USA 1944, 96 minutes, black & white, 20th Century Fox. Director: Alfred Hitchcock.Written by Jo Swerling, based on a novella by John Steinbeck. Cast: Tallulah Bankhead, William Bendix, Walter Slezak, Mary Anderson, Hume Cronyn, John Hodiak and Henry Hull.
Plot summary: After a nearly fatal U-boat attack in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, a disparate group of survivors has to decide whether or not to trust the enemy whose offer to help may or may not reflect disputable intent.
Review: There are film enthusiasts who worship directors for their ability to bring stories to life on screen and make them memorable beyond their own lifetime and momentum. Welles, Wilder, Capra, Sirk, Lang, Houston, Wyler, Cukor, Ford, Mankiewicz, Minnelli to just name a few, each name standing for his own precept of quality, his own formula to narrative veracity. Alfred Hitchcock, no doubt, belongs to that eclectic league of masterminds whose style outlived its time and entered the halls of classic fame. With success stories such as The 39 Steps, Rear Window and Vertigo under his belt, Hitchcock is still remembered by film fans around the globe and frequently paid homage to by contemporary filmmakers. Although not peaking until the 1950s, his career was multifaceted and long-lived, spanning from the mid-1920s to the mid-’70s.
In 1943, he took on a project called Lifeboat, a story originally based on an unpublished novella by John Steinbeck. Set in the midst of World War II, the tale brought up the blurry lines between decency and necessity for survival in times of war. Shot with only 10 actors in a limited setting, Hitchcock turned the already dramatic plot into a claustrophobic parable about the complexities of human behavior under extreme circumstances. Unafraid of addressing cruelties and moral ambiguities, Lifeboat was released on January 28, 1944 and won instant disapproval by a number of critics who frowned on the supposedly favorable depiction of German characters. Despite this controversy, however, the film was nominated for three Academy Awards and brought Tallulah Bankhead a well-deserved New York Film Critics Circle Award for her memorable performance as pert journalist Connie Porter. In 1950, Screen Director’s Playhouse turned Lifeboat into a successful radio play with and introduction by Hitchcock and Bankhead as his acclaimed leading lady.
For Hitchcock fans and classic movie buffs, the film does not only offer a brilliant ensemble but also a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole 96 minutes. Designed as an intimate play, Lifeboat is a real gem for anyone who likes to savor topnotch acting and tangent dialog. Praised by critics today, Lifeboat is now available on DVD with a delicious two-part interview with the Master of Suspense himself.
Melanie Simone is a writer with a degree in American Studies and English. On Talking Classics, she savors her love for vintage Hollywood.