Lifeboat (1944)

Lifeboat (1944)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak

Synopsis:
An American supply ship is sunk by a U-boat and the survivors have to navigate to safety in the Bahamas, but they are threatened by limited supplies, the hazards of the open sea, and each other.

Impressions:
This may sound funny, but I was led to this movie by the made-for-TV scifi remake Lifepod that I saw when I was younger. For some reason, that movie managed to stick in my head, so I was eager to grasp at the opportunity to see the original. If you like character-centric drama about people in desperate situations at each other's throats, then this is the film for you. There's a diverse cast of characters that play off each other in interesting ways. All the actors perform competently, but I want to particularly note the performances of Tallulah Bankhead and Walter Slezak. They're really great. Now, bear in mind that this was filmed in the middle of World War II, so some of the sentiments are a bit raw. Some modern viewers are a bit touchy about all that. Anyway, this is a very good movie and well worth watching.

Rating:
Watch It