Lifeboat Rocks
Added 3/8/2010
I am a big Hitch fan, but never saw Lifeboat. The twists are interesting. Who else can direct an entire movie only shot on a life boat, and make a cameo appearence on the boat? This is a classic and worth watching.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Suspenseful mystery in a microcosm
Added 2/16/2010
While reading the newly published screenplay Zapata by John Steinbeck, I became interested in reading about his struggle with Alfred Hitchcock over the screenplay for Lifeboat. It seems that Hitchcock had ideas of his own that he wished to pull from the script and therefore after the screenplay was completed by Steinbeck, Hitchcock re-wrote certain passages to allow his own vision of the work to emerge. Watching this excellent film, I kept wondering which elements could be attributed to Steinbeck and which elements to Hitchcock. However, the final product is excellent and highly entertaining.
The story revolves around a lifeboat that has a group of survivors from a sea battle in the Atlantic during World War II. The German U-boat that sinks the passenger liner is also sunk. Steinbeck no doubt wished to make the survivors in the lifeboat into a microcosm of social types, but he also wished to make a commentary of the attitudes and beliefs present during the second World War. The initial survivor is a war correspondent, played by Tallulah Bankhead, but other survivors are soon fished out of the cold ocean. Also included is a millionaire industrialist, a highly literate sailor, a young female nurse running from the affair she had with a married man, a deranged mother and dead baby, a steward with a past as a pick-pocket, and several other interesting characters. The mystery, suspense, and plot revolve however not so much on when they will be rescued but around the captain of the German U-boat who is also one of the survivors. This highly skilled and intelligent sea captain is full of surprises and the reactions of the other folks in the lifeboat reflect the various responses to the rise of Nazism. Filmed in black and white, the dramatic action and confrontations never end with some surprisingly strong dialogue for an early film. Hitchcock and Steinbeck created a compelling story, presented with all the nerve tingling skills of a master film-maker.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Big Drama/Suspense In A Very Small Stage Venue
Added 1/19/2010
ATTENTION ALL THE SHIPS AT SEA. FLASH! Tallulah Bankhead can do more than smooze. The lady could really act! And so does the rest of the cast confined to Hitchcock's LIFEBOAT (1944). Edge of the seat (or inflatable) suspense and high drama Hitchcock style. Not only did the Director manage to pull off a non-ending sequences of unique shots on a small, open boat, but he able to do so while dealing with Bankhead's distain for under garments plus insert a cameo of himself (as gradually became his "trademark" starting in the mid 1920's).
In-camera effects are awesome for the time. Front and rear projection is so seamless and free of artifacts that it's difficult to believe the entire film was shot on sound stages. Even though soundstage bound, it's was still no picnic for the performers (Bankhead came down with phenomena during the production--twice).
Highly recommended. One of Hitchcock's best still waiting to be "rediscovered."
WILLIAM FLANIGAN, Ph.D.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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No movie or refund
Added 9/10/2009
Never got movie or refund. Customer Service very prompt to respond but I have never received movie or refund from Movie Mars even after numerous email correspondences. They told me that the movie is probably lost in USPS and that I should try and find it. Then they told me I would be getting a refund (I never got it).
0 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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EXCELLENT!!!!!
Added 9/7/2009
This is a great DVD of Hitchcock's "Lifeboat". The special features are quite good, highlighted by an informative and very interesting commentary. Excellent quality all-around.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Lifeboat Rocks
Added 3/8/2010
I am a big Hitch fan, but never saw Lifeboat. The twists are interesting. Who else can direct an entire movie only shot on a life boat, and make a cameo appearence on the boat? This is a classic and worth watching.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Suspenseful mystery in a microcosm
Added 2/16/2010
While reading the newly published screenplay Zapata by John Steinbeck, I became interested in reading about his struggle with Alfred Hitchcock over the screenplay for Lifeboat. It seems that Hitchcock had ideas of his own that he wished to pull from the script and therefore after the screenplay was completed by Steinbeck, Hitchcock re-wrote certain passages to allow his own vision of the work to emerge. Watching this excellent film, I kept wondering which elements could be attributed to Steinbeck and which elements to Hitchcock. However, the final product is excellent and highly entertaining.
The story revolves around a lifeboat that has a group of survivors from a sea battle in the Atlantic during World War II. The German U-boat that sinks the passenger liner is also sunk. Steinbeck no doubt wished to make the survivors in the lifeboat into a microcosm of social types, but he also wished to make a commentary of the attitudes and beliefs present during the second World War. The initial survivor is a war correspondent, played by Tallulah Bankhead, but other survivors are soon fished out of the cold ocean. Also included is a millionaire industrialist, a highly literate sailor, a young female nurse running from the affair she had with a married man, a deranged mother and dead baby, a steward with a past as a pick-pocket, and several other interesting characters. The mystery, suspense, and plot revolve however not so much on when they will be rescued but around the captain of the German U-boat who is also one of the survivors. This highly skilled and intelligent sea captain is full of surprises and the reactions of the other folks in the lifeboat reflect the various responses to the rise of Nazism. Filmed in black and white, the dramatic action and confrontations never end with some surprisingly strong dialogue for an early film. Hitchcock and Steinbeck created a compelling story, presented with all the nerve tingling skills of a master film-maker.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Big Drama/Suspense In A Very Small Stage Venue
Added 1/19/2010
ATTENTION ALL THE SHIPS AT SEA. FLASH! Tallulah Bankhead can do more than smooze. The lady could really act! And so does the rest of the cast confined to Hitchcock's LIFEBOAT (1944). Edge of the seat (or inflatable) suspense and high drama Hitchcock style. Not only did the Director manage to pull off a non-ending sequences of unique shots on a small, open boat, but he able to do so while dealing with Bankhead's distain for under garments plus insert a cameo of himself (as gradually became his "trademark" starting in the mid 1920's).
In-camera effects are awesome for the time. Front and rear projection is so seamless and free of artifacts that it's difficult to believe the entire film was shot on sound stages. Even though soundstage bound, it's was still no picnic for the performers (Bankhead came down with phenomena during the production--twice).
Highly recommended. One of Hitchcock's best still waiting to be "rediscovered."
WILLIAM FLANIGAN, Ph.D.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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