An early Hitchcock gem.

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2008)

Alfred Hitchcock loved a challenge, and the premise presented in 'Lifeboat' certainly falls under that category. Released during World War II in 1944 and before Hitchcock would make his most recognizable films, John Steinbeck penned the story of nine very different individuals isolated in a lifeboat shortly after a British ship is sunk by the Germans. And as fate would have it, one of these survivors happens to be a Nazi.
'Lifeboat' was met with considerable praise upon its release, but not everyone saw Hitchcock's achievement as the piece of pro-Ally work it was meant to be. Some accused it of being a poster child for the Nazi war effort (when nothing could be further from the truth), and writer Steinbeck criticized the final product as being condescending to Joe, the lone black survivor aboard the boat. Like many other films from its time, Joe is there but not really there (like Sam from 'Casablanca'). Nonetheless, 'Lifeboat' was never a wide success, and it would be many years before its accomplishments would be truly appreciated.
Hitchcock is no stranger to tight, claustrophobic sets. But 'Lifeboat' would be his first. To make a 90 minute feature film without leaving the confines of a lifeboat drifting at sea, that was the mission. No easy feat. Hitchcock took on this character study with politics thrown in the mix and transformed it into a classic setting rich with developed characters, compelling dialogue, and a thick atmosphere. And even though Hitchcock's trademark twists or thrilling murder mysteries are mostly absent from this one, there's more than enough material here to sustain the film's running time.
Tallulah Bankhead, the materialistic journalist focused on delivering the story above all else, practically makes 'Lifeboat' what it is. She is that strong-willed and hard-headed character that a movie like this thrives off of, and her presence on-screen helps make this the powerhouse that it is. The rest of this ensemble cast -- John Hodiak, Walter Slezak, William Bendix, Mary Anderson, Henry Hull, Hume Cronyn, Canada Lee -- all make the most of their roles, butting heads and struggling to survive. 'Lifeboat' may not be one of Hitchcock's most well-known film, or even one of his best, but it's a great piece of film-making that only Hithcock could pull off. A suspenseful and engaging thriller, it crackles with drama during an era few will forget.
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