Alfred Hitchcock's Most Overlooked Film

#alfredhitchcock #warmovie #worldwar2 #classicmovies
Lifeboat, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Tallulah Bankhead, is one of Hitchcock's most overlooked films. The film's single setting is a lifeboat stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
With a story by John Steinbeck and screenplay by Jo Swerling, Lifeboat explores power dynamics and the moral dilemma of rescuing an enemy, adding a layer of complexity and nuance to the story and asking questions such as: What are we willing to do to survive? How much are we willing to compromise for our safety? Is there a line that cannot be crossed?
Lifeboat is powerful and thought-provoking, but as one of Alfred Hitchcock's early 1940s films, it tends to get lost in his filmography. Its legacy was further diminished as a result of studio politics and wartime sentiments.
Eighty years after its release, Lifeboat continues to have a lasting impact and relevance. Tallulah Bankhead gave her best screen performance in this film, and its technical achievements and Hitchcock's innovative use of a single setting mark this film as an overlooked masterpiece.
Lifeboat (1944) Starring:
Tallulah Bankhead as Connie Porter
William Bendix as Gus Smith
Walter Slezak as Willi
Mary Anderson as Alice MacKenzie
John Hodiak as John Kovac
Henry Hull as C.J. Rittenhouse
Heather Angel as Mrs. Higley
Canada Lee as Joe Spencer
Hume Cronyn as Stanley Garrett
You can watch LIFEBOAT for free: archive.org/details/Lifeboat1944
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[@CinemaCities1978]

You can watch LIFEBOAT for free ➡ archive.org/details/Lifeboat1944

[@paulferranti8536]

Thanks, this is an awesome channel!

[@lliamjurdom9505]

Im so glad you shared that movie, I never knew it existed ....

[@bhotaling1]

It does more than The 49th Parallel did, with an 1/8 of the cast and one set.

[@CinemaCities1978]

@@lliamjurdom9505 I'm glad that I as able to introduce it to you.

[@RLucas3000]

@@CinemaCities1978. Lifeboat had always been my favorite Hitchcock film, and to date, only ONE reactor has reacted to it! 2) Psycho 3) Birds 4) Rear Window

[@MothGirl007]

I love how Hitchcock managed to get his traditional cameo into this film in a very creative way, since it would seem almost impossible in the middle of the ocean. I won't spoil the surprise for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's definitely an amusing, clever moment.

[@myrnajay2785]

Clever right! lol Great film.

[@TheloniousCube]

Rumor has it that he originally wanted to be a body floating by the lifeboat, but that the censors nixed it - I'm not sure if I believe it, but it's a good story

[@PaulGoodeK]

We spotted it! Wonderful!

[@okay5045]

This is one of my favorite Hitchcock movies. Tallulah Bankhead is wonderful.

[@CinemaCities1978]

mine too. It's kind of overlooked but once people discover it they love it.

[@melenatorr]

@@CinemaCities1978 I've always liked it - there are a lot of themes in this economic, strongly-scripted and acted movie. I like to think about Connie losing every physical possession bit by bit, and also losing her very carefully-crafted facade: she comes out with the truth about herself to Kovac, and by the end, she can't hold onto that smooth, careless cynicism.

[@Charlottemadeleinec]

Me too! I agree Tallulah is wonderful.

[@johnwatson3948]

Great to be reminded of this great film hadn’t seen it in years. I once worked on Hume Cronyn’s house in Connecticut - he ate lunch with us on the back terrace and had many Hitchcock tales to tell.

[@CinemaCities1978]

that's so cool!

[@waynej2608]

Very impressive. Hume was such a talented character actor in many films. He and his wife, the great Jessica Tandy, were very accomplished theater actors, too.

[@johnwatson3948]

His famous wife had already passed away but he remarried around the time we were there - my boss went to the wedding.

[@thomasthomas2418]

A great behind-the-scenes story: Talullah Bankhead was notorious for going without underwear. During the filming of "Lifeboat" her "womanhood" was exposed many times, requiring re-takes. The exasperated cameraman went to Hitchcock and wanted to know what he was going to do about it. Hitchcock replied, "I'm trying to decide if it's a problem for Wardrobe or Hair Dressing".

[@DarkAngel459]

I searched 'Alfred Hitchcock Lifeboat' after watching a video on Tallulah Bankhead and found this. Lifeboat is one of my Top 10 Hitchcock films, and I'm happy to find another who appreciates it as much as I do. I also love Saboteur and Shadow Of A Doubt. I have subscribed to your channel on the back of this video.

[@CinemaCities1978]

As a LIFEBOAT fan I'm really glad you like the video. Thanks for subscribing!

[@VamshiOhgs]

This video is a nice reminder that I have to watch his more older and lesser known works

[@carltondexter1651]

I was 5 when I first saw this movie on TV back in 1956 and I was mesmerized and also frightened by the amputation of William Riley's foot.

[@peterhall5070]

I just watched this for the first time today. Over the decades I have seen all of Hitchcock's films numerous times but I always avoided "Lifeboat". The subject matter never appealed to me and I'm not even sure why. Anyway, I decided to give it a viewing today and thought it was MAHVELOUS DAHLING. I love films that are a character study with different personalities and this film certainly fit the bill. I must admit that I had to go back and re-watch a couple scenes at the beginning because Tallulah Bankhead kept blowing my attention because of her unique voice. So many impressions have been done of her over the years that I couldn't help laughing the first time she opened her mouth and then spoke her first "Dahling" of many. She's EXCELLENT but it took me a while to get used to her. It was amusing to hear that topic addressed in the video. Lol, even SHE wanted to avoid saying "Dahling" but Hitchcock was correct. Being an audience member all these years later, I wouldn't have it any other way. I always enjoy William Bendix; your average New York tough nice guy with a heart of gold. Wonderful cinematography as well. Good illusion of being out on the open sea. I didn't get the feeling that we were in a studio with rear projection. YUP, this was another good recommendation. Trivia: For any of you who were children of the '60s, you may remember that both Tallulah Bankhead and Walter Slezak played villains in the "Batman" TV series as The Black Widow and The Clock King, respectively. Lol, sorry...just thought I'd throw that in.

[@CinemaCities1978]

I’m so glad you enjoyed Lifeboat! It’s a shame it’s so often overlooked when people discuss Hitchcock’s filmography. It’s one I never get tired of watching and although the setting is limited to the boat there’s something going on in every inch of every frame on that film. I wish Tallulah had made more films. She’s a force onscreen. I can’t even imagine what it would’ve been like to see her live on stage.

[@karlj8092]

This movie is a great film, and it took a great deal to make it interesting to audiences with only one, and very limited, set. When people see Miss Bankhead, they like her performance, but she was hard on the other actors. If she found you to be boring, she made sure you knew it. Her romances were scandalous, and when she was done, she was clearly done. Lifeboat may be her best movie.

[@davant33]

If you are looking for it you have found it....Darling. Bankhead is legend in this.

[@sandrakenney567]

GOOD EVENING .I HAVE TO SAY I LOVE TALLULAH BANKHEAD IN LIFE BOAT.ALSO I LOVE HER LIFE STORIES .UNTIL NEXT TIME GOOD BY FOR NOW.👋👋👋👋👋.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

"Lifeboat" is my favorite because of the cast and the way it was presented on-screen, cleverly working in Alfred's cameo.

[@cliffgaither]

I think this was Hitchcock's best. His understanding of humans was right-on. I was wondering how he was going to present himself in the film, as he did in all ( most ? ) of his movies. Under the circumstances, this film wouldn't have had a chance for Hitchcock's walk-on / walk-by. I was wrong. The very clever way he managed it, was an example of his imaginative creativity.

[@CinemaCities1978]

I do too. I love the way he was able to make his signature cameo in this one. Also, a little fun fact I learned, Hitchcock had recently lost a lot of weight so he put himself in a fictional weight loss ad.

[@cliffgaither]

@@CinemaCities1978 :: I didn't know !! Thanks.

[@michaelmiller6579]

Hitchcock made his cameo in a similar fashion for "Dial M for Murder"

[@cliffgaither]

@@michaelmiller6579 :: I will have to watch it again as I don't remember seeing him in Dial.

[@michaelmiller6579]

@@cliffgaither I'm dying to tell you LOL, Or do you prefer to spot it yourself?

[@Michaela1942]

I've always loved this film. It was on tv early on and shown fairly often. I watched it every time I knew it was on. Great film in so many ways.

[@CinemaCities1978]

It's definitely one I can watch over and over and discover something new with each viewing.

[@donnao8950]

Lifeboat is my absolute favourite! Some very disturbing scenes but overall, very thought provoking with lost of surprises. Love John Hodiak! He had quite a presence and Tallulah is brilliant.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Mine too. Yes, John Hodiak oozes masculine energy off the screen. Both he and Tallulah were very charismatic and they've got excellent chemistry.

[@SmartCookie2022]

Good video. It took me years to get hold of Lifeboat on DVD back when Hitchcock movies were first being released in that format. Eventually it came out in 2006 encased in a lovely tin package. I always wondered why this movie was one of his least well-known and difficult to get hold of movies. You explain the reason very well. Basically, studio meddling and withdrawing the movie from the cinema circuit due to some critics believing it showed sympathy towards the Germans, even though I didn't think that when I first viewed it.

[@CinemaCities1978]

I really think those critics were really stretching for anything to criticize because I haven’t come across anyone who felt the film could be misconstrued as pro German.

[@luisdevega6075]

My vote for best Hitchcock is Dial M for Murder. I keep coming back to that movie all the time, I don't know what it is about it, but It's my fave. I also own Lifeboat, I agree it's majorly underrated. The other Hitch films I own are Pscyho, Vertigo, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.

[@CinemaCities1978]

You've got all the certified masterpieces. Have you seen SHADOW OF A DOUBT? I would also put that one high on the list.

[@luisdevega6075]

@@CinemaCities1978 For whatever reason, Shadow of a Doubt has never caught my eye, but I've heard it was Hitch's personal fave so I should really watch it. Rope I also like but not enough to own it. People talk highly of North by Northwest but I've never been able to get into that movie, for whatever reason. Thanks for the great videos, I'm a subscriber for life!

[@Armakk]

One of Hitch's best movies.

[@colleenbrown3366]

Excellent film but I had never realized it had been filmed and released while WWII was still in play.

[@sagassemedia3124]

Always on the hunt for 'one-location' pictures....'Lifeboat' is a masterpiece....

[@CinemaCities1978]

100%

[@spockboy]

Always LOVED this movie. I've always enjoyed films where characters seem to be stuck in one place like "Petrified Forest" "Key Largo" and of course "Lifeboat" Thanks for giving this movie some love.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

As a massive alfred Hitchcock fan lifeboat is one of my favorite movies from him I love the simplicity of the film where we can give more energy towards the characters and their developments

[@CinemaCities1978]

Over the years my favorites Hitchcock films have changed often but Lifeboat is never out of the top 3.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

@@CinemaCities1978 same here it’s mainly lifeboat, rear window, and psycho

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

A close consideration will reveal that many of Alfred Hitchcock's movies were, indeed, character studies. His horrors stuff was popular because the people portrayed were slightly ordinary. That lazily sucked us in, and THEN the room was suddenly full of buzzards. Scared stuff out of some in the audience. Not really a tricky, complicated plot. It was Suzanne"s and Tippy's involvement which we followed. Those canaries in the background had were really on the move to bite people, but none of us expected rabies! Surprise! Gotcha! We loved being scared enough to mess our pants because of Hitchcock. So we kept going back. Hitchcock was a weird one but we loved him for it. Boo! Watch out for airplanes.

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

[ Rabies is poetic license.....vicious canaries is funny. Also funny is the word buzzard. buzzard is a funny word, whereas raven or blackbird isn't. If you saw those movies, you know there is no mention of rabies. And Tippy's dark room is too small for a herd of buzzards. It's all in fun. We're all here because we have a fanatical shared experience. ]

[@marvel096]

i feel seen! lifeboat is my favorite hithcock movie and it gets SO overlooked. tallulah bankhead is superb and i love that john steinbeck wrote this!!

[@p4z74]

this movie is so amazing, my favorite hitchcock movie. it sacrificies hitchcock thriller aura to create a deeply human masterpiece.

[@captainred2195]

Glad that people still remember this film. It’s one of my favorites. It has a special place in my heart since My Great-Great Uncle is in this film.

[@wmlanza]

Lifeboat is definitely in my top 4-5 Hitchcocks. Bill Bendix is great.

[@janetmusala]

Lifeboat and Shadow of a Doubt are my favorite Hitchcock movies, followed by Strangers on a Train.

[@CinemaCities1978]

I love finding other people who list Lifeboat as one their favorite Hitchcock films!

[@MarkRVillano]

One of the few movies I remember that really stuck with me as a young child was one of Hitchcock's first, (maybe it was his first?) "The 39 Steps". It was a delightful film with a compelling story that absolutely captivated me. A few years later I was likewise taken with the film "North By Northwest", which had a similar dynamic.

[@jonhinson5701]

I wish Tallulah Bankhead had appeared in more movies. I find her very charismatic but perhaps she prefered working in theater.

[@CinemaCities1978]

I agree. I think we were robbed of some great performances when she stopped making films.

[@arthurjamesaltmann729]

Awesome--Thanks for highlighting this one. One of my fave of Hitchcock's. A little more obvious social commentary than Hitch usually made--it was wartime however.

[@magarac99]

My favorite Hitch film

[@CinemaCities1978]

I love that this is your favorite!

[@geoisnotokay5292]

lifeboat is one of my favorite movies, and definitely one of my favorite hitchcocks. thanks for talking about it!

[@CinemaCities1978]

Im glad to find another fellow fan. It's also one of my favorite Hitchcocks. I can't believe this film gets so over looked.

[@michaelcioni8599]

Definitely a great, often overlooked film. One of my favorites.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Couldn't agree more!

[@jeanne-marie8196]

I absolutely love this movie! I remember it from watching it on The Early Show after school. It was very rarely shown, but it made such a big impression on me. I was young, and quite confused about how to react to the killing of Willie. I had a discussion about it with my mother, who asked many questions of me about how I would feel “if” scenarios. I loved Tallulah Bankhead and have since read about her. At the time I saw this movie, she fascinated me. For some reason, I associated her with a story I heard about Coco Channel dying by getting strangled when her own scarf wound around the tire of a convertible she was in. As far as I remember, this is the only film I saw Tallulah in, so I don’t know why the connection!

[@CinemaCities1978]

Weird tangent. . .That story of the scarf actually happened to dancer Isadora Duncan. I only know that because when I was about 10 or 11 our local PBS channel played the movie Isadora with Vanessa Redgrave and that scene with the scarf strangling her shocked and terrified me. I only saw that movie the one time, but that scene is burned into my memory.

[@daddy2299]

One of the best from Hitchcock and Bankhead.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Bankhead only made something like 12 films and I think Lifeboat was her best.

[@johnpritchard5410]

"pure as the driven slush," she called herself....

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Underrated? It's a masterpiece. And oddly enough, the most unHitchcockian of all his films. And his best.

[@sammydetroit]

I agree with your assessment of this overlooked masterpiece. I was ten years old when I first saw LIFEBOAT on a late show in 1955. The movie galvanized me then and to this day remains one of the most memorable viewing experiences of my lifetime. The film's metaphor holds a chilling relevance to the contemporary political scene in the U.S., as you pointed out. I must admit to feeling that Hitchcock was overrated as a director, but LIFEBOAT certainly is one of his creations that has stood the test of time.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Sometimes I feel like Hitchcock veers into the style over substance lane of filmmaking. I think Lifeboat is the perfect union of style AND substance and that's part of the reason its so good.

[@keithwysocki9003]

It’s not a personal favorite but it’s definitely a masterpiece!

[@hiridavidfeign]

Talk about character arcs! Lifeboat is one of the most important films I've ever seen. Utterly devastating and completely genius. It's so amazing how Hitchcock's approach to filmmaking during this period was to limit himself in some way. It remains compelling all the way through. The cinematography is breathtaking. Great work, thanks.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Lifeboat is truly an underrated masterpiece.

[@immaterialimmaterial5195]

Just watched it following your recommendation. A marvellous film that deserves to be more widely known and shared! Thanks for the tip! Enjoyed it enormously. Pure genius and a great cast!

[@CinemaCities1978]

It's really an overlooked classic. I'm glad I was able to introduce you to it and that you enjoyed it. 😀

[@robertmatch6550]

Always love a movie where Walter Slezak shows up.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Yes! He was a great actor with a great presence.

[@LW-tb3cz]

One of my favourites.

[@CinemaCities1978]

It's a great film.

[@roymerritt9927]

I've seen this film quite a few times and for the life of me, I can't understand how anyone would conclude it was pro-Nazi. It definitely wasn't but revealed the deceitfulness and evil cunning of the Nazis and it was a work of brilliance on Hitchcock's part. And Bankhead despite her notorious reputation was spectacular in it. I bet she was a genuinely interesting woman to have known at that time.

[@shelbynamels973]

09:15 it's been some time since the southside of Chicago produced someone looking like Tallulah Bankhead.

[@zaiah9252]

One of the greatest films I've seen of all time.

[@rachelwalsh5614]

Excellent analysis (as usual) dah-ling! I saw your video come up in my feed the other day, but I saved it for Saturday morning coffee watching. It's been years since I've seen this movie so it's probably time for a re-watch. It's hard to pick favorite Hitchcock movies because there are so many good ones.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Yes! Give it a re-watch. There are so many little details and hints of foreshadowing that I previously missed because I just wasn't paying a enough attention. It really is one of those rare films that reveals more each time you see it. Plus, it's got Tallulah. She just knocks it out of the park. She's amazing, dah-ling!

[@davewalter1216]

Thanks for this. I saw 'Lifeboat' when I was 11 or 12. I nicked off on the way home from school and caught a matinée at the Allen Theatre. They probably shouldn't have let me in, but I guess 35 cents was 35 cents on a slow afternoon. I may have misrepresented my parents approval. I've always remembered the film (I had nightmares of drowning), but was shocked to learn much later that it was a Hitchcock. 'Shadow of a Doubt' and 'Notorious' are the only Hitchcock films that I watch repeatedly, although most of his films are worth more than one viewing and 'Psycho' was genius. I should give 'Lifeboat' another go too. Just woolgathering, but I wonder if the Hodiak-Bankhead interplay gave Lina Wertmueller the idea for 'Swept Away'?

[@CinemaCities1978]

I think I may have been around the same age when I saw it first on TV. It really stayed with me and settled itself in the back of my mind. If you have the time, I do think it's worth a revisit. It's a remarkable film. That's an interesting observation about Swept Away. . . I wonder. . . .

[@c.a.savage5689]

The play, The Admirable Crichton" written by J.M Barrie of Peter Pan fame takes on the servant/master switcheroo on a desert island (1902). Film of same name released in 1957.

[@davewalter1216]

@@c.a.savage5689 Thanks - interesting the meme has been around so long. I guess the role-reversal idea might be traced all the way back to the Roman Saturnalia.

[@sharprockstar]

Wow, brilliant and poignant analysis! Love Hitchcock - thank you for enlightening and expanding our collective knowledge.

[@Larkinchance]

I appreciate the fact that you treat movies as literature. You have earned a subscriber. many thanks

[@bookmouse2719]

I saw this a long time ago, it was amazing and frightening. But loved Tallulah.

[@brucemacmillan9581]

I'm pretty sure I saw it once on TV when I was a kid. Would like to see it again.

[@thetorchyblameseries8100]

Just found your channel. Someone Above Loves Me! What an incredible job you did on this film - my first watching on your channel. I love this film and you did it great justice in your summary, presentation and choice of topics. I am looking forward to binge-watching more of your channel segments. A huge THANK YOU from a noir/old Hollywood fanatic.

[@MiriamVintageClassics]

Such a wonderful take on LIFEBOAT and a reminder for myself to watch it again soon! I loved Tallullah Bankhead here and I also think John Hodiak was mighty underrated too and that he sadly passed too soon. My favorite Hitchcock's aside from Psycho and Notorious, also include Shadow of a Doubt, Rope and Dial M for Murder. The Wrong Man might be one of his lesser-known films that I haven't really connected with and Marnie is another one that I haven't seen in a real long time. In any case, I loved this video.

[@CinemaCities1978]

John Hodiak is so underrated. I think FOX had a problem because Hodiak and Dana Andrews were in the same mold so all their attention went on Andrews. Hodiak going to MGM didn't help either bc their standard material wasn't gritty enough for his persona. Although, I did love him in Battleground.

[@MiriamVintageClassics]

@@CinemaCities1978 He was indeed great in Battleground and I also like him in The Harvey Girls. He had a beautiful voice and a strong presence. Well, Andrews had a big hit with Laura that year. It is so true that often times those days studios didn’t know what to make of some actors as everyone had to fit a role or an archetype.

[@sandraponce9895]

​@@CinemaCities1978 BATTLEGROUND another great movie.

[@roymerritt9927]

My favorite Hitchcock movie would be "Strangers on a Train" because Robert Walker was so thoroughly evil and not to mention what a beautiful woman Ruth Roman was at that time. Most of his movies were fantastic. "Frenzy" is another movie about a thoroughly evil character but is seldom mentioned these days. Barry Foster was as comparably evil as Walker was but not as well known as an actor, at least in the United States. But I suspect most would agree that "Psycho" was the quintessential Hitchcock movie.

[@lindamattioli7943]

I feel John hodiak never got The recognition that he deserved. He is a good actor and I love that movie

[@CinemaCities1978]

I agree. He had such magnetism on screen he should've been a bigger star.

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Tallulah!!💖

[@godsowndrunk1118]

I've always liked the way Hitchcock managed to make his cameo by putting himself in the newspaper add...

[@CinemaCities1978]

very clever and inventive and in the spirit of the entire film.

[@ddivar8149]

I love "They wont believe me". 1947

[@westernnoir4808]

Good job. I saw this film as a kid and loved it. Overlooked definitely. Hitch made a lot of great films, sometimes facing great interference. John Hodiak, too was great. He overcame a stutter and other problems to become a good actor. Somewhere in the Night for example. BTW did you hear the anecdote by Hitch about Bankhead's wardrobe?

[@jorgevillavicencio427]

Here's a bit of trivia for you all. Hitchcock had cameo appearances in almost all his movies, including Lifeboat. It's actually contained in this short essay. Did anyone spot it?

[@kidmohair8151]

and at 7:10 Hitch's obligatory cameo...

[@1feloniouspunk]

Brilliant! Covers one of the movies least mentioned on her poll, and includes a link to view it!!!!!! 🙌

[@1feloniouspunk]

My name is Tallulah! LOL Great vid. Frenemies Zanuck and Selznick!!!!!

[@zarquondam]

This has been one of my faves for a long time.

[@grouchomarxist666]

Terrific film. Should be watched alongside Seven Waves Away (aka Abandon Ship).

[@CinemaCities1978]

Yes! That would be a fantastic double feature.

[@markmarsh27]

I just watched it. If you think you've seen riveting cinematic masterpieces before you've NEVER seen one this good! I don't think I blinked through the entire movie. Alfred Hitchcock still isn't well enough appreciated.

[@maplestreetmovies]

Incredible video! I’ve only seen Lifeboat once, but I still appreciate all the effort that went into this. And of course I learned plenty too!

[@CinemaCities1978]

Thank you so much for watching and appreciating the effort. That means ALOT. Thank you!

[@DarkAngel459]

Hey. I've watched some videos on your channel, including your ranking of Hitchcock films, and think you should watch Lifeboat again. It's one of those Hitchcock films which gets better after multiple viewings.

[@maplestreetmovies]

@@DarkAngel459 Thanks Rob! I'm not opposed at all to rewatching it, and my ranking is always changing. It'll be interesting to see if it changes with a rewatch!

[@EyeLean5280]

This film is so different from typical Hollywood in any era... SPOILERS 1. Willie's definitely a war enemy but he's also human and at times even sympathetic, as when giving romantic advice to Constance. Plus, he does what most would do in his place - protect himself and attempt to get back to his own people. But of course the others are still right to kill him after he murders Gus (hell, I would have killed him just for holding out on water). 2. Alice the nurse is complex, despite being sweet (Hollywood usually doesn't bring those two traits together in one woman). She claims early on that she doesn't understand people hurting each other but in the end she's the first to physically attack Willie and fully participates in throwing him overboard. And I like the fact that her character is treated with dignity, even though she's the mistress of a married man. Also the pain of such a relationship is portrayed very realistically yet without any facile moralizing. 3. Class and labor issues keep bubbling up without any real resolution. 4. John Kovac isn't very likable for the first part of the film but even though he becomes a love interest for Constance and is vindicated in his suspicions of Willie, his personality continues to be a bit abrasive. In other words, he remains human rather than undergoing some unrealistic transformation. 5. Overall, human sexuality is dealt with in a realistic, honest, and matter-of-fact way that to me anticipates French New Wave. By comparison his later, more popular films treat the subject with far less depth. I think Hitchcock would have made a very good art-house director if he'd chosen that direction.

[@jackd.ripper7613]

I just discovered your channel. Your analysis of these movies is brilliant. I wish you all the success.

[@MoreMovies4u]

Holy Cow! (pmsl) Class film and classy vid, CC! Love love love it! great helvetica typeface graphics on the character names. Hitch is one of those guys that the more you find out about, the less you like him. But as a filmmaker, he was one of the very best. Lifeboat is a perfect bottle movie, or goldfish bowl film as Alf would have it. Another hit here, you're on a roll! Huzzah! 🙏🎬

[@CinemaCities1978]

Holy cow! Indeed. Definitely a Bobby moment 😂 I must say that Lifeboat is a film that I never get tired of watching. There is so much packed into every frame, little bread crumbs and bits of dialog and subtle facial expressions - - -it's the gift that keeps on giving. I may have watched it 3 times for this video and the 90mins just zipped by. It's just all around masterful filmmaking.

[@MoreMovies4u]

@@CinemaCities1978 totally agree, and you know, it's been a while so i might stick it on over the weekend, inspired by yours truly. 🤙🎬

[@CinemaCities1978]

@@MoreMovies4u next time you watch pay attention to Willy's face, the hat and everything Kovac says about Willy.

[@MoreMovies4u]

@@CinemaCities1978 gawddam nazis 👊

[@CinemaCities1978]

i hate those guys

[@foureyesgermany4682]

Well done. Thank you for your review.👏

[@mercedezlucke-benedict1122]

I am so happy l found your channel? I love old movies!!!! I love Alfred Hitchcock. This was a great film.

[@jonalbright8968]

Another great review.

[@jamesallard7223]

Sadly relevant, but thus important. Well made, and well said.

[@danhurst9048]

This was an excellent analysis

[@nicomedessantiago6259]

I'm watching this tonight, so thought I'd seek out some You Tube videos on the film. This is a fascinating, insightful and very entertaining video essay. THANK YOU for contributing it. P.S. Crowther was the Debbie Downer okay, um, Donnie Downer of critics. What a bore he became.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Yes, Crowther was always there with the unpopular take 😂. Thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed the film!

[@vintageincolor]

Your channel introduces me to such incredible movies. I can't wait to watch the 7th victim

[@josephmayo3253]

It's a testament to how great Hitchcock is that even though I think this is a great movie, it doesn't make my top 10 Hitchcock movies list. Just found your channel, and I'm loving it.

[@TheloniousCube]

Another great video - I'd been thinking to rewatch this anyway, so now it's settled. Thank you, as always, for your work!

[@CinemaCities1978]

I think you'll find on rewatch that this one really holds up.

[@tiffsaver]

This was great, "Abandon Ship" with Tyrone Power was even better.

[@missymz]

I can't decide which I prefer. Both are awesome movies. Also known as "Seven Waves Away" btw.

[@tiffsaver]

@@missymz There are two major differences between these films. First, "Abandon Ship" was based on a true story, while Hitchcock's was pure, stylized fiction. Two, Abandon Ship is only available on VHS tape, which is totally dumb. This is a classic film and should have been digitized DECADES ago. Also, Abandon used Tyrone Power in a role that didn't make him look like the handsome matinee idol he was, featuring only his great acting ability, making the movie even more exceptional.

[@missymz]

@@tiffsaver I tried to add a link to Abandon Ship but KZbin keeps deleting it.

[@tiffsaver]

@@missymz That's strange... there's already a copy of it on YT, not very good though. That's why I bought the VHS.

[@missymz]

@@tiffsaver it's not a KZbin link. Every attempt I make to share the site link keeps getting deleted.

[@davespiess947]

I have seen this film many times! I think it is one of Hitchcock"s best! I love your channel...

[@kendn01]

What strikes me as admirable about Bankhead's character is that she is the only one in the boat who does NOT participate in the murder of the German. Despite her cynicism, materialism, she is the only one with a true innate sense of humanity - just like with Bankhead herself, I suspect....

[@anthonynunyabizness9989]

Beautiful.

[@CinemaCities1978]

Thank you!

[@nikdagr33k]

Another great vid, Mm'selle Cities! Top picture, with some of my fave faces from that era, for ex. William Bendix and John Hodiak...

[@CinemaCities1978]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's a great ensemble cast and John Hodiak really gets to shine in this one.

[@paulakpacente]

Lifeboat IMO is a superb movie.

[@CinemaCities1978]

one of the best!

[@paulakpacente]

@@CinemaCities1978- Yes!

[@TrevorAnthonyBand]

Where have you been all my life, Cinema Cities! WOW! I just watched your Sterling Hayden video and now this brilliant Hitch video. THANK YOU for the WOW and thank you for honoring the glory of old Hollywood...the RIGHT people, not, well, you know who I mean...! hahahahaha

[@classiclife7204]

Great commentary. A teacher of ours, a long time ago during the Punic Wars, asked our film class if we'd seen "Lifeboat". No one had, and we all considered ourselves pretty steeped in film of all kinds. I remember something Pauline Kael said about Crowther, that, to paraphrase, he had the magical innate ability to be wrong about everything. That quote came to mind here, that's for sure

[@CameronYoung-fn6xy]

Wonderful, insightful commentary. Cinema Cities for the win!

[@vino140]

Excellent film.

[@evejohn1937]

This channel...👏👏👏. Includes the actual movie links...😍💞

[@CinemaCities1978]

Enjoy the film! It's a good one!

[@richardkennedy8481]

"She's the only one on board who can speak German" 7:08 The picture in the news paper was Hitchcock's cameo.

[@numbersix8919]

I've always liked _Lifeboat_ but I'm getting more out of it with your analysis. Thanks as always!

[@drnoir33]

It has been nearly 40 years since I watched LIFEBOAT as an undergraduate at Yale. I recall not especially liking it...and that was that. However, I enjoy your videos, so I watched this one. As with ANGEL FACE, which I saw far more recently, I had forgotten nearly all of the film. I knew Tallulah Bankhead was in it, but not William Bendix, Hume Cronyn or John Hodiak - though, to be fair, those names meant nothing to me in the mid-80s. It is possible I was expecting more murder or suspense or something, not a character study / discourse on unity in the face of a common enemy, coloring my perception of it back in the day. At any rate, it may be time to give LIFEBOAT a second chance, dahling.

[@CinemaCities1978]

I've been a big fan of LIFEBOAT for a long time, and I believe it was one of the first Hitchcock movies I ever watched. Although, it's possible that SUSPICION was actually the first, because it aired frequently on our local PBS channel. Funny enough, looking back, the only reason I watched LIFEBOAT was because I was a fan of war movies and had enjoyed Hodiak's performance in BATTLEGROUND. I wanted to see more of him, and the only other film starring Hodiak that my library had on VHS was LIFEBOAT. After watching it, I got into exploring more of Hitchcock's work.

[@drnoir33]

@@CinemaCities1978 I first became aware of Hodiak with SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT, which I enjoyed. When I was at Yale, there were six film societies, showing ~20 films every weekend. I already liked Hitchcock from NORTH BY NORTHWEST, so it was a no-brainer to watch ~20 more of his films (including four you cover well: LIFEBOAT, REBECCA, SHADOW OF A DOUBT and SUSPICION). The underrated ROPE sparked a fascinating conversation with two buddies. For all his...issues...Hitchcock remains my favorite director (I wrote an essay on my website about how hard it is to separate art from artist). Just as you went to the library, my film noir "personal journey" included scouring local video rental places at various times. I adoired a certain kind of classic black-and-white mystery/crime film, not knowing there was a term for them. :)

[@MartinCanada]

@@CinemaCities1978 Just happened across your video-essay -- very interesting. (Thanks, YT algorithm.) You mentioned your local PBS-affiliate which rings a bell here. I'm not sure if Lifeboat was my first Hitchcock but I do remember seeing it on TV Ontario in the late 1970's. Sometimes paired with Rebecca as a war-time double feature. Also remember seeing it paired with The Enemy Below in a rep theatre. The thing to remember is that this was at a time (pre-VHS) when many Hitchcock films were hard to find. If memory serves, N by NW and Rear Window had been withdrawn from distribution for years -- only to re-emerge c. 1990 -- possibly because their very poor condition prior to their conservation. Keep up the good work.

[@ronleight9341]

Robert Osborne once said that he nearly walked out of A Clockwork Orange when it first came out, but watched it again many years later and loved it. Not one frame of the movie was different, it was Robert who had changed!!

[@james_baker]

This was a great glimpse into a hitchcock movie i somehow missed. Very balanced and down right interesting. you got one more subscriber. 😸

[@CinemaCities1978]

Thank you very much!

[@james_baker]

@@CinemaCities1978 Thank you for the link to the movie. That was great Hitchcock!

[@Mackdaddy4218]

I love this movie.

[@CinemaCities1978]

It's very good and I can't believe it's so under the radar. It's one I think more people should see.

[@westzed23]

Lifeboat is a remarkable film in so many ways. Which made people look at themselves in a different way. It is a difficult watch and probably why it wasn't released widely. Not a happy go gettum movie. The murder done is silent. It reminds me of Torn Curtain and the murder there which is done so quietly. You didn't mention the Hitchcock cameo in the newspaper ad for weight loss.

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Lifeboat, North by, Dial M, 39Steps are my favorites.

[@TheloniousCube]

If anyone knows, I'm curious how Steinbeck fits into the picture - if Hitch had an idea based on wartime news reports, did he contact Steinbeck and ask for a story (but not a screenplay?) and then gave that to the screenwriter? That just strikes me as odd and awkward. Or did the Steinbeck story already exist, in which case how did Hitch come across it when planning a wartime film inspired by true events?

[@CinemaCities1978]

Steinbeck was given the idea by Hitchcock and wrote a short story instead of a traditional treatment. He asked for his name to be removed after reading the completed screenplay because he didn't like the depictions of the Joe and Kovac characters. He thought they portrayed Joe as too stereotypical and lacking in dignity, (something Canada Lee tried to remedy) and the Kovac character made organized labor look bad.

[@robertosalto1962]

I watch your channel mostly for film noir, I didn´t know you liked hitchcock. i think i´m in love with you

[@CinemaCities1978]

I love Hitchcock! 😂

[@MyDarkmarc]

The character of Constance Porter was based on the real woman known as Dorothy Thompson born Dorothy Celene Thompson (July 9, 1893 - January 30, 1961) was an American journalist and radio broadcaster. She was the first American journalist to be expelled from Nazi Germany in 1934 and was one of the few women news commentators broadcasting on radio during the 1930s. Thompson is regarded by some as the "First Lady of American Journalism" and was recognized by Time magazine in 1939 as equal in influence to Eleanor Roosevelt

[@CinemaCities1978]

Well, it's too bad that Dorothy didn't appreciate the character or the film. Her review was negative, and she even called for the movie to be removed from theaters since she saw it as pro-German propaganda. This sentiment was further echoed by the influential New York Times critic, Bowsley Crowther who agreed with her.