Word: lifeboat
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...also a stunningly funny old comic (Margaret Rutherford), playing the sort of tetched, tweedy Englishwoman whose lightest whisper is a yawp. As a spy-thriller, the picture would be no better than pleasantly, mediocre but for the unshakable British talent for investing bit-players at telephones, extras at lifeboat drill, and even the leading players with vitality, intelligence and a nodding acquaintance with actual life...
...questionable" part occurs when a storm upsets the lifeboat. The only man with enough presence of mind to keep the lifeboat afloat is Walter Slezak, the Nazi submarine commander. He orders the others to bale out the water. After the boat has been righted, Slezak is in command. He rows the boat with apparent ease toward a Nazi carrier. While the others are weary and sick with hunger and thirst, Slezak remains fresh and gay, singing German songs...
Hitchcock has replied to the criticism of "Lifeboat" by saying that the action of the characters parallels history. This is, of course, true. The Americans go through successive phases of appeasement, realization of the enemy, and action...
Some people have protested against "Lifeboat" because it doesn't show Americans as supermen. We have become accustomed to movies in which the outcome is never in doubt after a strong handsome American stops into the scene. However, "Lifeboat" attempts to break away from this lush banality and bring to mind a truer picture of the character and abilities of our enemy. It will never hurt us to learn that we are not perfect and that occasionally we can be outwitted...
Apart form its political connotations, "Lifeboat" is an entertaining and exciting movie. Though the camera never leaves the boat, it manages to bring into view a wide range of emotions. The capable cast includes, in addition to those previously mentioned, Henry Hull, Mary Anderson, Canada Leo, and Heather Angel...