ernest Lehman, and Joseph Stefano).

The Kino Lorber DVD and Blu-Ray release of Alfred Hitchcock’s THE RING is accompanied by four additional early British films by the director: THE FARMER’S WIFE (1928), CHAMPAGNE (1928), THE MANXMAN (1929), and THE SKIN GAME (1931). Audio commentary on THE RING by film critic Nick Pinkerton is also included on this release.

THE RING
(UK, 1927)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

  • 108 minutes
  • 35mm
  • Black & white
  • Silent film with English intertitles
Distribution Format/s: DVD, Blu-Ray, DSL/Downloadable 1080p .mp4 file on server

Published By: Kino Lorber

Institutional Price: DVD or Blu-Ray Boxset: $400, Single Film DSL Title: $160

To order call: 212.280.8654 or click here for information on ordering by fax, e-mail or post.