Sabotage (1936) | Hitchcock Review #20

[@josephmayo3253]

This is my third favorite of his British era, following only The Lady Vanishes and The 39 Steps. I'm so glad you reviewed it.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Very nice job! What I also found fun watching Sabotage is how Hitchcock tied in two bits of his own background into the story. As you revealed, the undercover cop in the area "worked" as a green grocer - and Hitch's father was a grocer and he grew up in that environment - also Sidney and Homolka run a cinema together. Hitch must have enjoyed those two aspects.

[@willmccormick947]

I just saw this for the first time yesterday and loved it. I think I'd gotten it confused with Saboteur, so just passed it over. Easily in the top 3 of his 30's work (with The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes). Might be even better than Vanishes. And I love that twist you reference at the end.

[@frankg7177]

Glad you got around to reviewing "Sabotage", one of my favorites of Hitchcock's British films. I wonder how different it would have been had it been made during WW2 like "Saboteur" or "Lifeboat". Homolka's character would likely then have been painted as a fanatical Nazi, rather than as an amoral mercenary, whose greatest concern was over having lost face by being laughed at. In 1936, the British government was still trying to make nice with Germany in the fading hope of not having to spend big on an arms race. Only Churchill saw the full extent of the Nazi threat and he was still on the outs with the administration.

[@Weiselberry]

Definitely an interesting thing to consider. I think having the one adversary who is explicitly German makes Lifeboat (one of my personal favorites) a very different movie. In most of Hitchcock's espionage films (or at least the pre-Cold War ones) the nationality or political sympathies of the antagonist(s) is kept pretty vague. While we were watching Sabotage, I was thinking the saboteurs might be Germans, but afterward my dad suggested they were communist agitators. I hadn't thought of that but it's plausible, and probably makes more sense for 1936, when, as you say, Germany wasn't widely considered a threat, and the world was even willing to let Hitler host the Olympics in Berlin. But you're right, if the movie had been made during WWII the character would almost certainly be a German, or a German sympathizer.

[@Samiurium]

I am glad to have added “Sabotage” on my Hitchcock ride. I was very invested in Mrs Verloc, Stevie and Detective Spencer and was never particularly sympathetic towards Mr Verloc. I really enjoyed Hitchcock’s filming techniques through Stevie’s walk as well as Mr and Mrs Verloc’s unspoken interaction in the final act. I see that there is a free licensed copy of “The 39 Steps” available on KZbin which I hope to watch soon.

[@BobPlaysOfficial]

Oh, Hitchcock's Sabotage. And here I was hoping it was the Beastie Boys' Sabotage :-P Jokes aside I like it when people remember those classic Hitchcock thrillers. His early work is often overshadowed by his later. I recently went back to watch The Lady Vanishes for the first time in years and it's amazing how good he was at crafting a suspenseful film even as far back as the 30's.

[@kevint5451]

I don't think I have seen this movie though I have heard of it. Very insightful stuff, you always make me want to watch the movies you review even though I might not have thought of doing so otherwise. I like the images you use, and they are so atmospheric in the way that only old black and white movies are. Hitchcock definitely had a warped mind when it came to teasing the audience with dark undertones. The bomb under the table is a great example of this. JAWS owed a lot to Hitchcock. I would like to hear you review JAWS by the way! That would be very interesting :)

[@philipgior3312]

Wow a rare Hitch film I have not seen! And yes, I was thinking Saboteur initially when I saw the title. I will definitely be on the lookout for this one now. As always, cool review Jerome!

[@iakona23]

Sabotage is a very good film. And Sylvia Sidney is an actress who possessed a rare beauty. I always enjoy her performances. Thank you for this excellent review.

[@CochinKerala]

Excellent review. Well thought out and articulate. 👍

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you!

[@TheWriterWalker]

Very good review! Clear and pleasant. Thank you for sharing your educated opinion.

[@HOLLYWOODUNAPOLOGETIC]

Oh wow. Another good review and film. And I agree. It's a film that doesn't get enough good attention and one of his better films of the 30s. Thank you for what you do!

[@kencharlesdocta3527]

I like this Hitchcock film, I think it falls under the radar because it isn't talked about much. Thanks for making this spoiler-free video :)

[@starry2006]

It falls under the radar because it wasn't made in Hollywood.

[@sensitivedogs]

I get so frustrated watching this movie at this point in my life. I've seen it so many times and I love this film and of course I am crazy about Hitchock! What is difficult about watching it now is the fact that the Sargent detective is indirectly responsible for the death of the young boy. First when he spies on those who gathered to potentially be the ones who would have carried out the assignment. And then in another scene when he walks into the cinema to talk to the young boy's sister and hinders her husband who sees him from walking out with the bomb. It's a devastating realisation when I realised that these two key scenes set up the boy for his demise, it's such a tragedy and hard to witness. Because those two scenes are a strong foreshadowing of this terrible and depressing sequence when the boy dies along with others on the bus. In the end no one is really spared.

[@aukrest]

I'm not a huuge fan of Hitchock (which seems to be exceptionally rare for someone into classic movies) but I really love Sabotage. I agree with many points of your review, and the bomb sequence was definitely suspenseful. I couldn't believe they went as far as they went for a movie from 1936. Have you seen Sylvia Sidney in many other movies? I think she is a wonderful actress and has been phenomenal in just about everything I've seen her in.

[@Weiselberry]

I haven't seen Sylvia Sidney in more than one or two other films. Watching this reminded me that years ago we taped a movie of hers that I really wanted to see--"You and Me" with George Raft. I never got around to watching it and now I'm not sure where it is. I'm going to try to track it down and watch it.

[@darkwolf9253]

I've never seen Sabotage, I'll have to check it out... My favorite lesser known Hitchcock film is To Catch a Thief.

[@seymourskinner2533]

“Lesser known”???😂😂😂😂😂

[@dawn1110uk]

Wasn't oskar in metropolis?

[@Weiselberry]

I don't believe he was...

[@bartolomeuomacduibheamhnad6855]

Another great review M.S. Weiselberry, I have always liked this film. Speaking of being unsure if you should cheer, I wonder if you've seen a British WW2 film called " The one that got away' from 1957 starring Hardy Kruger, it's based on a true account of Luftwaffe pilot Oberlautnant Franz von Werra < that's a mouthful) who was shot down over Britain in 1940, adapted from a Book I believe, it's such an interesting film because you can't help but root for this guy even though he's in the Luftwaffe and is attempting to get back to the War, it's a film I'm fond of but not many seem to have seen it.

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! Hey, I've seen that one! Late last year, I think... I talked about it in one of my monthly videos. I know exactly what you mean: you end up rooting for him to make it, even though he's on the enemy's side. And I can't really fault him for trying. It was considered an officer's duty to try to escape, no matter what side you were on!

[@bartolomeuomacduibheamhnad6855]

Jerome Weiselberry Completely agree, I shall go in search of your review. Thank you.

[@anniedmusic]

Hey have you considered posting these as audio versions on the podcast platforms? I love your reviews !!! Would love to listen to them on audio streamers.

[@ashdoginc]

Great review. I'll have to check this one out. I have to admit that when I first started to watch Hitchcock's movies, before his golden era of film making, I struggled. I think I found it difficult to go backwards after seeing his well-known masterpieces like Rear Window etc. But when I got into the mode of accepting that Hitchcock and cinema in general was still in its infancy, and growing as an art-form, I found it easier to deal with the weaker aspects of those older movies. I learnt years ago that you can miss out on good entertainment by simply comparing every movie to a masterpiece - don't get too bogged down by flaws.

[@Weiselberry]

Yes, I know what you mean. I've seen this movie three times, I think, and I know the first time I wasn't so cognizant of its strengths. I didn't dislike it, but I thought it seemed a little rough, a little quiet. But as is the case with so many old movies, the more you watch it, especially if you look at it from both a technical and a creative perspective, the more you appreciate it.

[@starry2006]

This is one of his best films, a 1000x better than Notorious. Hollywood would probably have watered it down. Also great acting all round. Rear Window is carried by Jimmy Stewart really.

[@taanbrown4275]

There's a hundred robins on my front lawn! And.. watching your birds review.. they fight.. what if. Just what if. They attacked me:)

[@RobKnapp1]

Thank you for your spoiler free review . I thought I had watched this film during film fest. TCM The Master of Suspense: 50 Years of Hitchcock, July 2017 . I recorded & watched all that were broadcast . But I checked the TCM's list starting with Hitchcock's silent film's moving in chronological order. But Sabotage (1936) was not on the list . Why I have no Idea as Sabotage (1936) from your review sounds excellent. TCM for some reason skipped over Sabotage . I think that was a mistake :-( 8:00 PM Number Seventeen (1932) 9:30 PM The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) 1:00 PM The 39 Steps (1935) 12:45 AM The Lady Vanishes (1938) 2:45 AM Jamaica Inn (1939) I will need to hunt this film down . Lifeboat (1944) is one of my favorite Hitchcock films . I will check out your review and see what your take on it was. Thank you for another insightful review.

[@RobKnapp1]

For any one that wants to stream Sabotage (1936) ASAP it is for rent in High Definition on Prime Video & iTunes .

[@Weiselberry]

I remember one summer when TCM had a Hitchcock series, but I think it was a few years earlier than the one you're referring to. I seem to remember it was a month-long thing they called "Sundays with Hitch." I love Lifeboat! One of my favorites as well. :)

[@13down13]

Spoilers here, I guess; however, you did talk about the bomb and it's hard not to talk about this flim without that. Happily with this film, I agree with you very much. I really like this movie, but, as you say, it's not as good as the 39 Steps or the Lady Vanishes. Hitchcock apparently wasn't thrilled with Sidney nor Loder, but I like both of them - particularily Sylvia Sidney. She is very likable and I don't have a problem with her taking revenge on the person responsible for her younger brother's death. He was like a son to her because she was taking care of him. Perhaps Hitch didn't have to show the explosion, but the bomb had to go off - it was a plot point and motivation for the end. I did get the remastered/restored version of this film and it's cleaned up well. I have that boxset that you show in another video too, but I saw this version and it was worth it. So I've seen this movie a few times and it's essential viewing as one of the British Suspenseful Six movies he did in the 30's.

[@starry2006]

The 39 Steps is great, but so is this in a different way. Good filmmaking and great acting all round.

[@SunriseFireberry]

1936? Oldie but pretty good. Were your grandparents around then?

[@Weiselberry]

Yes, they were.

[@wyliefox100]

Have you seen Rope? Another Hitchcock film, made in 1948. It was based on a real life murder as well.

[@Weiselberry]

Yup, I reviewed that one last year.

[@rodrigoherreros4373]

When’s the next GODZILLA review

[@whiskyandpoetry]

Apart from the Hitchcock brilliance (I believe I even made a video referencing the Sabotage bombing scene using the phrase "masterclass in suspense" when referring to it), Sylvia Sidney is the standout for me in this movie. So much is conveyed via her expressions alone. I would also recommend watching her in You Only Live Once, alongside Henry Fonda.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

I adore Sidney, she's always good like in those movies she made with George Raft like Pick Up (1933) and You and Me (1938). Or The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), an early color film. Odd she never worked with Hitchcock again.

[@starman5500]

Love yah!! Keep up the good work!

[@Hi-jw7oq]

I was mad when the bomb went off. It’s just painful to see.