Young and Innocent

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Young and Innocent

Released Feb 10, 1938

1h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

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100%

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20 Reviews

62%

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2,500+ Ratings

When normal guy Robert Tisdall (Derrick de Marney) discovers the body of actress Christine Clay (Pamela Carme) washed up on shore, he is arrested for her murder. Having no confidence in the barrister assigned to him, Tisdall escapes from the police station and ends up hitching a ride with the police chief's daughter, Erica Burgoyne (Nova Pilbeam). After being spotted together, the two are assumed to be in league and have no choice but to cooperate in order to uncover the real killer.

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TIME Magazine

Lacks the vivid outlines and clear characterizations of previous Hitchcock films, but is, nevertheless, a fair sample of Hitchcock devices.

Oct 25, 2017

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Time Out

Not top-notch Hitchcock, but engrossing enough.

Jun 24, 2006

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Frank S. Nugent

New York Times

Alfred Hitchcock, England's jovial and rotund master of melodrama, has turned out another crisply paced, excellently performed film.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 28, 2006

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Clearly, this early work demonstrates Hitchcock's honing of his craft, which would soon produce more polished efforts with similar themes.

Rated: 7/10

Aug 8, 2023

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Shadow Stage

Photoplay

One always expects a deft handling of suspense, sane dialogue, and expert delineation of character in Director Alfred Hitchcock's pictures, and this one is no disappointment.

Dec 15, 2020

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MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

Innumerable small touches show Hitchcock's keen and penetrating observation and his knowledge of human nature. Comedy, romance, and thrills are skilfully blended.

Jun 2, 2015

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Ted B

3.0 stars. This is an early (1938) Alfred Hitchcock movie. By Hitchcock’s later standards, this movie was 'innocent' and very British. However, you could see the beginnings of the Hitchcock style: an innocent man chase movie in the style of “North by Northwest.” There were a number of narrow escape scenes with Hitchcock-style tension. Not the most sophisticated Hitchcock movie, but still it's a fun trip.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/18/24

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Steve D

Nothing really worked for me here.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

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Xopher P

I only watched this because I'm a huge Hitchcock fan and the good reviews it has received on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, I cannot concur with them. I found Young and Innocent bereft of any suspense, plodding, unrealistic, and frustrating -- so much so that I don't want to waste my energy writing any more about it than that.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

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Dick C

It's an exciting British motion picture, Young and Innocent and in the US as The Girl Was Young, 1937, directed by my favourite filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock.. Based on the 1936 fascinating novel A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey, a pseudonym used by Elizabeth MacKintosh, a Scottish author... Both British actress and actor, Nova Pilbeam and Derrick De Marney portray good...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Liam D

One of the earliest movies in the master of Suspense filmography it's an interesting picture

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/08/23

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Audience Member

Not as artful or as entertaining as Hitch's normal thrillers but it's still a very enjoyable watch. Innocent man on the run and a young romance at the heart of it. de Marney and Pilbeam's on screen chemistry has a wonderful sweetness to it. Hitchcock uses dramatic irony to fabulous effect once again by including a magnificent gliding crane shot that unveils the true killer.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Derrick de Marney

Robert Tisdall

Nova Pilbeam

Erica Burgoyne

Percy Marmont

Col Burgoyne

Edward Rigby

Old Will

Mary Clare

Erica's Aunt Margaret

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Synopsis

When normal guy Robert Tisdall (Derrick de Marney) discovers the body of actress Christine Clay (Pamela Carme) washed up on shore, he is arrested for her murder. Having no confidence in the barrister assigned to him, Tisdall escapes from the police station and ends up hitching a ride with the police chief's daughter, Erica Burgoyne (Nova Pilbeam). After being spotted together, the two are assumed to be in league and have no choice but to cooperate in order to uncover the real killer.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Edward Black
Screenwriter: Charles Bennett, Josephine Tey, Edwin Greenwood, Anthony Armstrong, Gerald Savory, Alma Reville
Production Co: Gaumont
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 1938, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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