The Farmer's Wife (1928)

I wonder if this film was based on a play?The Farmer's Wife is the first film in this chronological viewing of Hitchcock films that I can say that I have wholeheartedly enjoyed on its own merits. The exception may be The Lodger but it is hard to be sure how I feel about it as a film since it is so familiar. I think it helped that The Farmer's Wife was based on a play so it already had a strong story with well-drawn characters. I thought it was very funny with some splendid performances. I have really enjoyed the two performances I have seen from Lillian Hall-Davis and it makes me sad even over eighty years later thinking of her tragic end.  

The unexpected ending

Appearance by a cat or dog: two spaniels/pack of hounds/plus various farmyard animals

Transport: horses (notably a piebald one)/pony and trap

Source: The Early Hitchcock Collection (Optimum Releasing)