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Not the "Pleasure Garden" as they look for!

This is the earliest of the collection of the silent movies that is currently in my possession. When I told one of my friends that I was going to watch a 1925 (released in 1927) silent movie called 'Pleasure Garden', he asked whether it was an adult themed porn flick!
Of course not, it is Alfred Hitchcock's directorial debut. Pleasure Garden is the name of the hall where Jill and Patsy were dancing girls.
Jill's fiancé, Hugh, who is working in an estate overseas visits her with his friend, Levet. After a brief vacation, Hugh returns to work. Jill's fame skyrockets afterwards and is wooed by a rich prince. Patsy's advice to Jill on being level headed and faithful to Hugh falls to deaf ears and their relationship sours.
Patsy is smitten with Levet and decide to tie the knot. Towards the end of her honeymoon, Patsy realizes Levet's true colour. Levet returns overseas to continue his work.
Virginia Valli
Virginia Valli as Patsy 
In one of the rather infrequent letters sent to Patsy, Levet mentioned of him suffering from a nasty tropical fever. Thinking of the worst, Patsy rushes to care for her husband only to discover of his alcoholic lifestyle and sinful liaison with a native woman. Patsy is abused. She is rescued only to discover that Hugh is stricken with 'love-sickness' after discovering that the love of his life, Jill, is to marry someone else. Patsy nurses Hugh back to health and they become a couple only to return home and live happily ever after.
One interesting scene that captured my imagination in this otherwise not so fantastic movie happened in the earlier part of the show. Jill's dog, Cuddles, started licking Patsy's sole when she was kneeling at her bed praying. Irritated, she kicked the dog away to the dog's howling whilst she continued her divine obligation! It is said that these are the subtle brickbats that Hitchcock hurls at his strict Catholic upbringing in his childhood.
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  1. Anonymous31 January 2012 at 10:05

    she kicked the dog away to the dog's howling whilst she continued her divine obligation!
    I watched the murder of Canny Ong on CI. I still cannot understand the murderer of Canny Ong left her in a manhole at 6am because he heard the azan (nearby mosque)and it seems that he had to fullfil the obligation to GOD! The best part he came back after praying with petrol just to burn her. What was he praying then?

    ReplyDelete
  2. rifle range boy31 January 2012 at 10:16

    sometimes we cannot comprehend man and their priorities. they are being selfish for divine help to fatten/prosper themselves, not to care for fellow creation of the supreme being! RRF

    ReplyDelete

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