Friday Fused Classic: Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat

By Fused Film Staff • June 12, 2009 • 1 Comment

Lifeboat (1944)

Using a story by John Steinbeck as inspiration, Alfred Hitchcock stages a gripping World War II drama by cramming eight survivors of a German torpedo attack into the hull of a tiny lifeboat — among them, a magazine writer (Tallulah Bankhead), a radio operator (Hume Cronyn) and a crazy woman (Heather Angel) clutching the corpse of her dead baby. But the real trouble starts when one of the survivors (Walter Slezak) reveals he’s a Nazi.

They certainly don’t make movies like this anymore. An instant classic that one three Oscars. Since I couldn’t find a decent trailer for this one I have added a little trivia for classic.

Seasickness hit the entire cast at one point or another, and much of the cast caught pneumonia after constant exposure to cold water, Tallulah Bankhead having suffered twice from it. Hume Cronyn almost drowned in a storm scene when he got caught under a large metal water-activator, used for making waves. Joe Peterson, a lifeguard hired especially for the production, saved him in the nick of time. Hume Cronyn also suffered from cracked ribs during the course of filming.

During filming, several of the crew members noted that actress Tallulah Bankhead was not wearing underwear. When advised of this situation, director Alfred Hitchcock observed, “I don’t know if this is a matter for the costume department, makeup, or hairdressing.”

The film was shot entirely on a restricted set in which the boat was secured in a large studio tank. Alfred Hitchcock, always striving for realism, insisted that the boat never remain stationary and that there always be an added touch of ocean mist and fog compounded of oil forced through dry ice.

This is the only movie Alfred Hitchcock made for Twentieth Century-Fox, under Darryl F. Zanuck at the time. Hitchcock was loan out to Fox while under contract with producer David O. Selznick.

Director Cameo: [Alfred Hitchcock] in “before” and “after” pictures in a newspaper advertisement for Reduco Obesity Slayer. The pictures were genuine, as he had just been on a crash diet (although not with the fictional Reduco) from 300 to 200 lbs. However, the so-called “Reduco Obesity Slayer” diet pill or potion ad seemed so real that audience called the studio and wrote letters to Alfred Hitchcock asking where could they get this product. (In Rope (1948), a neon sign advertising “Reduco” with Hitchcock’s famous silhouette is seen outside the Manhattan apartment where the film takes place.)

Director Trademark: [Alfred Hitchcock] [bathroom] John Kovac’s “BM” tattoo.

After she caught pneumonia, Tallulah Bankhead was given a puppy by Alfred Hitchcock for being such a good sport during the film. He had already named the dog Hitchcock.

Screenwriter John Steinbeck, a noted liberal, was outraged by what he regarded as director Alfred Hitchcock’s racism as manifested in his condescension towards the George ‘Joe’ Spencer character played by Canada Lee.

Tallulah Bankhead was cast in the film because Alfred Hitchcock wanted to use “the most oblique, incongruous person imaginable in such a situation”.

John Steinbeck wrote the story at Hitchcock’s request.

In true Hitchcock form this movie has love, murder, and suspense. I love this movie and as always you can instant download our Friday Fused Classic on Netflix.com.

Peace out MajorXero

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