Takes a little higher order thinking

Rating: Null/10 (13 October 2007)

This movie, on the surface, seems to be just another wartime movie with all the trappings: the enemy, the hero (in this case heroes), etc. but upon further analysis, one can see that it is a masterpiece. Take, for instance, the way that the writer and director treat Ms Bankhead's character, Connie Porter. When I first watched the movie, I thought "Oh boy, like that would really happen": referring to Connie in the lifeboat, unscathed and looking ready for, as another character said "The Stork Club". Then I realized that this pristine appearance would slowly evolve as we see more of the character unravel. Rarely is the lady with the baby mentioned on message boards here, but she is worthy of discussion. She was in shock and as far from reality as a person can get, and who knows why she jumped overboard? Could it have been to end her life, which she felt useless without the child...or could it have been to jump overboard to find the baby? Character studies in this movie were splendid. The only one I did not think was developed enough was Rittenhouse, which could have been deliberate on Hitchcock's part because he rarely missed things like this. The film was the kind of thriller I like to see...one of the mind, without utter and gratuitous gore. Too bad it did not get the attention it deserved though understandable in light of the controversy of the "pro-Nazi"/"anti-Nazi" when it was made and released. Worth a look....and some higher order thinking....for anyone who likes "old movies".