Rich and Strange

Rich and Strange

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1931
Founder	Alfred Hitchcock
Products	Romance film

Rich and Strange, known in the United States as East of Shanghai, is a 1931 British romance film directed by Alfred Hitchcock during his era working within the British film industry. The screenplay was adapted by Hitchcock himself, his wife Alma Reville, and Val Valentine from Dale Collins's 1930 novel. The film's title alludes to the phrase "Full fathom five" from Ariel's song in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Plot

Fred and Emily ("Em") Hill, a London couple leading an uneventful middle-class existence, receive an unexpected offer from a wealthy uncle to finance their immediate travels. Fred resigns from his position, and the pair journey to Paris before boarding an ocean liner departing Marseille en route to the Orient. Fred becomes afflicted with seasickness, leaving Em to navigate the ship alone, where she encounters Gordon, a charismatic bachelor. Meanwhile, Fred develops an attraction to a German princess. As the voyage progresses, emotional distance grows between Fred and Em as both engage with new acquaintances.

Upon reaching Singapore, their marriage begins to unravel. Em intends to depart with Gordon for Kuala Lumpur; however, Gordon reveals that Fred’s "princess" is actually a con artist exploiting him financially. Em leaves Gordon to alert Fred but finds that the princess has absconded with £1000 of Fred’s money. With limited resources, Fred and Em secure passage home aboard a tramp steamer. After a collision damages the vessel and its crew abandons ship, Fred and Em find themselves stranded but manage to survive by escaping through a porthole. They are later rescued by a Chinese junk whose crew pillages the steamer; unknowingly, they consume a cooked cat before ultimately returning home. Their ordeal brings them closer together, ready to settle into domestic life.

Cast

• Henry Kendall as Fred Hill
• Joan Barry as Emily Hill
• Percy Marmont as Commander Gordon
• Betty Amann as The Princess
• Elsie Randolph as The Old Maid, an irritating fellow passenger aboard the ship

Production

This film features techniques Hitchcock would perfect in his subsequent projects, particularly the shipboard settings including a life-sized ship replica constructed within a water tank. He experimented with camera angles and framing, notably in the groundbreaking opening sequence portraying office workers leaving their jobs in the city. This silent scene was captured in one continuous pan on a bespoke set and was followed by an extended comedic segment depicting Fred’s journey home.

Reception

Premiering between The Lodger (1927) and Hitchcock’s later successes like The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) and The 39 Steps (1935), Rich and Strange did not achieve commercial success in either Britain or America. Its sparse use of dialogue—comprising roughly one-quarter of the film—and retention of silent era features such as intertitles and exaggerated acting likely contributed to its lackluster reception. Hitchcock’s attempt to prioritize emotive silent-style performances over spoken dialogue may have affected its audience appeal. An early sequence showing Fred’s commute on the London Underground evokes stylistic elements reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin, contrasting with Hitchcock’s usual directorial approach.

Copyright and Home Media Availability

Rich and Strange continues to be protected by copyright laws internationally, although unauthorized copies have circulated extensively on home video formats. Nevertheless, authorized and carefully restored DVD editions have been released by distributors such as Optimum in the United Kingdom, Lionsgate in the United States, among others.

External links

• Rich and Strange featured on the British Film Institute's Screenonline
• Alfred Hitchcock Collectors’ Guide: Rich and Strange available at Brenton Film
• Cinema Then, Cinema Now: Rich and Strange a 1990 panel discussion moderated by Jerry Carlson on CUNY TV