Lifeboat (1944)

October 10, 2022 12:59 PM

American and British civilians who have survived the sinking of their ship by a German submarine struggle to reach land in a crowded lifeboat. When a German officer is rescued from the water, the group allows him to board, but his presence only increases the tensions on the boat. Soon treachery ensues, and the population of the vessel gradually decreases as conflicts come to a head.

Starring Tallulah Bankhead, William Bendix, Walter Slezak, Mary Anderson, John Hodiak, Henry Hull, Heather Angel, Hume Cronyn, and Canada Lee.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Screenplay by Jo Swerling, with uncredited contributions by Ben Hecht. Based on a novella by John Steinbeck.

90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently available for digital rental in the US on multiple services. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (5 comments total)

My favourite anecdote about this film:

Hitchcock dismissed the idea of having music in a film about people stranded at sea by asking, "Where would the orchestra come from?" Hugo Friedhofer is said to have asked in reply, "Where would the cameras come from?"

posted by Paragon at 1:33 PM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

Be sure to watch for Hitchcock’s cameo appearance. It’s pretty clever.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:00 PM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Isn't his cameo in a newspaper ad for either weight loss products or a big & tall men's store?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:35 AM on October 11, 2022

👉👃
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:27 PM on October 11, 2022

Yep. As I understand it, he was trying to lose weight at the time, and had a little fun with it.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:36 PM on October 11, 2022