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The brilliant and underrated 1944 film, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on a story by John Steinbeck, displays the director's mastery of his craft. Hitchcock challenged himself by assembling a great cast of actors to play characters from various backgrounds with differing political points of view about World War II etc. and placed them in a very limiting environment, the eponymous boat. More than a story of survival, it is a dissection of human spirit and fortitude as a disparate group are thrown together in a claustrophobic hell that is, somewhat, of their own making. The entire film takes place aboard a lifeboat as passengers of a doomed ship find themselves adrift on the high seas. One of the lifeboat’s occupants is the very man who caused their predicament: a German U-boat captain whose submarine torpedoed their vessel. Captain Willy (Walter Slezak) appears, at first, to be the "black hat" of this war-era film but Hitchcock has other ideas for him. Instead of being portrayed as the distinct villain of all humanity, Willy proves to be the one person who may be the others only chance of survival. The passengers: Connie Porter (Tallulah Bankhead) is a worldly journalist of high-society fame who prizes her possessions and believes herself a cut above the others. During their ordeal, she loses her valuables to the sea and finds herself in a reversal of character by offering her last possession (a fancy bracelet) as bait for a fishing line. Her main opposition comes from John Kovac (John Hodiak) a ship worker whose torso is tattooed with ex-girlfriends’ initials. According to Kovac, the war is but a show for Connie so she has something to write about. Despite their varying views from love to politics, they soon find themselves in each other’s arms during the height of a horrific storm. Also aboard is "everyman" Gus Smith (William Bendix). A simple seaman who longs for his girl Rosie and their dancing days. Unfortunately for Gus, he has suffered a severe wound to his right leg and it’s up to the others to amputate it before the gangrene does him in. Caring for him is Alice MacKenzie (Mary Anderson), an officer and nurse who finds she cannot heal her own wounds; that of a love for a married man. Rounding out the cast is Charles D. 'Ritt' Rittenhouse (Henry Hull) - wealthy industrialist and owner of various factories which support the war effort, Stanley Garrett (Hume Cronyn) - ship's radio operator turned lifeboat navigator, and George "call me Joe" Spencer (Canada Lee) - ex-pickpocket who now seeks a better way of life. The way in which the German is depicted is rather blasphemous in such a perilous time when the Nazis were anything but saviors. Willy, not your stereotypical goon, is a capable seaman (where the others are completely incompetent), a skilled surgeon (he performs the amputation on Gus’s leg), multiple linguist, and the only one who keeps his head when a storm threatens to destroy their lifeboat. Not going completely against the feelings of the time, Willy has his dark side too. He manipulates the others, holds out information and water, and causes the death of one of the boat’s occupants. When the others learn of his deceptions, they transform into a mob and brutally kill the one man who may have been their only hope of survival.Read full review
Drama about several American and British civilians stranded in a lifeboat after their ship and a German U-boat sink each other in battle. Another survivor is found, a German officer, Willi (Walter Slezak). Several want to throw him overboard, but cooler heads prevail, when Garrett (Hume Cronyn), and columnist Connie Porter (Tallulak Bankhead) assert that he is a prisoner of war. Very soon, an infant passenger died. It's mother, insanely distraught commits suicide that night by going over the side while everyone slept. The lifeboat inhabitants attempt to organize what water and supplies they have, and go about setting a course for Bermuda. All is quite civilized at first and logical, but soon the desperation and despair set in as they ponder not being rescued. Frustrations set in and little things like nationality, religion, sex, race, and politics are brought to the surface. Kovak (John Kodiak), who originally wanted to throw the German (Willie) overboard, takes charge of rationing the food and water. Willie is later revealed to have in fact been the U-boat commander. One morning, Willie gets caught drinking from a hidden flask. An injured American passenger saw him, but being too weak to say anything, is murdered by Willi by being pushed overboard while everyone else was asleep. When the others awaken, they discover the injured American missing, and question Willi. Discovering the hidden flask of water. In a rage of anger, they beat him and throw him overboard. Musing on Willi's treachery, one asks, "What do you do with people like that?" The survivors are subsequently spotted by the German supply ship to which Willi had been steering them. Before a launch can pick them up, both the supply ship and rescue-lifeboat are sunk by an Allied warship. A frightened young German seaman is pulled aboard the lifeboat. He pulls a gun on the boat occupants but is surprised and disarmed. He asks in German, "Aren't you going to kill me?" The film ends with surviving passengers arguing about keeping the new German sailor aboard or throwing him off to drown as they await the Allied vessel to rescue them. Again the question is asked, "What do you do with people like that?"Read full review
I saw this movie late-night on PBS when I was a kid in the 80's, and it took me this long to get it on DVD. What a wonderful treat. The quality is outstanding and the low price is great, too! The film itself is some of Hitch's earlier work, but it is Hitch nonetheless. This is not a movie for one that likes the grand spectacle of today's Hollywood movies. The entire film takes place in a boat. But it is the camera work and the extremely diverse cast that make this film so good. The actors and actresses are all so different from one another. If you enjoy Hitchcock's earlier films you will love this. I would compare this movie to Hitchcock's ROPE, with a little more comic relief. And the whole family would enjoy this one! I would know, I watched it when I was about 12.
PLOT: 7 survivors on a SHIP sunk by a German U boat end up in a 25 foot life boat~ the 8th passenger climbs in is a NAZI German from the Uboat that sunk their ship~ Hitchcock masterpiece~ dated due to World War 2 theme but outstanding plot and acting~ written by John Steinbeck~ Tallulah Bankhead as the outspoken reporter who's only concern is her mink and typewriter, William Bendix as the sailor, John Hodiak as the Sailor who has a girl in every port, Hume Cronyn as a brit and Canada Lee as the nurse, and Walter Slezak as the German Sub Captain~ Between illness, death, bad weather, shortage of food and water~THE Naxi German who has many secrets~ this flows along nicely as they form a bond and establish a chain of command~ Tallulah over acts~ but is plainly the scene stealer as they deal with each other. The Nazi played by Slezak is very good we like him but do not trust him. many great plot twists~ and the genius of Hitchcock in the details of how to maintain the stress and tension and he carries it off~ great movie~ I give this a solid 10 OUT OF 10~ IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~Read full review
ALFRED HITCHCOCK HAD ADMIRED THE UNUSUAL PERSONALITY AND TALENTS OF TALLULAH BANKHEAD SINCE HAVING SEEN HER ON STAGE IN LONDON IN A PLAY CALLED THE DANCERS BACK IN THE 1920'S. HITCHCOCK WAS DELIGHTED TO GET MISS BANKHEAD AWAY FROM THE NEW YORK STAGE AND TO HOLLYWOOD AND STAR IN THIS FILM PLAYING THE TAILOR MADE PART OF COLUMNIST CONSTANCE PORTER. AS PAT HITCHCOCK STATED, THIS FILM JUST WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY GOOD WITHOUT TALLULAH BANKHEAD! AS IS WELL KNOWN, TALLULAH BANKHEAD PREFERRED LIVE STAGE PERFORMANCES, TO THE ANTICS OF FILM MAKING IN HOLLYWOOD. AS HITCHCOCK AND BANKHEAD WERE GOOD FRIENDS, GETTING TALLULAH BANKHEAD TO AGREE AND STAR IN THE FILM WAS AN EASY TASK FOR HITCHCOCK. AGAIN, ACCORDING TO ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S DAUGHTER PAT, LIFEBOAT AND SHADOW OF A DOUBT WERE TWO OF HIS ALL TIME FAVOURITE FILMS IN HIS LONG AND PRODUCTIVE CAREER. FILMING LIFEBOAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT IN HITCHCODK'S CAREER. AS THE ENTIRE FILM TAKES PLACE ON A LIFEBOAT LOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN. AS A RESULT, THERE ARE NO OTHER SCENES OUTSIDE OF THE LIFEBOAT IN THIS FILM, WHICH LASTS A TOTAL OF 96 MINUTES. GUESS HOW ALFRED HITCHCOCK MAKES HIS USUAL CAMEO APPEARANCE IN THIS MOVIE, WHICH HAS ALL OF THE SCENES FILMED IN A LIFEBOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN?Read full review
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