if this film have not be direct by alfred hitchcock and no one would remember it or even want to remember it . it be obvious that this film be just a chance for the director to work his craft until he ultimately make a dandy film a year later ( the lodger ) . you will also not see very much of the hitchcock style in this film and a the movie be not a suspense film or mystery and in place and his quality a a director be very suspect . it be just amazing how quickly he go from this sorry film to great film . when i say badly direct and i know some die hard fan will no doubt have an apoplexy . i have long ago notice that die hard fan rarely can allow criticism of their idol and so i know i will have a few people rate this review a not helpful and but it simply be botch by him in place . in particular and the beginning of the film be a histrionic mess . while it be untrue that most silent film be overact and have exaggerate action ( this be really only something you see in very and very early film ) and this film look like a throwback to bygone day during the confrontation between the evil drunken husband and the painter . such overacting and hysteric be pretty much laughable . i also love how the husband do such a rotten job hit the other man with his cane he pull the blow so obviously that it just look like it come from a high school play . well and i must admit that the rest of the film do feature good acting and it seem that if hitchcock make this movie linearly ( from start to finish ) and then you can see how his direction improve a the film unfolded . but and unfortunately and the script be so preachy and obvious that it hardly seem worth watch . about the only positive that i really like be the very end the lack of a happy or clichéd end actually help make the movie a little more palatable . still and all in all and a pretty forgettable and unimpressive film in almost every aspect .