The Space airs short films exploring Hitchcock’s early work

In conjunction with the recent U.K. release of the film “Hitchcock” (starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren), The Space, an on-demand digital arts service developed by Arts Council England and the BBC, is offering a special treat for Hitch fans. The Space will air five short films that provide context to the master of suspense and his early work.

“The Pleasure Garden” (1925) was the first full film Hitchcock directed.

The set of short films, commissioned by the British Film Institute, includes:

Alfred Hitchcock from the archive

Hitchcock gives his insight into the workings of Hollywood, talking candidly about stars’ salaries and the difficulty of working with well-known actors.

Hitchcock at the picture palace

Historians Henry K. Miller and Matthew Sweet whisk viewers back to 1920s Britain – the era of the picture palace that saw the young Hitchcock learn his craft, refine his art and establish himself as an innovative, ambitious filmmaker.

Seeds of genius: “The Pleasure Garden”

Film historian Charles Barr and the BFI’s silent film curator Bryony Dixon explore Hitchcock’s distinctive style of visual storytelling, focusing on Hitchcock’s first full-length, finished film “The Pleasure Garden” (1925).

Restoring “The Pleasure Garden”

The unique story of how the BFI restored “The Pleasure Garden,” almost a century after it was made.

Scoring “The Pleasure Garden”

This short film follows composer Daniel Patrick Cohen’s journey to create a new score for this seminal Hitchcock work.

You can watch the films here.

Free ‘Champagne’ from Alfred Hitchcock …

Alfred Hitchcock’s newly restored silent comedy classic, “Champagne,” will be streamed live at the British Film Institute and online at The Space on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. (GMT). You can watch a clip here.

“Champagne” (1928) is a Jazz Age comic parable. It tells the story of a spoiled rich girl (Betty Balfour) who leads a life of luxury on the profits from her father’s champagne business.

Suspecting that his daughter’s fiancé (Jean Bradin) is a gold-digger, Dad (Gordon Harker) tells Betty that the family fortune has been wiped out in the stock market. When the boyfriend leaves, the father thinks this proves his case.

The premiere will be accompanied by a new score performed live by award-winning composer, producer and performer Mira Calix.

Also, before Thursday’s live stream, you can watch four Hitch documentaries on The Space. (“Champagne” will not be available on-demand after the event.)