THE SKIN GAME (1931)
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Plot
A rich family, the Hillcrests, are fighting against the nouveau riche Hornblower who's buying up the land surrounding their estate. When Mrs Hillcrest finds out that Chloe Hornblower was a prostitute, she uses the secret to blackmail Hornblower and bring to end his burgeoning empire. The Skin Game is a tragic melodrama reminiscent of Thomas Hardy.