Blackmail (1929)

In the bustling heart of 1920s London, Alice White, the spirited daughter of a local tobacconist, finds herself entwined in a dangerous web of deception, desire, and crime. She's romantically involved with Frank Webber, a zealous Scotland Yard detective more engrossed in unraveling mysteries than in their relationship. However, beneath the surface of their seemingly normal relationship, Alice harbors secret desires for a young, charismatic artist. One fateful evening, Alice cunningly ditches Frank during a date to rendezvous with the artist. Seduced by the promise of viewing his studio, she finds herself in his apartment where the evening takes a horrific turn. The artist, overcome by lust, attempts to rape her, but Alice, in a desperate act of self-defense, stabs him to death with a bread knife. As dawn breaks, a traumatized Alice wipes away any trace of her presence and slips into the cold London streets, haunted by the events of the night. Coincidentally, Frank is assigned to the murder case and soon stumbles upon evidence that chillingly points to Alice. Recognizing the victim as the man Alice had secretly met, Frank grapples with his professional duty and personal feelings, deciding to hide the implicating evidence. However, their ordeal is far from over. A shady character named Tracy emerges from the shadows, insinuating that he knows Alice's deadly secret and threatening to shatter their world with his knowledge. In a desperate bid to protect Alice, Frank hatches a plan to frame Tracy, a known criminal, for the murder. As the plot thickens, they are left questioning if such a risky gambit will work and if Alice can bear the guilt of condemning an innocent, albeit detestable man, for a crime he didn't commit. Blackmail is a riveting tale of love, murder, and moral dilemmas, painting a vivid picture of the grim underbelly of 1920s London.

Blackmail is a crime movie featuring Anny Ondra.

Blackmail is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy, Plex and Plex Player and it's also available on Criterion Channel and IndieFlix.

It is also possible to buy Blackmail on Kino Now.