Film reveals Hitchcock's East End childhood

Film-maker Bill Hodgson hopes that a new film on Hitchcock's early days in the area will reveal some of the lesser-known facts about the legendary director.

Alfred Hitchcock In East London will be premiered at the Heathcote Music Venue on June 27 as part of the Mayor of London's Story of London festival.

Mr Hodgson said: "Hitchcock is one of the most important figures in cinema history but most people are ignorant of his associations with this part of London.

"The new documentary examines how his background profoundly influenced his later success and why his legacy is still valuable to the area.

"Hitchcock has been the subject of more books than any other director, yet his early years are often overlooked or, at best, mis-understood."

Mr Hodgson called on the memories of readers of The Wharf back in November as he worked on the historical documentary. The finished product features contributions from veteran actor Murray Melvin, English Hitchcock author Charles Barr and Roy Ward Baker, Hitchcock's assistant director on The Lady Vanishes.

Alfred was born above his father's Leytonstone grocers shore in 1899, but lived at 175 Salmon Lane between 1907 and 1914. The family also owned a fishmongers at 130.

At that time, Salmon Lane was home to one of London's most bustling markets, a source of international produce and a meeting place for soldiers and sailors from the docks nearby.

The young Alfred was a regular at the Limehouse Library and the Palaceadium Cinema on Whitehorse Street. The library still stands today, but the cinema was demolished to make way for housing last year, after spells as the Ben Hur Cinema and a snooker club.

Mr Hodgson said: "Much of Hitchcock's Limehouse has now vanished forever.

"The part of Salmon Lane where he lived was demolished during the slum clearances of the '30s, although much of the surrounding streets and canal area remains intact so it is still possible to catch a glimpse of the place as he would have known it."

The family returned to Leytonstone following the outbreak of the first world war, fearing the dock areas would be a prime target for enemy strikes. While that was true, it was Leytonstone that would be more heavily affected by bombing in the years to come.

The 70-minute documentary - made with the assistance of the Museum Of London and the British Film Institute - will mark the 80th anniversary of Blackmail, Britain's first talking picture. It will be shown as part of the Story Of London, a celebration of the capital through art, architecture, fashion, film and music throughout June. (See london.gov.uk/storyoflondon for more events.)

Mayor Boris Johnson said: "Alfred Hitchcock is one of the great filmmakers and an important part of the Story Of London.

"His work at the Gainsborough Studios, where Islington meets Hackney, helped put the capital on the film map but much less is known about his early life in east London.

"So I'm delighted the McGuffin Film Society has produced this new documentary. It will provide a fascinating insight into his early life in a part of London that continues to be at the forefront of London's creative scene."

Alfred Hitchcock in East London will be premiered at 8pm on Saturday, June 27, at the Heathcote Music Venue, 344 Grove Green Road, London E11. Tickets are available now and advance booking is strongly advised.

Click here for a chance to win a copy of Alfred Hitchcock In East London.

A DVD will of the documentary will be available. See mcguffin.info for details.