Champagne

Champagne, 1928

UK, DCP, Black & White, 105’, English

Cast: Betty Balfour, Gordon Harker, Ferdinand von Alten

With live musical accompaniment by John Sweeney

It’s a romantic comedy-melodrama focusing on a wealthy man and his spoiled daughter. The daughter leads a life of luxury on the profits from her father’s champagne business. To bring her back down to earth, he pretends to be bankrupt and forces his daughter to try to learn a lesson and make a living on her own. Hitchcock’s long-term fascination with the weakness of the filthy rich features shows some experimental touches such as the opening shot filmed through a raised champagne glass.