An Average Hitchcock Suspense Story

Rating: 7/10 (5 March 2017)

This film is vintage Hitchcock. It contains many of his trademark attributes. But it can best be considered a precursor to his classic film "North by Northwest". Both contain these elements: a plot involving an innocent man on the run, a seemingly benevolent pillar of the community who is the villain, the scenic use of an American landmark, and even the use of an auction as a plot point.
Robert Cummings plays Barry--the innocent man. Priscilla Lane plays Pat--the woman who becomes involved in his intrigue. Otto Kruger plays Tobin--the villain who menaces with a smile on his face. It's a solid cast, but Hitchcock himself was disappointed that he could not procure the services of the actors he preferred.
This film is very much a product of its time, being released soon after the U.S. entered WWII. With the citizenry of the nation on alert and still in shock after the Pearl Harbor attack, the story of "Saboteur" would seem to be on the mark, but it was a box office failure. Compare that to the performance of "The Major and the Minor", a Billy Wilder comedy starring Ginger Rogers, which was also released in 1942. It was a hit, perhaps because it offered escapism to its audiences.
The film is a vehicle for wartime pontificating, including speeches about democracy versus totalitarianism--speeches that were stiff like the slogans on patriotic posters. Hitchcock makes the best of it, but the film lacks the charm of "North by Northwest", which also features the charms of Cary Grant.
Hitchcock is masterful in using the element of suspense, particularly the passage of time. But many of his later efforts show his perfection of all cinematic elements, including suspense.