captainsolo said:

The first film has gained a large following who suggest that it is better than Hitch's own remake. (It isn't.)

Thank you for saying that! The original really isn't better than the remake in this case. It's a pity the original gets more attention. Exempting Peter Lorre, the original doesn't have that astounding or memorable a cast, an issue Hitchcock seemed to have in a lot of his early sound films. The story's handling is only mildly exhilarating, with a slow pace. As you said, a lot less memorable a climax than the remake.

It shows his developing strengths and sets the stage for the first masterpiece, The 39 Steps.

Interesting. While I do not dispute the greatness of The 39 Steps, you don't consider any of his silent work, masterpieces? I honestly find them profoundly ignored facets of his career; many of them hold up a lot better than his early sound work. The Lodger and certainly Blackmail constitute as masterpieces for me. What's your opinion of them?

The release of both versions are rather poor.

Well, the BD of the remake is coming soon. Hopefully, that will remedy things. Hang in there.