13. Lifeboat

Lifeboat
Alfred Hitchcock, 1944

Several survivors of a German U-Boat attack find themselves unsure of who to trust as they try to make their way to safety – especially after they pull a young German officer onboard.

Lifeboat starts out well, but ultimately kind of collapses under itself - although it manages not to become a complete disaster. The ending is nothing more than blatant and awkward wartime propaganda, and does a lot to undermine the tension and uncertainty that had been built up throughout the film. Despite this, the master’s hand is evident at several points, including a bit of impromptu surgery and a marvelous sequence in which a certain character is, essentially, talked to death. These sequences are subtle and low-key, and work terrifically. Things are less successful when the drama boils up and the hysterics kick in. Even Tallulah Bankhead, who is otherwise wonderful, is somewhat undone by her breakdown scene. Definitely worth watching, though, despite the faults.

6/10

*GOAL ACHIEVED* I have now seen 10 movies from 1944. Yes, this was an easy one, since I already had 9 going into this year.