Another step forward in the master's career

Rating: 8/10 (30 November 2005)

Considered a lesser effort by many critics as it's probably not of the same magnitude of his other films; "Saboteur" is another chance for practicing his favorite storyline: a regular guy is falsely accused of a crime.
What he started with "39 Steps" and "Young and Innocent" is improved here and is a step forward on the road that will lead him to the masterpiece "North by Northwest". With the ghost of the war haunting the country, "Saboteur" is a film that reflects it's time and the ideology of the American society of those years.
The script is not perfect, but even with the obvious plot holes it carries, we have a good development of the characters; and awesome scenes that while apparently do nothing for the story, are very important. The scene of the truck driver and the scene with the circus troupe are very significant, not only because of the witty dialog, but also because they set the tone of the movie, breaking the suspense for a while and giving the audience a chance to laugh at Hitchcock brilliant dark humor.
The acting is for the most part OK. The bond between the main characters, Barry Kane(Robbert Cummings) and Pat Martin(beautiful Priscilla Lane), is carefully created and they have good chemistry. While Cummings certainly is not in the same league as the well-known Hitchcock's leads like Jimmy Stewart, he has a natural charm that helps him even when his acting is kind of wooden at times.
The villains, played by Otto Kruger, Alex Baxter and Norman Loyd, are all superb in their respective roles, and one wonders why they receive very few screen time.
One important thing is that the villains are never presented as evil. They are all charming men who have respectable lives, they are even funny & nice. Their only difference is that they use unorthodox methods to get what they want. This idea must had been haunting for the audience of the 40s, in the middle of the paranoia because of the war. As the marketing of the movie stated: anyone could be a "Saboteur".
While it is probably one of the lesser efforts of Hitchcock, this movie paved the way for the classics that would come in the 50's. It will give you moments of pure joy and unforgettable scenes.
8/10