Alfred Hitchcock was a young director when he made this film. It is not the type of movie that gave him his famous title, The Master of Suspense. The movie has more to say about how quickly something can be taken away. The interesting thing is how Hitchcock shows the seamy side of life. The director also makes use of symbolism. It may seem simple,but it does bring out the meaning of the film.
Roddy Berwick, (Ivor Novello),is a young man with everything ahead of him. He is the captain of the rugby team, and is attending a prestigious school. The world of Roddy Berwick comes crashing down because of his loyalty to a friend. He and his friend,Tim Wakely, (Robin Irvine),are called into the office of the headmaster,(Dr. Dowson),(Ben Webster). The scene is made more dramatic, because the scene shows the headmaster in a closeup shot. This shows that he is the authority figure, and is intimidating to the school boys. A woman named Mabel, (Annette Benson), has brought a serious allegation. The woman is asked to point out the man. She accuses Roddy, because he comes from a wealthy family. It was Tim who was involved with the woman. Roddy takes the blame, because he knows his friend will lose everything. He is expelled from the school. Roddy thinks this will go away, and he can go to another school. It is when Roddy tells his father of his expulsion, that his life reflects the movie’s title. Sir Thomas Berwick is outraged, and kicks his son out of the house.
Roddy, falls in love with an actress, Julia Fatheringale, (Isabelle Jeans). She pays attention to him, but doesn’t return his feelings. This changes when Roddy informs her that he has received a substantial inheritance. The couple get married, and buy a house, with Roddy’s money. Julia and Roddy’s marriage falls apart. Julia kicks him out of the house his money bought. She was given the house by Roddy. After the dissolution of his marriage, Roddy ends up in Paris, and spends his money. He ends up dancing in a seedy club for money. Roddy spirals into alcoholism, and is transported back to England by people who think they’ll be rewarded by his family.
Alfred Hitchcock has managed to do interesting things with this film. He shows the upper class as unfeeling. Sir Thomas Berwick is shamed by his son. He cares about his standing in society. His son doesn’t mean anything to him. He shows the underbelly of society. This is shown very well by Madam Michet,(Barbara Gott). She is gleefully taking the patron’s money, and pushing her employees to hustle the customer’s out of their cash. She is very upset that a customer has a heart attack, and orders the curtains and windows open. The light shows all the patrons the way they are in the daylight. Roddy sees this and drifts away from this life. He finds a room run by people who take the rest of his money. Roddy on the voyage back to England, has a nightmare,which visualizes everything that’s happened to him. Alfred Hitchcock was just beginning his career in his native England. This movie isn’t one of his best.His fame would grow,with efforts like The Lodger and The Lady Vanishes, and he would leave his island home, many years later, for Hollywood.